Star Interviews
Chitchat with Vaitla and Gopi Mohan
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Jun 26, 2008 - 3:54:26 AM

The combination of director Sreenu Vaitla and writer Gopi Mohan along with Kona Venkat is proving highly successful at Box-office. Gopi Mohan’s association with Sreenu Vaitla began with Venky and since then their working relationship has strengthened further. With their latest combo - Ready turning out to be big hit, they happily share their success formulae to us.

Ready has taken superb openings. It is declared blockbuster.

Sreenu Vaitla: We are happy that we delivered three hits in a row - Dhee, Dubai Seenu and now Ready. Now I have to be more careful. With each movie expectations are raising and I have to mee them.

Dhee was released sans hype and turned out to be big hit. But in the case of Ready, it carried lot of prerelease buzz and expectations. Were you under pressure to deliver hit?

Gopi Mohan: Yes. We knew that people would expect more from Sreenu Vaitla's films after the successes of Dhee and Dubai Seenu. So we worked on the script for almost 6 months. We sat on just 3 days on the script for Venky where as we took 6 months for Ready.

Sreenu Vaitla: I was little disappointed with Dubai Seenu’s result. It had witnessed biggest openings for a Ravi Teja film but became a success but I felt we could have concentrated a little bit more on the film. When we began the film, we didn’t have the script. We went without a proper story except that title - Dubai Seenu and the rough plot of Mumbai Episode that film. If I had worked a bit more on the script, it would have been huge hit. Hence we sat for discussions close to six months for ready script because we didn’t want to go wrong.

Sreenu Vaitla - the name is now a big brand especially in the overseas. How do you feel?

Sreenu Vaitla: It really made feel more responsible. I heard that it is breaking Bommarillu records in USA. It is really happy moment.

Gopi Mohan: The reason why Sreenu Vaitla’s films do better in overseas, I believe, is the way he tells the film entreatingly. In overseas - ‘class movies’ and ‘popcorn entertainers’ run better. Although Ready is rooted in middle class values, the audiences in accept it overseas due to its entertainment factor. Sreenu Vaitla has knack for comedy and he can’t make very serious movies even though he has intentions to do them.

Is it a conscious decision to switchover to entertaining movies from ‘love stories’ like Ananadam?

Sreenu Vaitla: I began my career with a very serious film - Nee Kosam. It won awards but not that big success commercially. Anandam, a love story, was huge hit but I began to feel that people would connect to films that are told in entertain way better.

Gopi Mohan: I must tell you one thing about Sreenu Vaitla. Before Nee Kosam, he planned a film Aparachitudu with a very serious subject. Even now when he watches some Hindi movies, he tempts to handle such themes but we bring him down to the reality. When he has a gifted talent for comedy, why should he run away from it?

Your themes are always the hero rescuing the heroine. Also, Ready has resemblances to DDLJ and Gudumba Shankar. What is your comment?

Sreenu Vaitla: I believe in presenting differently than creating novel stories. A guy saving a girl will have universal appeal. Regarding, DDLJ and Gudumba Shankar, I didn’t find any thematic resemblance. I say even DDLJ has resemblance to our classic - Mayabazar.

Gopi Mohan: Before starting the movie, we felt that our films we are not attracting family audiences. So we deliberately added elements that attract family audiences like the Surekhavani - Kid episode, Krish and Superman scenes. Regarding DDLJ and Gudumba Shankar, I vouch Sreenu Vaitla’s opinion.

What is the special relation you share with Brahmanandam?

Sreenu Vaitla:These days even I hear that if it were a Srinu Vaitla’s film, people would want to know what Brahmanandam did in this film. So far all Brahmanandam episodes came to me like a flash and all of them clicked very well.

Tell us about King!

Sreenu Vaitla: We have already begun the shooting. It will be released on December 18th. It will be a cross between Shiva and Hello Brother.

Gopi Mohan: It will be told in comedy way but the funny scenes and other elements all suit for the star image of Nagarjuna. We won’t be diluting his image. Here he will take the charge than the other characters unlike our earlier movies.

Don’t you think it is tough to handle a big star’s movie like you have to face interference of star, etc?

Sreenu Vaitla: Nagarjuna has trusted me. Even before Ready released, he has okayed our script and said that I should make the film in my style. Actually, I should thank Nagarjuna for giving me time to complete Ready. He has completed his Don six months ago, and he didn’t rush me to complete my Ready. I don’t feel stars really interfere too much. Once you are okay with the story, no one will fiddle with the direction department.

What next after King?

Sreenu Vaitla: We will be doing film with Venkatesh for producer Giri.

Gopi Mohan: We have comlpeted the basic story. Presently I am writing the screenplay.

What kind of films you like to do?

Sreenu Vaitla: Personally I like RGV and Manirathnam kind of movies. Recently I was impressed with Gangstar - Hindi film and wanted to make a movie on the lines but my friends insist that I should do what I am best - comedy.

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