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Singeetham
Srinivasa Rao
Making up for lost time
 Singeetham
Srinivasa Rao, the nationally acclaimed director with 65 films to
his credit, is heading for yet another breakthrough with an animation
film Son of Alladdin. He spoke to Screen during the announcement
of his new Kannada film Makeup at Golf Club in Bangalore recently.
So you are back to Kannada films after a brief gap.
That’s right. I am back after the Raghavendra Rajkumar-starrer
Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi. I am happy to be here as I have enjoyed working
in Kannada films.
What is this animation film?
It is being made for Penta Media Group and is about Alladdin’s
son. We have heard about Allauddin and not about his son. For this
film, I am working with the help of 18 cameras fitted in a room.
This is a feature film of one hour 20 minutes duration.
What are the other projects you did before taking up Jaggesh’s
Makeup?
I did a trilingual film called Little John. I also directed a film
for ABCL as well as Dr Ramoji Rao’s Telugu film Akasha Veedhilo.
What is it that you like about the Kannada film industry?
I did the Kannada version of Pushpaka Vimana first because I wanted
to know the pulse of the people here in Bangalore. I have done films
in all languages and so I would like to call myself a ‘touring
director’. Bangalore is the best place for a film director
to pick up his base and reach the audience. The films of directors
Girish Kasaravalli and Girish Karnad have impressed me a lot. I
was also the part of the innovative Kannada film Samskara. I have
never seen such innovativeness in other language films.
The silent film Pushpaka Vimahana is an evergreen film in your career.
Yes and it has been dubbed in many languages. It went for many national
and international festivals. Maximum viewers liked the philosophy
of a beggar in the film.
Over the years, the pattern of filmmaking has changed.
Whatever the pattern, a director must see to it that he does not
waste and pinch the pocket of producer. His work should not disturb
the eyes of the audience. I enjoyed doing variety. As a director,
I have travelled a lot during the making of Samskara, Bhairava Dweepam,
Appu Raja and a small budget film in Telugu titled Gammathu Goodacharulu.
What advice to you have for the present trend of filmmakers?
I would say that the subject and the budget are the quintessential
aspects that the filmmakers have to concentrate on. Without a proper
script, they should never launch their film. Today films are flopping
because of lack of study. A director has to know thoroughly what
he wants to shoot before he starts his project. He has to be more
refined and well-informed about every aspect of filmmaking. This
will help the film immensely.
Do you see lack of discipline in the industry today?
That’s hard to say. Most of them are not disciplined in their
approach. I was in Los Angeles recently for two months and noticed
that Hollywood filmmakers give prominence to timing and planning.
Once the film is on the floor, they do not make even a minuscule
change in the script. I think we have to inculcate this system.
What is this Jaggesh film all about?
I have worked for great banners like Dr Rajkumar, Kamal Haasan,
Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Rajendra Kumar and Rajendra Prasad. Now
I am working under Jaggesh’s banner in the film titled Makeup.
Jaggesh has the natural timing in comedy. The film is written by
his son Gururaj and is produced by Jaggesh’s wife Smt Parimala
Jaggesh.
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