GPSK was an overwhelming experience, says Sai Madhav

Sai Madhav Burra has become a name to reckon with post the release of his debut film ‘Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum’ (‘KVJ’). The dialogue writer took a break for a couple of years, but struck a chord and has earned accolades for subsequent films like ‘Kanche’, ‘Gopala Gopala’ and ‘Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju’.

“Perhaps I became choosy after the success of ‘KVJ’, but later I realised that my mistake and then started taking up projects. My dialogues clicked with the audience significantly because of my writing style,” he admits. With two landmark films ‘Gauthamiputra Sathakarini’ and ‘Khaidi No 150’, Sai Madhav describes the current phases as his best one.

“Working for a film like ‘Gauthamiputra Sathakarini’, which depicts the triumph of the King, was an overwhelming experience. I feel blessed to be part of such a film. Director Krish initially discussed his idea during ‘Kanche’. He has been working on the idea and recently he approached me with the final version.

When I initially heard the story, I believed only Balakrishna can do justice to the plot, but by that time Krish has already narrated the story to Balayya and everything was finalized. When you draw inspiration from life, the characters feel genuine,” the writer recalls.

The dialogues in the theatrical trailer are being hailed as one of the best in terms of historical films in the recent times, but Sai Madhav ascribes it to the director. “Krish has this uncanny knack of getting the best of out of writers and the powerful dialogues in the film are just a reflection of that work. Working with Balayya was fantastic and I am lucky to get this opportunity at a very early stage of my career.”

Penning the dialogues on India’s first warrior emperor is no walk in the park, but the writer did his bit to impress Balayya big time. “Although this is the first time I am writing for a historical film, I grew up watching several films of such genre in Telugu. Initially, I was apprehensive to write the dialogues for someone of Balayya’s statue.

But I grew in confidence after I gathered the material and references of the 2nd Century Satavahana ruler. Balayya was impressed with the dialogues and immediately green lit them,” describes the writer, who was inspired by Atreya, Paruchuri Brothers, Trivikram Srinivas.

The writer with a theatre background in Tenali feels the transformation process of projecting Balayya as Sathakarini, without diluting the former’s image was effortless. “It would have been difficult had it been anyone else other than Balayya.

We all know that Balayya is known for his elegance, grace and dialogues, traits that are similar to Sathakarini. So there wasn’t much effort that went into writing dialogues for the Nandamuri scion.

Also, we have treated each character with utmost importance He lauds Hema Malini for her approach to acting. “She’s a seasoned actress, and has asked to translate the meaning of the lines into Tamil or English so that she can get the crux of the conversation.” On a concluding note, Sai Madhav says that he has no plans to direct immediately, but wants to establish himself as a writer.