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'I want deserving movies to be given their due'

D Rama Naidu Click for bigger pic!

Veteran film producer D Rama Naidu, who is on the verge of establishing a world record for producing the largest number of films in a language -- as he approaches 100 in Telugu -- is angry and upset.

The reason for his ire: that Telugu films have not been given their due recognition at the International Film Festival of India '99 to be held in Hyderabad, against which the local industry quickly protested.

Rama Naidu says, "Personally I am unhappy. Recently I made two movies -- Sivayya and Ganesh. Both these films have a good message. I am not aware if the officials concerned have seen them or if they were screened at all. These films, which were well received by the audience and which got rave reviews, were not selected for the festival.

"This is not the first time that I faced such a thing. During my early years in the industry I made Papa Kosam in Telugu and remade the same in Hindi as Nanha Farishta. It was not selected, while the film industry felt it deserved an award. I too expected the same. Of course, now I am not bothered. But I am not happy either. I certainly want deserving movies be given their due and appreciated. They should be given awards."

Sultan Bahbood Mirza spoke to the producer who declares his ambition: to make films in all Indian languages:

Do you think the Union government did justice to veteran Telugu film personalities and Telugu films in IFFI '99 to be held in Hyderabad?

D Rama Naidu Click for bigger pic!

The initial decisions of the Union government regarding the selection of films to be screened at IFFI '99 and the retrospectives allocated for veteran film personalities were lop-sided. They had totally overlooked Telugu cinema and veterans who have contributed a lot to the industry, But the authorities at the Centre have since taken note of the protest from the industry and agreed to screen 50 films, five on each day during the festival. They also decided to hold a retrospective of veteran P Bhanumathi Ramakrishna.

Unfortunately, not a single Telugu film was chosen for the competitive section this time also, even though our productions Ganesh and Sivayya got rare reviews from both critics and the audience.

What could be the reason for this?

One important reason is the absence of rapport between the Centre and the film festival directorate on one hand and the Telugu film industry on the other. Unlike Hindi industry folk and like the Malayalam, Kannada industry folk, who keep in constant touch with the film festival directorate, we Telugu industry folks kind of shy away. Things will improve for the better once a good rapport is built up.

After all these years, do you think Hyderabad has arrived as a film centre?

Yes, it has. There are well equipped studios, recording and re-recording facilities and dubbing theatres, preview theatres which can be compared with the best in the industry. Besides, the sprawling 500-acre Ramoji Film City is considered one of the best in Asia. With all these facilities available in the state, do we need to go anywhere else to shoot or record for the films? Of course, if you want to go outdoors then you are welcome to go anywhere but the rest of the facilities are available in the state itself.

Tell us about your latest films.

Suman

I am making Pedda Manushulu in Telugu with Suman. I am also remaking Pavitra Bandham in Hindi with Anil Kapoor. It is titled Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain. The former stars Suman and Heera in lead roles and the film is directed by Boyina Subba Rao. It is a family drama. Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain stars Anil and Kajol in the lead roles, with Anupam Kher in another pivotal role.

I'll start my second Bengali film in January after completing these two films. The Bengali film has top artistes.

But why did you not retain Venkatesh in the Hindi remake of Pavitra Bandham?

There is no specific reason. I am making a Hindi film with Venkatesh next year which is the remake of his hit Telugu film Preminchukundam Raa. The heroine is yet to be finalised. I have decided to make one Hindi film every year.

Why did you choose Satish Kaushik to direct HADMRH, who is considered a jinxed director?

A still from Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain Click for bigger pic!

On the contrary, Kaushik is doing a commendable job of the film. I don't rely solely on a director's past record. If I am confident of his competence, I have no qualms about retaining him. In fact, the director of my first film was Yepi Chanakya, who was also considered a jinxed director.

What are the factors you consider vital while making a film?

The most important factor is the subject or the story. If the story is interesting, contains novelty, I'll retain it. The other ingredients only enhance the quality but the life of film is its subject, and the rest of the aspects secondary.

What are the other languages in which you are making films?

A still from Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain Click for bigger pic!

I have made nearly 92 pictures -- all of them straight films -- in Telugu and dubbed some of them into Tamil. I also remade some of them into Tamil, like Premnagar, Michael Raja etc, I also made three Kannada films. Soon after releasing Pedda Manushulu and Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain, I will get on with Hindi and Bengali films. I will later make films in Oriya and Malayalam, and afterwards in Gujarati and Marathi. My ambition is to make films in all the Indian languages.

Besides, after completing 100 straight films in Telugu, I will produce a film in English.

Don't you find language a barrier?

Certainly not, films are visual treats and creativity has its own language for effective communication. Therefore, producing films in other languages is not a barrier to me. I've so far made films in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada besides Telugu, which is my mother tongue. I'm confident I can repeat the same in other Indian languages as well.

Who, according to you, is an ideal producer?

One who is sincere towards his work, who regards film making a serious business and not a place to enjoy. A producer should have the script ready in hand before the film goes on the floors. He should know all aspects and areas of film making.

How much should he interfere with the director's work?

As far as I'm concerned I would interfere if I feel a change would make the scene better. But if the director convinces me that his idea is ideal, I would not interfere. But, if I'm not convinced, then I'll have it done the way I see it. After all, I believe that I should know what is happening in the film I'm producing.

You've taken up social service activities. What is that about?

D Rama Naidu with Anil Kapoor Click for bigger pic!

I've started Rama Naidu Charitable Trust and given 10 acres of land to build an old age home in Narsapur mandal in Medak district, and earmarked five acres of land to an orphanage. An eye-hospital is being floated which would hold eye camps in rural areas regularly.

Next year, I will utilise the profits of Pedda Manushulu and Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rahte Hain to develop my village Karamchedu in Prakasam district. I will coordinate with the district collector to take up the necessary developmental activities in the village. Each year I will adopt a village and develop it. My trust donated Rs 15,00,000 for the construction of a school building in Narsapur in Medak.

This way, I have brought about a connection between my films and my social service activities.

You're soon to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. How do you feel about it?

Yes, after I complete 100 pictures in Telugu I'll find a place in the Guinness Book for producing the largest number of films in a particular language.

In this period I gave breaks to 11 new heroines and 20 directors, besides innumerable chances to heroines, music directors...