Watch my film again

Says filmmaker Praveen Sattaru to all the critics who panned ‘Chandamama Kathalu’ which is adjudged as the Best Telugu Film on Tuesday

‘Chandamama Kathalu’ receiving the National Award for the Best Telugu Film is obviously a reason for Praveen Sattaru to feel elated. But it was a surprise, he says in a conversation with HANS TALKIES. He shares his moment of glory, vision for Telugu cinema and plans for the future.

Were you expecting the award?

Frankly, I wasn’t! I did hope that I get it but the announcement came as a surprise.

Film didn’t see a commercial success and was totally panned by critics.The film was made for the critics and I was also hoping for a commercial success. But neither of that happened. I started questioning my judgement and the reason I made the film.Moreover, reviews play a very important role in a film faring well and the so called Telugu cinema reviewers thrashed the film labeling it fables and saying it is not up to the mark. I don’t know why they felt so. May be they were venting out other frustrations.

Another reason could be that the release was badly timed. With elections ahead – the elections were very heated – it could’ve taken a toll on the film. Well, at this point I can come up with many reasons, but the fact remains that it didn’t click.Getting the National Award silences all those critics and I would now want them to go back and watch the film once again.

Apart from yours, no other Telugu film won an award. Tamil cinema has clinched seven awards and even our counterparts from the other southern film industries have made a mark. Why do you think our cinema is lagging and failing to be recognised on the national level?

The major flaw is in the idea itself. A film should be made because it’s a form of art. The other industries treat it like that too. But here, cinema is seen as a money making machine. When the intention is wrong, you cannot expect big laurels.

Nobody knows the formula for success. But here, everybody feels the formula of success is with them. The script is weaved around the so called likes of the public which nobody knows again! In the end it’s turning out to be a mish mash of songs and scenes but it won’t be a story.

Telugu cinema is all about stars. Do you think their presence can make a difference to a film like ‘Chandamama Kathalu’?

It definitely will. I feel if I had made the same movie with stars, it would have been a blockbuster. If Telugu cinema has to change, it has to unfortunately trickle down from the stars.

But when stars tried something new, the audience hasn’t accepted the novelty. Do you thing Telugu cinema audience isn’t open to different cinema?

Well, the fault isn’t with the audience. In the ‘70s and ‘80s we made some world class cinema. And those films were a commercial success too. If not, directors like K Viswanath and Bapu wouldn’t have survived. So, the audience does have an understanding of what sensible cinema is.

But what happened is that in the last two decades, a few filmmakers have changed the concept of making films and people got used to too much of this new kind of cinema. In the process, we’ve lost a generation of viewers who do not connect with meaningful cinema.And that damage has to be undone. It may be a long process but it will happen! It’s just like the habit of smoking. Very hard to quit but with trial it will happen.

So what next from Praveen Sattaru?

There’s a film under production right now and it will be a typical commercial cinema! I need to make some money too, right?

You wanted to make a sequel to ‘Chandamama Kathalu,’ right?

Yes. That was the idea first but since the film didn’t fare well, I dropped the idea. But after the award, I am motivated to make it. I will do it but not now. When a new set of stories inspire me, I will do it.

By Pranita Jonnalagedda