Rama Raju, the director of 'Oka Manasu', is testing his luck for the second time. While his first film was acclaimed for its aesthetic value, it didn't have a good run at the BO. This made the thinking director moot a permanent exit. But, he held on. In this interview, the soft-spoken director talks about what went into selecting Naga Shourya and Niharika, and more.

How do you describe 'Oka Manasu'?

It's a pure love story with neatly-etched characters. It's a coming-of-age love story which mainly involves the characters of Surya and Sandhya.

Why do you call it a pure love story?

Maro Charithra and Geethanjali come to our mind when we talk about a timeless love story. I am not saying Oka Manasu is such a great film, but it's valuable in terms of the longevity of the characters in audience's minds. Regardless of how many films we watch, it's such love stories which we will remember always.

Surely, there is more than a love story, as the trailer shows. Isn't it?

The film is close to reality. While once upon a time, money used to drive things, it's now politics.

How did you zero in on Naga Shourya and Niharika?

I felt that Naga Shourya has no image-related baggage and so, I opted for him. As for Sandhya's character, Niharika was not the first choice. I happened to narrate the script to Samantha, who liked it but asked us to wait till mid-2016. Obviously, we couldn't afford that. I then approached Regina Cassandra, who couldn't allot more than five days in a month. But 'Oka Manasu' is a kind of film which has to be shot without a break.

And it was then that Madhura Sridhar asked you to look into Niharika's profile, right?

Yes. When he called me up and asked me to look into this fresh face, I googled up her name. I felt that she is quite aptly my Sandhya. I went to her and narrated the script.

Did you have apprehensions after Niharika was roped in?

As she hails from a big cine family, I was apprehending objections. However, my conviction that she is most apt to play Sandhya's character made me go ahead. The fact that she immensely loved her character only helped matters. She loved Sandhya so much so, she wouldn't respond if I called her Niha; she would respond only when I called Sandhya.

You are an unconventional director. Your first film (Mallela Theeram Lo) didn't do well at the BO. What were your next plans?

I wanted to leave cinema industry forever. That was there in my mind for one year or so. I am someone who views cinema as an art form. But I realized quite belatedly that it's commerce.

So, what is your confidence now?

I am very confident that when a film is made in full faith, the Telugu audience won't disappoint. They will definitely warm up to your product. If you ask med what is commercial cinema, my answer would be, 'Anything that earns money for the stakeholders'. It's not like only those made with a huge budget are commercial films.

What are your upcoming films?

My next film will be with the same production house (of Madhura Sridhar).