Stars : Star Interviews : Gummuluri Sastry

Telugucinema.com proudly presents.......
an exclusive INTERVIEW with Gummuluri Sastry .

Gummuluri Sastry - not many might be familiar with the name. But almost every Telugu filmgoer can recognize him if it's said that he was the one who played the role of Vijayashanti's father in the movie paDamaTi sandhyaaraagam.

He has recently directed one more movie titled aTu America - iTu India, choosing most of the actors and actresses from among first and second generation NRIs. It's ready to be released in India in the mid-June. TeluguCinema.com interviewed Sree Gummaluri Sastry gaaru, on the occasion of his re-entry into the industry after a long gap, as he wishes to continue making movies from now on. The interview was made over the phone, with our member Sri recording the interview while NaChaKi interviewed Sree Sastry gaaru over the phone during the last week of February 2001. Thanks to Sree Sastry gaaru for being so helpful and giving detailed replies to our queries. It has been a memorable experience talking to him. He's a nice and jovial guy, who says he never played a comedy-based role until paDamaTi sandhyaaraagam, not even on the stage! He was a nice man to know, an amicable personality re-entering the industry after his second gap!

excerpts of an interview by NaChaki

Father: Sri Gummuluri Satyanarayana
Wife: Smt. Kanakadurga (married in 1969 in India) - Real estate agent for 20 years in USA.
Children: One daughter - did her Masters (Teaching). Wants to start a Montessori school.
Grandchildren: Three-and-a-half year old grand daughter and a grandson expected on April 28 (the interview was done in end of February).
Son-in-law: Born and brought up in the USA. Works in a computer-related industry.

When did you come to the USA? Can you please tell something about your family, background, etc.?

Sure, I had come to the USA in 1965, as a student. I was a bachelor then. My father, Sri Gummaluri Satyannarayana, is still very health at his age of 90. I have three brothers and a sister, all of them are in India. All of them are engineers or professors. I did my Master of Science (Astrophysics) in Connecticut, I was one of the first batch of students from India. I had done my M.Sc from Osmania University and worked as a lecturer there, before coming to the USA. I did my Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley and then continued my teaching profession here for five years. But it is difficult to get tenureship here in the USA, unless one is at least an assistant/associate professor. So I switched my discipline to engineering and became a Noise and Vibration Specialist for Washington metro.