Pawan has every right to pursue his interests: Suresh Babu

Tamil actor Vishal recently made a suggestion that critics should review a movie, only three days after its release. This idea was seconded by super star Rajnikanth. However, is this proposal feasible? Our correspondent Sridhar Adivi spoke to Tollywood producer Suresh Babu Daggubati to elicit his opinion on the same and on a host of other issues including Pawan Kalyan’s foray into politics

Q: What is your opinion on the suggestion made by Vishal and Rajnikanth?
SB: It is not possible! Reviews are part of the system and an expression of ‘free speech’. Even if critics put their pens down for three days, how can you stop the social media?

Q: Don’t you think there is merit in the suggestion?
SB: No positive review can save a bad film and vice-versa. In fact, if you look at my recent release ‘Pelli Choopulu’, it was a small film and the reviews actually helped the movie do well. Similarly, reviews played a major role in the success of ‘Ghazi’. Maybe, staying off reviews for three days can help a big movie salvage its losses to a minimal extent but can have no impact on the final result and as I have said earlier, how can you stop the social media?

Q: What then could have led to this idea from Vishal?
SB: A reviewer has no financial stake in the movie he is writing about. Not everyone is comfortable with the opinion of a person who has no stake in the project, yet has the potential to affect its outcome. And at the crux of the matter is honesty. There have been instances of reviews not being honest because of various reasons and thereby losing credibility. But, as I have said earlier, reviewers are only exercising their ‘right to free speech’. Honesty begets credibility and I believe that we are getting to that phase.

Q: How then can you judge the efficacy of a review?
SB: Compare the revenues of movies vis-a-vis their box-office performance and you get an idea of how correct or off the mark, the reviewer has been.

Q: But movies like ‘Pelli Choopulu’ could get a good release because you were involved. Small films do not have a release problem in Tamil Nadu unlike in AP and Telangana?
SB: That is a misconception! There are many films in Tamil Nadu which could not get a proper release. See, Tamil Nadu has only around five star heroes whereas in Telugu, you have at least 15 stars whose movies release in more than 400 plus theatres.

Also, they do not prefer dubbed movies there unlike us. And I cannot emphasize this enough! How many producers or directors put in the effort to package their movie attractively and create a desire among people to come and watch the film? And which exhibitor or distributor would be foolish enough to refuse a movie that the public is interested in?

Q: What is your advice to new small-film producers in Tollywood?
SB: Create a proper and interesting trailer first. Arrange multiple screenings of the movie to all stakeholders including distributors, media etc for 10 or 20 days in a row. If the movie is really good, the word-of-mouth will definitely spread. I arranged multiple screenings of ‘Pelli Choopulu’ prior to release and did the same for ‘Guru’ as well. Of course, if the film is bad, the comments can be pretty hard to take. But this is an acid test which producers should be willing to go through if they want to succeed in this industry. They should be true to themselves.

Q: On a different note, what is your take on Pawan Kalyan’s foray into politics? What impact will it have on Tollywood?
SB: If Pawan Kalyan is interested in politics, he has every right to pursue his interests. Ultimately, it will be his convictions and hard work which will determine his success in his endeavor and this applies to anyone.

What I would not endorse is writing off somebody even before they have been given an opportunity. When NTR garu made his political entry, there were many who did not give him a chance. Similarly, YS Rajshekhar Reddy garu was Opposition leader for the better part of two decades before he became Chief Ministerby dint of sheer hard work.

But impact-wise, there will be no impact on Tollywood! There have always been stars in the industry owing allegiance to different political parties. Yet, when they all meet, it is only as actors, producers, directors or whatever. Their political affiliation is their personal prerogative. Tollywood is a river running its own course and will continue to do so.