First Telugu film made with Telangana crew

Teja’s laudable venture

Hyderabad: Director Teja, who has many firsts to his credit, has now added another feather to his steaming cap. Since his upcoming film “Hora Hori’ starring new faces Dilip and Daksha, will go down as the first Telugu film to employ cine workers hailing from Telangana region and opened a window of opportunities for the workers in the new state.

It’s a kind of new beginning in a new state, opined Teja. Usually, Telugu filmmakers hire cine workers from existing Andhra Pradesh Film Employees Federation for various departments, but director Teja broke this convention and chose workers and crew on the merits of their talent. From dancers to stuntmen, from art director to make-up artist and other technicians and crew, who worked in his upcoming romantic thriller mostly shot in picturesque Shimoga, are Telangana-born talent.

“Existing technicians come up with clichéd ideas, so I wanted to explore new talent. When I spotted spark in cine workers from Telangana region, I roped in dancers, stuntmen, art director, make-up artists, light men, helpers and other members of the 24 unions and they surprised me with their talent and discipline,” he said. It has also helped him to cut cost for his Rs 6-crore production. Teja has introduced many an actor and actress in his 15-year-old chequered film career.

He said he had selected his 100-odd crew members from newly-formed Telangana Film Employees Federation since it has got affiliation to all India apex body—All India Film Employees Confederation. This decision of Teja seems to have pitted him against the 14,000-strong Andhra Pradesh Film Employees Federation, which has taken serious note of the violation, and is contemplating action against him, according to Rajeswar Reddy, general secretary, Andhra Pradesh Film Employees Federation. But Teja is in no mood to budge. “Every filmmaker has the right to choose his team; the rest I don’t bother,” he cuts short.

By:BVS Prakash