Leta Manasulu
One of the tragedies of modern-day filmmaking is the loss of innocence and sensitivity. With the boredom threshold of the audience very low, the directors and producers have to infuse in their movies many `mass' items. In other words, they are forced to play to the gallery. There is little time or patience for the laid-back films where a story unfolds slowly but beautifully.
In the event, it takes extreme guts to not compromise on anything but try to tell a story like it is. Only the fully committed can embark on such a venture. S V Krishna Reddy has.
Letha Manasulu is a remake of the Tamil hit Azhagi. Remakes in themselves are no crime. Letha Mansulu's case is a good example. The story is about a middle-class man's life with his wife on one side and his first love on the other.
The biggest strength of the story is its dignity and plausibility. And it is also rooted in reality.
The hero's life is thrown into a tizzy when he comes across his former flame working as a housemaid. The story focuses on the practical problems and the tender moments between individuals.
Krishna Reddy's favorite Srikanth plays the hero. The two have done 12 films together. "We have a special understanding as our tastes match. He is earthy and humble. He is very cooperative and friendly. We share ideas and I enjoy working with him," Srikanth said not long ago.
Srikanth, who also has Shankar Dada MBBS waiting for release, has a totally different type of film. It is soft and sensitive. "I have been doing family entertainers all these days and I think that is the reason I am getting such offers."
There are two heroines in the film --- Kalyani and the up and coming Gopika. The former (who is to get married in life soon) gets the author-backed role of Bhanu (in the original Nandita Das played this character). Though Kalyani says she is personally far removed from the character of Bhanu, she has enjoyed immensely playing such a challenging character.
Gopika, too, who is on a roll these days, has got a meaty role.
The music of Keeravani has already become a hit --- the songs are soft and melodious.
For S V Krishna Reddy, this is another foray into family entertainers.
Hopefully, the film keeps his family and he entertained!