The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Stay committed to story’

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Monday, Jan 07, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Stay committed to story’

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Even as one strikes a conversation with him, he easily comes across as a committed film-maker.

‘Ore Kadal’ (The Sea Within), a film that hit the marquee in August 2007 and ran for over 50 days in several centres in Kerala was screened at the Hyderabad International Film Festival (HIFF) here on Sunday and received a thumping response.

That’s Shyamaprasad, the film-maker who is largely inspired by works of literature and makes no bones about it. When a literary work focuses on a particular theme and makes people read it, he sees no reason why an inspiration on the celluloid medium cannot be a success.

‘Agni Sakshi’ (1998), with Sobhana and Rajat Kapur, was based on a Malayalam novel by Lalithambika Antharjanam. It featured at the International Film Festival of India here in 1999 and bagged over a dozen awards.

‘Kallu Kondaru Pennu’ (Woman of Stone), which was an inspiration from a Malayalam play, had our very own Vijayashanti and Suresh Gopi in the lead. ‘Akale’, based on Tennessee Williams’ play ‘Glass Menagerie’ had Pritviraj, Sheela and Geetu Mohandhas in the cast. ‘Ore Kadal’, based on a Bengali novel, features Mammooty, Meera Jasmine and Ramyakrishna in a poignant study of a middle-class housewife drawn to a radical intellectual. The film is all about relationships and Shyamaprasad calls it a love story under unusual circumstances and one that ends in a riddle. Has he entertained thoughts about making commercial hits? What according to him is the formula for success? “Commitment to the story and not allowing oneself to be deviated.” Whether the deviation is forced by the producer or the stars, ultimately it is the director’s commitment that counts, before signing off.

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Andhra Pradesh