Exploring first love

‘Ainaa Ishtam Nuvvu’ director Ramprasad Ragutu talks about his journey in showbiz, associating with Anurag Kashyap, Krishna Vamsi, wrapping up his project in 44 days and more…

A fine arts graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad, filmmaker Ramprasad Ragutu, who is awaiting the release of his maiden venture ‘Ainaa Ishtam Nuvvu’, had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Anurag Kashyap, Manish Gupta (Sarkar writer) and Krishna Vamsi before deciding to go ahead on his own.

“Besides 10 short films, I worked for Kashyap’s films like ‘Gulaal’ and ‘Dev D’. With him you have to be on the move constantly; you have to pack your lunch box and attend where ever he goes,” he says, flashing a smile.

Recalling his journey into showbiz, the Srikakulam native shares, “After completing my graduation in 2006, I left to Mumbai and started assisting cameraman Srikanth Naroj, who was my senior at college. It was he who suggested that I get into the field of direction. I took his advice and joined writer Manish Gupta. Later I got into Kashyap’s team.”

After gaining enough experience under the tutorage of the critically acclaimed director, he packed his bags to Hyderabad and met Krishna Vamsi. “I didn’t work with him as an assistant director. I was into the writing department of his films. In many ways he is my mentor.

I shared a great relationship with him and continue to do so,” says Ramprasad, who worked for Krishna Vamsi’s films like ‘Chandamama’, ‘Sashireka Parinayam’, ‘Paisa’ and ‘Govindudu Andarivadele’ among other flicks. “It was after ‘Mogudu’ that I told him about my desire to turn a director. He suggested that I show my script to a few heroes he knows.”

It was his association with Krishna Vamsi that helped him find Nawin Vijaya Krishna, son of senior actor Naresh. “Nawin was editing Krishna Vamsi’s films when I formed a bond with him. It was during one of my casual conversations with him that I bounced off the plot line of ‘Ainaa Ishtam Nuvvu’. He liked it immensely and said he will do it. But he was around 130 kilos at that time and I was apprehensive about casting him. He lost nearly 60 kg to be my hero.”

Finding a producer didn’t prove tough for him. “It was Uttej garu, who arranged a meeting with producer Chanti Addala. He loved the script but didn’t endorse the idea of casting Nawin as the lead actor keeping in mind the business prospects. But I told him that I couldn’t visualise any actor other than Nawin and that he even lost so many kilos to fit my vision. He finally gave in,” he recalls.

The film, a love story, narrates the tale of how a narrow-minded lower middle class guy (Nawin) wins the love of a broad-minded software engineer (played by Keerthi Suresh). “My only intention was to tell the story in such a way that everyone relates to their first love,” he gushes.

Shot in Hyderabad completely – predominantly around a slum near Borabanda railway station and at Necklace Road, Nature Cure Hospital and Hi-Tech City railways stations – the film was wrapped up in flat 44 days. “Though the producer allotted 60 working days to us, we managed to wrap up in 44 days. The credit for that must go to my cameraman brother Suresh Ragutu, composer Achu and actor Nawin,” he signs off.

By Nagaraj Goud