Uppalapati Narayana Rao speaks...

I hail from Kakinada. My uncle is already in the filmdom as a producer of films like Swargam-Narakam (Dasari), Devudu Chesina Bommalu (Hanuman Prasad), etc. From the beginning, I was more interested in films and thus I went to him and said I want to try my hand in the field. He sent me to Ravikishore gaaru and I joined the Sravanthi banner and worked with director Vamsy for Maharshi and Sree Kanakamahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe. I then worked for Varasudocchadu with Mohan Gandhi. Though Mohan Gandhi gaaru asked me to work for Kartavyam, one of his assistants pleaded that he'd be an associate director if I didn't join the team. I thus politely declined the offer but was on the sets most of the time while Kartavyam was made. So, they acknowledged me with a special thanks card when the credits rolled.

About break as a director:

It was Nagarjuna who made a director out of me. Actually, I was then not yet ready to direct a film by myself. I went on behalf of Sravanthi to narrate a story to him which was supposed to be directed by K. Raghavendra Rao gaaru. Nagarjuna liked the way I narrated the story and asked me to direct a film for the Annapurna banner. I said I was not ready to direct the film and that I needed more experience.

He said he will give me as much time as I might need and that I could use his guesthouse as my work place until then, adding that I'd be paid a monthly salary under the Annapurna banner until I am done with the story and script. Later, Ravikishore gaaru came and said that he'd produce the film. I should be thankful to both of them as they trusted with a rank newcomer and gave complete freedom to let me go with my thoughts.