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The small screen beckons

A mega-serial, tele-films and a series for children - Manjula has a lot up her sleeve

Manjula is charting a success story PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

It took just two films for Manjula to understand the unpredictable ways of the film industry. If her first production Show fetched her a national award, her second film Naani taught her that films aren't a bed of roses. After a lull, she's bounced back with her latest production, Pokiri, starring her brother Mahesh Babu. But mainstream commercial cinema isn't her only forte. She believes that there is an audience for unconventional stories and is reaching out to that segment through her TV soap, Vaishali, telecast Monday to Friday on Zee Telugu.

`Hatke' concepts for TV

When we catch up with Manjula at her office, she is busy as a bee. "We are beginning to shoot a tele-film," she informs. Vaishali apart, in the pipeline are monthly tele-films and a new series for children. "Television doesn't restrict you. You don't need songs, action sequences, a comedy track and worry if the film would appeal to the masses. Mainstream films don't touch upon a number of issues and this can stifle a creative person. I was toying with the idea of making Vaishali as a film. But it's a huge risk to make women-oriented films. Whereas, for the small screen, women comprise majority of the audience and that suits me fine," she explains.

Unlike the never-ending soaps, Manjula assures that Vaishali has "a beginning, middle, and an end." Alongside, Manjula has chalked out plans to make one tele-serial a month. "The first will be Women's Club. Three women come together and create a help line to solve problems of other women. They in turn learn through the experiences. This will be directed by Raj Pandi," says Manjula, adding that she hasn't bit on more than what she can chew. "My husband Sanjay shares a lot of my work and makes it easier for me."

The real challenge, she says, is targeting the tiny tots. "We grew up reading Jataka tales, Vikramaditya and Amar Chitra Katha. It's disheartening to see children moving away from all that and preferring video games and bayblades. The children's tele-series will have a bunch of children, on the lines of Enid Blyton's Famous Five, and incorporate morals from a folklore to their daily lives. It's a fun series that will not get preachy."

Where do films fit in? "I'll continue to produce well-made commercial films," she affirms. Ask her if she regrets making Naani and Manjula says, "Naani was the best thing to have happened in my career. If it had succeeded, I'd have thought I'm an invincible producer. I still stand by the film but I realise it disappointed Mahesh's fans."

SANGEETHA DEVI. K

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