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| Director Raj Pippala |
Sri: Okay, so how did they respond to your works? How did you get the first brush with them?
Raj: Actually, I liked the ad of cars which were telecasted often. I then found out which firm did those ads, called them and appreciated. I then said I'd like to meet the person and know more details about the making. When they found out I came from an engineering background, they were curious as to why I was interested in this and agreed for the meeting anyway. Slowly, I started assisting them in their projects with from my boss. When they were looking for a project, I volunteered myself to work on that with my expenses. They liked the results and I started getting offers.
Sri: What are the famous ads you did when you were in the USA?
Raj: I did an ad for the European market of Adidas. It was shot completely in Morocco. I also did an ad for Levi's Jeans targeting the Japanese market, and so on.
Sri: Sumanth was mentioning that you did an ad for Liril ad in India.
Raj: (Smiles) Yes, I did it with Tara Sharma, in Iceland.
Sri: Liril had the same catchy tune that goes
laa... laalaalalaa... with Karen Lauren under the waterfall, for a long time now. It's been a long memory for most of us...
Raj: True, and we used the same tune, but we shot it in Iceland this time. It was a good hit.
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| Suamanth and Raj Pippala on sets of Boni |
Sri: What brought you back to India?
Raj: I was in Minneapolis for almost fifteen years, then shifted to Los Angeles, and lived there for three years before shifting to India. I knew Nag when I was still in Minneapolis. I worked with
Aakaashaveedhilo
... team and helped them with their shooting in Vancouver, Canada. We've been in touch since that time, and in one of our trips to India, he suggested that I should move back to India if I am really serious in my career about film making in India. Taking his advice, I relocated to India and started my trials to direct a film.
Sri: Okay, now tell us about
Boni. How did the project happen finally, and what is the reason behind the curious title?
Raj: I knew Sumanth through Nag, but we also used to met often at the gym. One day, he asked me what I was doing and I told him I am working on some scripts. I was then working on four different scripts, since it's not appropriate to hunt for a producer with just one story in my hand. He evinced interest, and I found myself narrating him the story right the next day. He was not completely satisfied with it. I then tried another, and then another. He finally liked the third story and things started moving from there. The title
Boni is inspired by an important scene in the film which gets things really moving in the movie. Raja simha, one of the dialogue writers, suggested the title Boni and I loved it!.
Sri: Why is the project so delayed? I remember you've been making it for the last one year.
Raj: A lot of care has gone into the film. There was no other reason for delay.
Sri: What difference did you find between ad film making and regular film making?
Raj: Ad films can be done leisurely but regular films have to be wrapped up fast.
Sri: Interesting! Ad films last for just 30 seconds, and a regular film is over two hours! Why is this anomaly with the time you spend on them?
Raj: (Laughs) But, ad films can be done by taking time. If we don't wrap up regular films fast, the production costs rise up steeply!
Sri: I heard that you had differences with the producer Ramana Gogula...
Raj: Not quite! Even a married couple have difference of opinions from time to time, and so what's surprising in having difference of opinions really? Ramana and Anita Sakuru invested in the film merely believing in Ramana and me; Ramana Produced the film, which is really great! I appreciate their gesture and will be thankful to them all my life for this reason!
