‘Nela Ticket’ will have everyone whistling: Ravi Teja

Ahead of the release of ‘Nela Ticket’ on May 25, Ravi Teja sounds utterly confident.  In this interview, catch the Mass Maharaja talk about the film, working with Kalyan Krishna and producer Ram Talluri, his upcoming movies, and more.   

The very title is curious.  It has a certain ring for many.  What is in store?

We have all watched films on ‘nela ticket’ at some point or the other.  For the present generation, people from the previous generation were all ‘nela ticket’ guys!  Those were the days of touring talkies when most of us were seated on the floor.  Whenever I went to my grandmother’s village, I would watch films sitting on the sand at touring talkies.  

As for title justification, you will understand it once you watch the movie.  The hero’s character sees himself as a ‘nela ticket’ fellow right from childhood.  While many of this generation may not know what it means, their elders will tell them what it means.

It seems you have played a typical character that suits your image.  But there seems to be more to it.  Isn’t it?

The hero plays an orphan who thinks everybody is his own.  He mingles with everyone.  The hero likes to be that way.  The whole story has been weaved around the line, ‘Chuttoo janam, madhyalo manam’.  The emotions are quite strong.  

Going by the trailer, the film has a time-tested story.  Do you agree?

It’s not like every story has to be novel.  What is important is how you treat the story.  ‘Nela Ticket’ is in the mold of a Kalyan Krishna movie.  All the characters are new.  The conflicts and emotions between various characters will impress the audience.  

And the element of old people must be the emotional anchor.  Isn’t it?

The reason I did this movie is that it strikes the right chords about senior citizens.  One is aghast at those sons who abandon their parents.  The prime reason why I did the movie is this.  

Is the film just for the mass audience?

Just because the title is ‘Nela Ticket’, it doesn’t mean only some sections will love our film.  It’s for everybody, it’s universal.  Even those sitting in the balcony will love to whistle.  Kalyan Krishna’s first movie (‘Soggade Chinni Nayana’) had a touch of ‘mass’.  His second movie (‘Rarandoi Veduka Chuddham’) was classy.  ‘Nela Ticket’. on the other hand, is a mix of both mass and class.

Weren’t you supposed to work with him long ago?

Kalyan Krishna had to do this film with me as his debut venture.  But I couldn’t do it with him because of prior commitments.  I asked him to do some other movie in the meantime if he gets an opportunity.  He went on to do ‘SCN’ and Chaitanya’s movie.  

How was it teaming up with Ram Talluri?

Ram Talluri garu is a practical-minded man.  He is frank and says things as he wants to.  He is passionate about movies.  I love these qualities in him.  He didn’t enter the film industry to make money.  I would be ever-ready to work with such producers again and again.

You seem to be getting busy again.  You have been shooting for ‘Amar Akbar Antony’.  What’s up?

I am ready to work with anybody should I get the right story.  I don’t make any distinction between senior and junior directors.  Several new-generation directors are doing great.  There is a need for more such filmmakers to come.  If I didn’t do movies for 2 years recently, it’s because I found nothing much interesting.  

Are you also doing Vi Anand’s movie?

I won’t comment anything about Vi Anand’s project.  I will talk about it when it’s releasing.  Quite a few other films are in talks.