Star Interviews
Gummuluri Sastry
By NaChaKi
Sep 4, 2002 - 4:14:00 AM

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!

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 [Editor's Note: The interview was done in the end of February.]
Son-in-law: Born and brought up in the USA. Works in a computer-related industry.

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

NaChaKi: That's a rare subject too!...
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, that was the problem with this specialization one too, it's difficult to secure jobs. I was in that job during 1975-'78. Then I worked for a company as a consultant for the Washington metro (subway) system. Then during 1985-'90, I became the Chairman of the Noise and Vibration sub-committee for whole American transportation. Then I became a consultant for transportation-related noise and vibration for a few cities/countries - Baltimore, New York, Singapore, Taiwan and Baghdad. Baghdad people never paid me (laughs). I left the company in 1992 and have been a freelance consultant since then and continued to be a consultant for all these cities/countries. I have freed myself though, since the last couple of years as I wanted to enter the cine field again. That's how I got a chance to direct this (Atu America-Itu India) movie. I was completely off my consulting job all of last year!

NaChaKi: Why did you want to come to the industry? I mean, were you associated with any arts - dramas, etc.?
Gummuluri Sastry: I used to act in dramas from my childhood. I used to be in Chennai since my III class, until I came to Hyderabad for B.Sc. (and M.Sc.) and then of course, I came to US. I started acting in dramas since my V class. My father was a drama artiste too, he acted with famous people like Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao and Sthaanam Narasimharao. Thus, I got that interest from my father. I also acted in a few movies as a child artiste, in movies like Deeksha... You might not be knowing these movies...

NaChaKi: Deeksha? Aatreya's debut movie - are you referring to the same one?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, that's the one. In those days, movies were simultaneously made in Tamil & Telugu. I can speak both Tamil and Telugu fluently, like a native. So, I used to act in Telugu & Tamil, in roles that had a few dialogues. I don't remember very well, but I guess I acted in about 10-15 movies, that was in my childhood.

NaChaKi: Is Deeksha your first movie?
Gummuluri Sastry: No, I guess Bhakta Siriyala in Tamil was the first one.

NaChaKi: It was also made in Telugu, I guess.
Gummuluri Sastry: Oh, I didn't know that! I remember it vaguely, it was long back. Later, when I was in my V form (equivalent to X class) my father wanted me to concentrate on studies and so didn't want me to act, saying that my personality would not anyway make me a hero (laughs)!

NaChaKi: So was your father encouraging you till then?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, he used to encourage me a lot, till then! He was telling that I may end up playing the roles of younger brother of someone, or such minor roles and so didn't want me to continue acting. In fact, I auditioned for H.M. Reddy's Raaju-Peda movie at that time, but my father did not want me to act in the movie

NaChaKi: But did you have an idea of continuing in the industry?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, I had an idea, but my father did not permit me. However, I continued acting in stage-plays. Later, I was a script-writer for dramas, I wrote three full dramas. We played the drama Samraat Chandragupta in Ravindra Bharati, that was the first one, in 1963 (1964?). Then, in 1965, I came to the US. But, we used to play a lot of dramas, before that, starting from 1958. I don't remember many, but we staged many dramas. Later, my brother and Sandilya (later produced Aanandabhairavi) started a troupe called Seven Star Syndicate, they also ran a magazine called venDi tera.

NaChaKi: Sandilya is also a good journalist, he worked for Annamayya too...
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, he worked with Jandhyala for Annamayya, they recorded the songs too, for three hours. And, they wanted to make the movie under Jandhyala's direction. I and my friend Madali Sarma (who also acted in Atu America-Itu India as hero's father) were advisors to the Seven Star Syndicate. We both came the same day to the US, we used to play dramas here too, by the way. I initiated stage dramas (Telugu) in the US in TANA Conference in 1977, I wrote the drama and conducted it. The drama was named kaLaa vijayam, and lasted for 40 minutes.

NaChaKi: Did you not act in the drama?
Gummuluri Sastry: I did. I was an actor-cum-director for that play. That was a serious theme, and my role was a serious role too, I used to play only serious roles then. In the 2-hour drama saamraaT chandragupta (played in Ravindra Bharati). I played Chanakya in that, and Sandilya played Chandragupta. Dr. M. Prabhakar Reddy (cine actor) also acted in that, as Celyukus when the play was staged in Ravindra Bharati, we actually played that thrice - in Nagarjuna Sagar and in Guntur (?) too, apart from Ravindra Bharati.

Gummuluri Sastry with cast and crew during the shot gap for 'Atu America-Itu India'

 

NaChaKi: There was a co-producer for the movie Padamati Sandhyaaraagam, I am sorry I am unable to recollect his name. Can you tell something about him?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, it was Meer Abdullah. He came to the US in 1980, he's also interested in acting, there's an age difference of 15 years between us. He once asked me if I'd direct a drama for the Telugu Association there. I did, and it went well. Later some day, in some party, Meer Abdullah and another lady discussed with me about playing a drama on a large scale. It was about Krishna Devaraaya, and Meer Abdullah said he'd play the role of Krishna Devaraaya. Vamsi (Art Theaters) Ramaraju also saw the drama then. Well, that was how I was acquainted with Abdullah.

Let me tell you about production in the US. The producers do not invest money, like in India, the financiers are different, they just do the role of something like a Executive Producer normally. There were about 5-6 financiers for that movie. For the movie Atu America-Itu India, Shanthikumar was also a producer in the real sense, he invested money in the production, but there were other financiers too.

NaChaKi: Yeah, I remember now. I guess he was the one who played your brother in the movie. ..Now, how did all this start, the idea to make the movie Padamati Sandhyaaraagam?
Gummuluri Sastry: I had to go to India in 1984, that was when I met Sandilya, the producer of the Nandi award winning Aanandabhairavi. In 1980, while I was the President for the Telugu Association here, I invited the artistes of SankaraabharaNam here to Washington, D.C....one other person invited them to Chicago, he was actually the main person behind this. Sandilya then proposed that Aanandabhairavi artistes should also come to US for a star nite. Then I told him that the attraction of the earlier star nite was Manju Bhargavi's dance and Balu's songs, whereas Aanandabhairavi is a movie in which the heroine is a Bengali girl (Malavika) and the male lead was Girish Karnard, a person not very much known to Telugu people by then, and so it'd not be very feasible to conduct a star show. Then he proposed that we could conduct a Balu's musical nite as the main show and that these artistes would come along with Balu, and Balu agreed to the proposal provided that we'd provide him with full orchestra. I was the organizer then, the show was organized at 22 locations in US. Jandhyala and others came to the show then. The show would be arranged over the weekend, Friday through Sunday, at one location each day. I used to fly to the Friday's location and return to work on Sunday after attending programs for all days, and thus attending all the 22 programs; it was a grand success.

I had this idea of directing a movie from my young age, but since it's not advisable to attempt direction directly, I proposed to Jandhyala about making a movie. He was very happy at that proposal and said it's a great idea to make a movie in the US, and that he can get Balakrishna and Suhasini as the lead pair, and others like (sutti) Velu and Veerabhadrarao, and that we can make a successful movie. And I told him that my idea of making a movie was actually an idea to make a movie with people here in the US, and that we had enough talented artistes here to make a full movie. The discussions went on for a month, and he joked that even his brother-in-law (baava maridi) would not watch the movie if strange faces like he & I act (Laughs), but I still insisted that I'd produce the movie if he's ready to direct, but only if the actors are US-residents. By then, the story was partially ready, and it was decided by then that the movie would have an American hero. So, I told him to get an Indian heroine, but all others would be from among us, but as per your choice, and he agreed. He told me that I'd only get a small role with only one dialogue, and I said it's okay with me. But, it happened in such a way that my shot was taken on the first day itself. That evening, while discussing the next day's plans, he complimented me saying he has never seen anybody who was so free in front of the camera, and that he'd like to increase my portion in the movie. I told okay, but I reminded him that I had to produce the movie while I'm also working for my profession, but finally my role became a very important role.

NaChaKi: But the dubbing part for your role was done by sutti Veerabhadrarao, right?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, that's true. But, I'd not have done that had I been the director. Sutti Veerabhadrarao did a very good job, though.

NaChaKi: Yeah, but your voice is also good and your pronunciation of Telugu is also very nice. Then why did you want a dubbing in the first place?
Gummuluri Sastry: I already was on leave for long period for the movie, and I couldn't afford to extend my leave by a few more weeks to come to India for the dubbing. And so I told Jandhyala to get the dubbing done by someone else - someone who is not much recognized, that which suits my voice, so that people will think that's my own voice. But now, it's like "Sastry's action, BUT it's Veerabhadrarao's dubbing". Similarly, for my brother Abdullah, Jandhyala's dubbing is also clearly known.

NaChaKi: But, the dubbing artistes don't get proper credit, if they're left unrecognized, right?
Gummuluri Sastry: Hmmm, but we'd have probably put their names in the titles. Now, Veerabhadrarao's name doesn't appear there in the titles, but he's anyway credited - by his voice. The titles there do not list any dubbing artistes, but Veerabhadrarao and Jandhyala are identified by their voices. Now, for this movie Atu America-Itu India, we're listing the names of all the dubbing artistes too.

NaChaKi: You opted for Balu as the music director for Padamati Sandhyaaraagam. He neither is an established music director nor has great musical hits to his credit, right? Then, why did you go for him?
Gummuluri Sastry: Firstly, I had seen Mayuri by then - he was the music director for the movie. And secondly, he was available to us starting from the day we started discussing about this project - he was there with Sailaja for the music concert. He was the one who suggested this name (Padamati Sandhyaaraagam) for the movie, by the way. And we had the orchestra too. I wanted to record the first song in the US (Washington, D.C.) - that was the first Telugu song recorded in the US - we recorded the song pibarE raama rasam... here with Balu's voice. I should say he did an excellent job.

NaChaKi: Yeah, he did a very good job, I totally agree. What about Sivamani, how was he selected for the second hero role?
Gummuluri Sastry: It was Balu's recommendation. He did an excellent job too, no other person would probably have done such a good job - not any African-American guy.

NaChaKi: Are you still in touch with all these actors - hero Chris (who's now established as a hero), Sivamani, etc.?
Gummuluri Sastry: Hmm, I am in touch with all others but the hero. I guess he acted as a hero recently in a Hollywood movie titled Deep Blue Sea. There was also a statement on BBC that he first acted in a Telugu movie before that.

NaChaKi: There was a statement in Times of India too... Actually, Deep Blue Sea was dubbed into Telugu too, and the cinema posters also mentioned that this movie was a comeback for the hero of Padamati Sandhyaaraagam. Gummuluri Sastry: Oh, I didn't know it was dubbed into Telugu! What's the title of the movie? I want to note it down.

NaChaKi: Mruthyu Saagaram, if I remember it right. ...How do you classify Padamati Sandhyaaraagam - Is it an art movie or a commercial movie?
Gummuluri Sastry: In my opinion, it's a commercial picture. I'd like to make movies like that though - in between the two classes art and commercial.

NaChaKi: What in your opinion made the movie a success? Was it Sri Jandhyala's dialogues and direction or was it the comedy generated by your role?
Gummuluri Sastry: Jandhyala, undoubtedly. Of course, we all acted well, but as the director, he holds the total responsibility for the movie. Thus, the success should be attributed to him and no body else.

NaChaKi: You're directing a movie now, after so many years again. Did you do any relevant groundwork meanwhile?
Gummuluri Sastry: No, because I am a jobholder. Padamati Sandhyaaraagam itself was made very strenuously. I also was associated to another movie titled Chinni Krishnudu, I was neither the producer nor the director, though.

NaChaKi: Were you something like a production executive or something?
Gummuluri Sastry: Not really, but while making Padamati Sandhyaaraagam, I told Jandhyala that it'd be difficult for me to market the movie in India, and then he introduced me to another producer. This guy told that he'd help me out, provided I'd help him out with payments etc. for a 20-minute work he made in the US, for a movie he was producing and I agreed. That was Chinni Krishnudu.

Gummuluri Sastry with the cast on the sets of 'Atu America-Itu India'

NaChaKi: Is there any specific reason for you to turn to direction now?
Gummuluri Sastry: No no no, there is nothing like that. In 1999, while discussing with my wife, I thought that I would relax for a few days, and then I can get some time to make a movie again, and I was contacting a few people in this connection. Then, luckily for both of us, Shanthi Kumar (producer for Atu America-Itu India) called me up and said he wanted to make a movie here in the US itself, and that he'd only write a story and the dialogues for the movie, simultaneously acting in the movie. He wanted me to help him in out in his project. I told him to come down one day so that we can talk, and we met on Jan. 7, 2000, and we discussed the whole day about the movie. It was decided that he'd provide the story and dialogues, since it was all his idea, and that I'd help him in direction, and also in marketing the movie, since my name still has some recognition out in India even today. Thus we stuck together to make this movie.

NaChaKi: Would you continue directing movies regularly?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, sure. I want to direct and also act in movies.

NaChaKi: When are you planning to release the movie?
Gummuluri Sastry: We first planned to release it for Sankraanti this year, but we were advised against the idea, as three big movies (Mrugaraaju etc.) were being released then. So, we thought of releasing it in mid-February. However again, we were advised against it, as the movie would be watched by youth mostly, and students would be busy with exams till the end of March. So, we plan, as of now, to release the movie by April 15. And we plan to release it in Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam too, now that we have ample time till the release. [Editor's Note: However, due to a few reasons again, this movie is planned to release in mid-June. A preview of the movie was shown on May 25, 2001 in New Jersey, USA and drew huge crowds, Sri Sastry gaaru informed us later. The audio was also released on May 11.]

NaChaKi: Did you act in this movie?
Gummuluri Sastry: Hmm, I have only one dialogue in the movie. There is a reason for that. When I have been in India recently, everyone there wanted me to act. Sri vaarta Subbarao even wrote my name as Padamati Sandhyaaraagam Saastry gaaru, but I told him that I directed this movie as Gummuluri Saastry, and not as Padamati Sandhyaaraagam Saastry. Such an impression creates a feeling in people that this movie is going to be like Padamati Sandhyaaraagam. But, this is an entirely different movie and I didn't want people to expect me in a role like that again. That's why I am not acting in a lengthy role in this movie.

NaChaKi: Would you like to tell us something more about this movie - story line or anything?
Gummuluri Sastry: I'd give you a brief story here. The story has two girls (friends) born and brought up in the US - one girl becomes a super-fast American-type girl, while the other one remains an ABCD (American Born Confused dESI). There's a guy (main hero) who comes to the US as a student, like you. And there's one more friend of his, who comes to the US on an H-1 visa. As an attempt to get the ABCD girl married, her parents get a doctor from India so that their daughter can date him for a short period and decide about her marriage. The H-1 guy goes back, marries a girl and gets his wife on a dependent visa to work with him so that they can live a luxurious life with both their salaries. The story is on these three pairs. The story gets very interesting; the rest is better to be watched on the silver screen.

NaChaKi: The theme seems to be good...it seems that there's some inbred (antarleenamugaa) message to the viewers in this movie too, like in Padamati Sandhyaaraagam. Was this intentional?
Gummuluri Sastry: Thank you! Yeah, you're right. This movie gives a message to its viewers. We discussed about it earlier too. My opinion is that it's good to give some message through a movie.

NaChaKi: I remembered something when you were telling about giving a message. It's said that Vijaya Productions Chakrapani used to say earlier ironically, "Why do I need to make a movie to give some message? I'd rather prefer sending a telegram to give a message!" What's your comment about that?
Gummuluri Sastry: (Laughs) The message in our movie is not like a telegram. One can feel the message in the movie. We don't tell the dos and don'ts - neither did we do that in Padamati Sandhyaaraagam. We just show the message, it's inbred into the theme, and it's up to the viewer to take it or not.

NaChaKi: You've been so far away from India for all these years. Do you have any connections with the cine field there? Are you associated with any other social activities there? I mean, there are organizations like the Appajosyula-Vishnubhotla Foundation (AVF) and other social service organizations like ASHA, AID etc. Are you associated with any such organizations?
Gummuluri Sastry: Till now, I don't have any such association, but I wish to be associated from now on. Especially, I'd like to revive the lives of poor actors of cinema. Of course, this can be done only I am lucky enough and am successful in the film industry. This may probably take 5-6 years to take a shape. I'd like to do something like what Jamuna gaaru (heroine of yesteryears) is doing for such actors, I may want to start a foundation or something on similar lines.

NaChaKi: But how can you manage all that staying in the US?
Gummuluri Sastry: I plan to stay 6 months in India every year. I am planning to purchase a flat (apartment) in Hyderabad. If I can direct and/or act in, say, 2-3 movies in this stay of 6 months each year, I wish to spare some money out of remuneration for such activities.

NaChaKi: Any similar ideas about the drama artistes too?
Gummuluri Sastry: I was implying both cine and drama artistes. I shall never forget the drama. Drama is better than a movie, for an artiste.

NaChaKi: You probably know that rasaranjani is staging dramas in Andhra saaraswata kaLaa parishat, Hyderabad. Do you plan to take part in those?
Gummuluri Sastry: I am ready to act and/or direct any dramas there, or anywhere for that matter.

NaChaKi: You were also mentioning that you penned some dramas. Do you wish to provide stories/scripts for movies too?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, I am ready to write for movies also.

NaChaKi: Is there any specific reason for you not writing for this movie (Atu America-Itu India)?
Gummuluri Sastry: Shanthi Kumar wanted to write. This is his movie - it's all basically his idea. He wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues for the movie.

NaChaKi: All techinicians and artistes working for this movie are NRIs, is it?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, almost everyone. Major technical people - music director, lyricist, singers, assistant director - are all from India, though.

NaChaKi: Who's the assistant director? Is he someone who's already established in the industry?
Gummuluri Sastry: His name is Aditya. He is a young man of 25-26 years. He worked as co-director for the movie baavagaarU baagunnaaraa? I wanted someone who's already in the industry, as I am re-entering after a long period. He worked for assistant director for a few other films too. Seetarama Saastry recommended Aditya to me.

NaChaKi: How do you find compare India & the US - the film industry and other aspects?
Gummuluri Sastry: There's one personal aspect here. I never stayed more than two weeks in India ever since I came here in 1965. This is the first time in my life that I stayed two months in Hyderabad, for this movie. Hyderabad is much better, I feel. We can get everything in Hyderabad - what all we get in the US. And among the people, I am not probably exactly right, one-third of them are very poor, one-third very rich and one-third in the middle class. These one-third rich people are doing a lot better than people in the US in every aspect! They've all amenities, and they're spending better than we are. The middle class is sort of suffering, like middle class people here - they live paycheck to paycheck. The poor people are really very poor, they may not even get proper meals daily. The one-third population of rich people is more than the population of the USA! So, the buying power in India is higher than the buying power in the US. And one can get everything in Hyderabad, even as per quality of the products. A common man may not be able to afford some things, but it's available in the market. With a salary equivalent to $1000 in Hyderabad, one can live like a king - with a car, and other such luxuries. But you know it's not such a worthy salary in the US. That's one thing I found.

NaChaKi: What do you say about the films, in aspects like making or marketing, or viewership, etc.?
Gummuluri Sastry: Making movies is cheaper in India than in the USA. I have some 4-5 stories with me right now. I can make movies with them if anyone wants me to, with less expense in India, and release them here in the US. The technicians in Hyderabad and Chennai are very professional, they can do a very good job with just one-tenth of the money one has to spend in the US. I have a couple of stories, which I propose to make in India and release in the US in English. Professionalism is not a problem, what more would we need? We've all the equipment, we have the best studios - Ramanaidu Studio, Ramoji Film City, etc. are comparable or probably better than the American studios.

NaChaKi: So you plan to make your subsequent movies in India?
Gummuluri Sastry: No, that's not what I want to say. My intention is to say that I don't have any objection to make movies in India. But, I guess it'd be better if I can make half the movie here in the US and the remaining half there in India, for the movies I wish to make.

NaChaKi: But, isn't it difficult to get such stories always?
Gummuluri Sastry: I can write such stories, or I can make movies like that if someone can provide such a story.

NaChaKi: Do those stories compare the cultures of India & US, like in the case of Padamati Sandhyaaraagam and Atu America-Itu India? Wouldn't that result in monotony?
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, it should not be so, and it will not be. The idea is to take 5-6 American actors to India and make movies with Indian background and release here in the USA. Such stories require a budget of about $200,000-300,000, which I can sell in the US for $2,000,000!

NaChaKi: What would have the budget been for Atu America-Itu India if it had been made in India?
Gummuluri Sastry: Hmmm, the budget here was $200,000, but it'd have been $100,000 there. It's thus almost 50% of what was spent. It's just 40-50 lakhs in Indian rupees. I can make any movie in India for 50 lakhs with new artistes.

NaChaKi: Yeah, while talking about new artistes, all the artistes who worked for Atu America-Itu India are new to screen, right? Do they have any acting experience earlier?
Gummuluri Sastry: Our hero is a Gujarati - he's from New York School of Acting. He's only 20 years old, but he's a very good actor. One of the heroines is a Malayali who acted in many Malayalam dramas in the US, she's been Miss New Jersey. Everyone is born here, except one heroine. She's from Orissa. She has luckily got an offer in another movie too, simultaneously - she's been booked for a second heroine role in Dasari Narayana Rao's movie with his son (Arun Kumar) as hero

NaChaKi: I guess you were considering an upcoming heroine for the movie first...(I didn't want to mention the name unless he does)
Gummuluri Sastry: Yeah, we were considering Maanya, but she didn't secure a visa. We were also planning to get the hero from India. We were considering singer Ramakrishna's son (Saikiran?), yeah, Saikiran, at that time. But he's lucky - he acted in nuvvE kaavaali and a few other movies and is now getting to be a busier hero. All these people couldn't obtain visas. Four people could finally get visas, and one of them was the Oriya heroine. She did a very good job. The other heroine also has some experience on the stage, she did a good job too. I already told about the other heroine and the hero. Shanthi Kumar did a very good job too, he has ample experience on the stage. All those who played the roles of parents had on-stage acting experience.

NaChaKi: Do you follow our website TeluguCinema.com regularly?
Gummuluri Sastry: Very regularly!

NaChaKi: Can you share your opinion about our website?
Gummuluri Sastry: Excellent! I think you people are doing a very good job. News, I feel, is being delayed by a couple of days; there's being no change during the weekends. The analysis articles are excellent. The (then) recent reviews on Maa Aayana Sundarayya, Sakutumba Saparivaara Sametham are very correct. The movie Maa Annayya had bad openings, but its collections gradually changed face and it was celebrated for 100 days in 75-100 theaters, I guess. That report was also good. Above all these, the article about the old movies is excellent. That's what we want. Of course, that, I say, as an old man. I don't know about youngsters now. [Editor's Note: The updates are now more regular, unlike they were at the time the interview was conducted.]

NaChaKi: ...Yeah, the feature you're telling is Retrospect. Sri here (who's also on the interview, recording it) writes those articles. He's a young man of 25+.
Gummuluri Sastry: Oh okay, that's nice, Sri! They're all very nice. I think one of the best sites we have for Telugu Cinema is TeluguCinema.com and I hope you can maintain it the same way instead of dropping anything.

NaChaKi: Thank you, sir! You seem to be a very regular visitor to the website, you're quoting the articles in detail! Any message to the visitors of our website, sir? Gummuluri Sastry: (Laughs) Browse the site everyday, and tell them how to improve the site.

Acknowledgments: Sri Atluri
Interview by: NaChaKi