I have a subject bigger than Baahubali: RP Patnaik

The tunesmith-turned-director on his success ratio, future plans and why ‘Manalo Okadu,’ his next, will get reviews akin to those of ‘Okkadu’ and ‘Bommarillu’

After turning director, composer RP Patnaik made five films with little box-office success but that’s the last thing on his mind before he embarks on a new project. “Barring ‘Broker,’ other films didn’t reach people but you can’t dismiss them as bad films. I won the best script writer award for ‘Andamaina Manasulo’ which narrated the story of a 13-year-old girl falling in love with a 21-year-old guy,” he indicates, pointing out that he believes in experimenting than dealing with beaten-to-death formula.

But box-office success does matter, right? Especially in a place like Tollywood where you are judged by your last release? “When you are sensible enough to do sensible cinema, they are a few people who are ready to back your ideas,” he informs, revealing that he knows how to control budget and all his directorial efforts have been shot within the budget.

He adds that he has a bigger subject than ‘Baahubali’ but admits that there is no one ready to fund it. “Till then I have to be silent and make the brand of cinema that I believe in. Once I click, I want to do bigger things,” states RP, who is almost ready with his next, ‘Manalo Okadu.’

RP believes that when people connect or identify with a character in a film, they’ll start admiring it and he feels that ‘Manalo Okadu’ will click with everyone. “People who watch TV will identify with ‘Manalo Okadu’ in a big way. We are seeing one side of the media and in ‘Manalo Okadu,’ I’ve shown the other side. It’s about a common man’s fight against media ago.”

He is confident that the film will pass out in flying colours without any negative remarks. “’Okkadu’ and ‘Bommarillu’ are the only two films that didn’t attract any kind of negative feedback. Even a blockbuster like ‘Pokiri’ had to go through its share of criticism. I believe ‘Manalo Okadu,’ upon release, will join the elite league of ‘Okkadu’ and ‘Bommarillu’,” he promises.

RP, who plays a lecturer Krishnamurthy in the social drama, continues after a pause, “I want colleges to declare a holiday specially to watch the film. Besides the media aspect, I’m also showing the student-lecturer relationship; how important it is and how it should be. Every lecturer should take his student to watch ‘Manalo Okadu’ and vice-versa.”

Ask him whether it was intentional from his end to cast himself as Krishnamurthy or whether he failed to get a mainstream actor on board for the part and he admits that he doesn’t want to settle down as an actor, though he believes that there’s only a section which loves his acting. “The script here demanded a common man who doesn’t carry an image.

It wouldn’t have fit any hero. And at the same time, the actor should have been accepted by the people. Because of ‘Seenu Vasanti Lakshmi’ and ‘Broker,’ people know me as an actor and I don’t carry an image like a star hero. So I felt why not I do the part.”

Anita Hassanandani is making a comeback to Tollywoood with the film. She is playing RP’s wife. So, how did he manage convince the actress who is a busy artiste in Mumbai? RP informs that Anita likes him as a person and all it took was a call followed by narration. “She loved the script and said she would do love to it.

But there were some issues with her dates and we adjusted our schedules accordingly,” RP recalls, insisting that he’s looking for a good window to release the film as he is keen on not pitting it with other releases. “I’m looking for a Friday where people will only come to watch my film.”