‘Oh Baby’ will have a big release in China: Producers

Vivek Kuchibotla & Sunita Tati of People Media Factory are happy about the success of Samantha’s ‘Oh Baby’.  In this interview, they talk about the fantasy comedy, how Suresh Productions has been instrumental in its success, their upcoming movies and more.  

That’s how it all began

It all began in 2016 when a foreigner named Thomas wanted to produce movies in south India.  He had already made a Hindi film.  He didn’t know anything about the south film industry and used to believe that only Bollywood is huge in India.  We handheld him and got him introduced to D Suresh Babu garu.  Finally, in 2018, we locked the project after Samantha Akkineni came on board.  It was Samantha’s choice to rope in Nandini Reddy as the director.  Thomas owns a production house in South Korea.  As you all know, ‘Oh Baby’ is a remake of a South Korean movie.  

China release will be big

The response has still been very strong.  In terms of online ticket sales, the movie is still trending even after all these days in Hyderabad.  In the US, too, ‘Oh Baby’ is doing very well, and tremendously in other territories.  The film has defied the myth that only mass films do well in some territories.  We have plans to release in China, Vietnam and other countries.   A Chinese distribution company has shown interest in the movie because of Samantha’s performance and the Indian style of story-telling.  That’s why they want to release it in China despite the audience having watched another version of the same movie already.  

Suresh Babu’s precious interventions

It was Suresh Babu garu’s choice to rope in Rajendra Prasad garu, and Nandini’s choice to go for Lakshmi garu.  We had apprehensions about RP garu’s wig, though. (Laughs).  His look was finalized with much care and detailing.  Suresh Productions comes with lots of experience.  Suresh Babu garu’s guidance helped us a great deal.  

Suresh Babu garu and Rana Daggubati garu cogitated over how ‘Miss Granny’ should be adapted for Telugu.  The former was a guiding light throughout.  If the adaptation worked so well, it’s because of him.  ‘Oh Baby’ is the first official Indian remake blockbuster that has been remade on the basis of a Korean movie.  Suresh Babu garu gave complete freedom to Samantha and Nandini Reddy and it was crucial.  

Adapting for Telugu audience

We never compromised on the essence of the story.  We didn’t infuse songs for the sake of it.  The body language of Samantha’s character, her slang – everything was rehashed from the original keeping the nativity in view.  Samantha’s participation was total.  

Fantasy is a big genre in Korea. In Indian films, fantasy is always almost associated with divine intervention.  That’s why the Trimurthi element in ‘Oh Baby’. We relied on magic so that people don’t look for logic.  

Upcoming movies

People Media Factory and Suresh Productions are planning to produce ‘Venky Mama’ for Dasara.  Our association has been going great.  PMF has a cop story in mind; it’s a crime comedy action thriller.  A story of a wife and a husband is on the cards.  Our next film, a crime thriller based on a popular Japanese novel, will go on the floors in October or November.  The Hindi remake of ‘Oh Baby’ is our first priority.  Someone from Sandalwood and in Bengal’s Tollywood are also interested to remake.