Apathy to empathy
M.L. NARASIMHAM
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Ramanaidu in a full-length role will be the highlight of `Hope'.
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A DIFFERENT ROLE Renowned producer D. Ramanaidu and Kalyani in a scene.
As traffic came to a halt at Necklace Road on a Sunday morning, anxiety was writ large on the faces of actors Kalyani, Venu, Vizag Prasad, Radha Devi and producer-actor Haranath Policherla as they rushed towards the Hussain Sagar lake. Gloom descends on them as they see a little girl's body washed ashore. Sarath's camera whirls to capture the actors' myriad emotions. Debutant filmmaker K. Sathyanarayana nee Sathish orders a `cut' with a satisfactory nod.
Thankfully, this isn't real life and they are shooting the scene for P. H. Productions, Hope (with the tagline Naakoo Maarpu Kaavaali)- an offbeat venture produced by the United States based Dr. Haranath Policherla. Now Sarath zoom his camera towards an adjacent, elegant looking high- rise.An elderly man looks down through a pair of binoculars. He is none other than the Alfred Hitchcock of Telugu cinema- Ramanaidu, who, like the legendary master of suspense Hitchcock, makes it a habit to appear in at least one scene in his home productions. "Now for the first time he is appearing in a full fledged role," says Satish, a fashion photographer turned filmmaker. We could have taken any seasoned actor for the role. But the movie has a strong message and we needed someone who commands respect to deliver the message. Ramanaidu is a natural choice to play the role."
The story is based on the education system and the resultant suicide of a girl- child. After the opening scene, the unit shifts to the building to take close- ups of the veteran producer who plays a retired professor.. "We do not have the stereotype hero and heroine in the story," Satish's baritone voice booms even as he smiles. "The two protagonists - Ramanaidu and Kalyani stay in the same apartment complex. Both of them are loners. Kalyani looses her father and then her younger sister. The pain, suffering, anguish and depression of loneliness bring the elderly man and her closer. For every human there must be someone to care and understand. In the company of the elderly man, Kalyani reinvigorates herself. A realisation dawns that our life is not programmed for loneliness.
But there is more to it. In short, it is an interesting story of two individuals whose lives intertwine and light a spark of hope in each other and in those around them. Hope is more than a film. It is a desire to strike the ember of hope in all of us." Satish has written the story, screenplay and co-written the dialogues with Ramana and Suresh with research by Aveena Gudapati. He says his producer Haranath has a deep social commitment and concern for generation next. Is the film meant for the awards circuit? Satish smiles, "We are aiming at a larger reach. Our primary mission is to take the film to various International film festivals and forums to create awareness and a meaningful debate among intellectuals, educationists and policy makers on the role of education in moulding society."
In her first assignment after marriage, Kalyani is glad that she returns with a meaningful role. The unit is now inside the tastefully done up flat from where Ramanaidu with his snow white french beard was looking down."This is my fourth film for an outside producer," says the veteran. "I have appeared in cameos in Potti Pleader, Dagudu Moothalu, and Dorababu. But there is a difference. Hope is where I am acting in a full-length role. I couldn't refuse their offer after hearing the story. Like in old times, they gave all the actors a complete bound script before commencing the shoot. Even we don't do that for our own productions," appreciates the Guinness Record holder. The shoot commences. The serious actor in Ramanaidu surfaces as the camera starts rolling.
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