I want to make meaningful cinema: Nimmagadda Prasad

Industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad, who is an avid movie buff, has turned producer with ‘Nirmala Convent’, which opens on September 16. He produced the teenage romantic drama, featuring Roshan and Shriya Sharma, along with bestie Nagarjuna. Explaining the reason behind foraying into filmmaking, Prasad says, “My journey with Nagarjuna has been beautiful.

We are friends’ first, business partners next. I’ve also spent memorable moments with the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu discussing life among other subjects. Annapurna Studios is family to me and because of the attachment I felt why not get into production.”

Another reason, he informs, was to promote new talent. “G Naga Koteshwara Rao (director of ‘Nirmala Convent’ was associated with ‘Meelo Evaru Koteeshwarudu’ show (Prasad was MAA chairman back then) and I’ve found him to be a bundle of energy who believes in positivity.

Whenever someone reaches out to him on phone to enquire about his well-being, he would scream, ‘I’m fantastic sir.’ When you have a bad day and you ring him the next minute, you feel energised. He is selfless, very creative and when he knocked my doors with the subject of ‘Nirmala Convent’, I was more than happy to bankroll it.”

Continuing with the explanation, he adds, “When I took over Matrix in 2000, it was a sick company. I started recruitment process by interviewing a middle-aged R&D scientist. He wanted me to deposit five-year salary in his bank account since Matrix was bankrupt.

I told him, ‘If I have such intentions to deposit your five-year salary, why would I acquire a sick company in the first place?’ That day I’ve realised why shouldn’t I push newcomers? I told my HR that I need scientists between 21 and 23 years and the rest is history.

When I sold off my majority shares in 2006, the average age of Matrix employees was 28 years.I was happy to note that Nagarjuna and Naga Koteshwara Rao too believe in rooting for new talent.

We’ve introduced 15 new talents to the industry with ‘Nirmala Convent’. And the other day (at the audio launch), the way Rohan and Shriya spoke, they justified the faith that I had in their spontaneous natural abilities.”

Given his other business interests, the top shot admits that he won’t be stopping by just one film. “The plan is to produce more films but I will not rush. If a nice story comes along and I feel that it’ll benefit the society at large, I will produce it.”