Producer Yarlagadda Surendra speaks...
I knew Jagapathi Babu much before he entered films. So, when Ramu approached me again after
Shiva to do another film, we agreed to do it with Jagapathi Babu. It was Mani Rathnam who suggested Urmila's role in the film. The first version of the script did not have her in the movie. I knew Sri as the son of music director Chakravarthy, and this was his first film. The film celebrated 100 days in four centers - Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, and Vizag. Like
Shiva, Ramu wanted to do the Hindi version also, by reshooting some scenes in the movie and release in Hindi. But, after a week of shooting, he was not happy and wanted to do it completely with Hindi star cast. We thus dropped that project. Ramu was paid what Nagarjuna was paid for
Shiva. We shot the film in 70 days. The film budget was almost same as
Shiva, i.e. around 90 lakh rupees. The film might have a bigger hit if it was not released at the same time as
Major Chandrakanth. (
Major Chandrakanth was released in Sudarshan 35 mm and
Gaayam was released in Devi 70 mm in Hyderabad, both in the same premises.)
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| Jagapathi babu |
Jagapathi Babu on the film:
Sri: Though you debuted with the film
Simha Swapnam and you dubbed your voice in that, why did someone else have to dub for you until
Gaayam?
Jagapathi Babu: People felt my voice didn't suit for movies. Actually, some even thought that I myself don't suit to movies! (Laughs) Then, slowly films like
Jagannaatakam,
Peddarikam,
etc. started becoming hits and I was noticed. Ghantasala Rathnakumar used to dub for me in films at that time.
Sri: So, how do you know Ramu?
Jagapathi Babu: I knew Ramu much before
Shiva happened. In fact, he was one of the few friends who encouraged me to come into films, when I asked his advice on it. He encouraged me a lot to join the filmdom. Though my films were initially ending up as flops, he was always beside me to encourage. He saw the film
Peddarikam when he chanced to be in Suresh Productions office at the same time as the film was being screened there. He saw a particular scene of fight that he got a glimpse of and he liked me instantly in the scene. He called me right away and informed that he'd do a film with me. I was not sure whether he would dub my voice or let me use my own. He had faith in me and my voice and it was he who stressed that I should dub in my voice for the film.
Sri: The film was a big break to you, but then how is it that you have not got into an action hero image with the film?
Jagapathi Babu: Immediately after
Gaayam, I got similar roles but I didn't take them, just waiting for the right script. Meanwhile films like
Subhalagnam,
Maavichiguru,
etc. became huge hits and I was branded as a family hero.
Sri: I heard that you shot the Hindi version for a week before the project was dropped. Did you ever feel that you could have made it big in Bollywood too if the film was actually made. Years later, the same theme is revamped as
Sarkar and became a huge hit!
Jagapathi Babu: The question never occurred to me earlier (laughs), but maybe that's not in the destiny. That's probably why it didn't happen.
Sri: I heard that Urmila herself composed a dance sequence as Suchitra was not able to make it for the schedule of song
cheli meeda chiTikeDu daya raadaa!...
Jagapathi Babu: I do not remember that, but I remember another incident that happened when we were shooting for the Hindi version. While shooting for the song, Urmila was dancing around and I did not know what to do. So, I went and asked Ramu what sort of dance steps I need to do and how I should look. Ramu just took me to the camera and asked me to see through the camera lens and said "See how beautiful the heroine is! People see her dance steps and not yours! So, do not bother about it." (Laughs)
Sri: You keep saying that the sequel is on the way.
Jagapathi Babu: Yes, we are planning the sequel soon... may be by the end of this year. Kalyan, an assistant director to Ramgopal Verma, will be directing the film. The film shows how Durga and his gang are doing after 15 years. Other details including who'd produce the film will have to wait.
To me
Gaayam is definitely a special movie. That movie gave life to my film career. if you ask me rate my top ten movies, then
Gaayam will always be my number one movie.
