Very few heroes and directors have bonded so well as Sukumar and NTR. A day ahead of the release of 'Nannaku Prematho', Sukumar says that the relationship has been special.

Throwing light on the film, he says that the action drama is different from other such father-son sentimental dramas.

So far, there have been many films dealing with father-son sentiment. How different is your film?

Many may have made many such films. Usually, sentiment toward father can be expressed in many different ways. It won't fade away no matter how many ways you express that emotion. I have tried to show such an emotion in my own style. The emotions related to one's parents are universal. One wouldn't understand it until one experiences it oneself. I could understand that sentiment only when I lost my father. I wrote the story when I was undergoing that emotion.

What did NTR say when he listened to the story?

If we love someone, we should love his or her weaknesses as well. We have to love his selfishness, anger, jealousy and the like.

One always finds some emotion or the other on Tarak's face. I had been planning a film with NTR, but when my father died, I thought it will be better if I made a film like Nannaku Prematho in that emotional state.

When he heard the story, NTR felt this is better than the previous one.

Whose idea was it to show NTR in this trendy way?

Sometimes, I have been credited with proposing the idea, but in reality, it was NTR who proposed it first. When NTR made the suggestion, I merely supported him. People have been drawing parallels between my get up and NTR's. The truth is I am just following him.

Did you have Jagapathi in mind while writing the villain's character?

No, I wrote the story first and then roped in Jagapathi.

(In another interview, NTR has stated that it was he who suggested Jagapathi's name. Sukumar was overwhelmed and immediately okayed Jagapathi's name. In fact, Jagapathi was not told entirely about the character till the completion of Day 1. When he was told about the character by NTR, Jagapathi did not like the idea of doing such a mean and cruel character).

Tell us about working with NTR..

Any person has to go through three stages of doing: knowing, learning and implementing. In Tarak's case, the second stage is not there. He merely knows about it and you find him implementing it next. This way, he saves so much of time.

He has become a hero because of being born in the Nandamuri clan. If he had not been born in that family, he would have become a world hero by inventing something.

NTR is a super quick learner. Whatever it is, he grasps it so fast. Be it dialogue or expression, he absorbs things at the first instance. He can emote any emotion. I can't imagine this film without Tarak.

How did you transform NTR's emotional journey?

Tarak connected to the story. While shooting for the climax, he broke down. I and the cinematographer too broke down. The foreign crew with us also turned emotional. It was a bit difficult to transform the emotional mood into a logical one.

As a director, what kind of satisfaction did you get from the film?

We barely live for 50-60 years. Even in this short span, I tend to connect with my film crew very well. But, Tarak is like a drug. It feels like mad if he doesn't turn up even for a day. His love is like a thoofan. We keep immersing in it. I won't forget this relationship for the rest of my life.

Your next project?

After taking a gap of three months, I will direct a movie with Devi Sri as the hero.