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Ram and 'Jagadam'- interview
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With his very first film 'Devadasu', Ram managed to create a distinct style for himself- the films dance and fight sequences helped him a lot in this task. Also noticeable was the ease and grace that the young actor demonstrated in front of the rolling camera. We're talking about the kind of presence and ease that only veteran and most successful heroes possess.
In his new film 'Jagadam', he worked with director Sukumar, a specialist in image transformation. Isha is the heroine.
'Devdas' was a film that was special for another reason- it marked Ileana's debut in films.
Why the long gap between 'Devdas' and 'Jagadam'?
It might look as if there was a long gap, but the truth is- as soon as that film was released, I was offered 'Jagadam'. Sukumar wants his job well done and that was one of the reasons why we took some time to complete this film. I was very particular about not ending up with a label and that was the reason why I didn't mind the gap either.
What difference do you see between the two roles?
'Devdasu' was a revelation to me. Until then I didn't know that I could act so well. I'm Shrinu in this film. To me, it is more important to be a director's hero than someone who is confined to an image. This role is completely Sukumar's brainchild.
You had got into the film industry so early. Do you think that you had missed the normal life of a young man like college and friends?
Movies were something I always wanted to get into. So, I don't think I missed anything. But I have to admit that my knowledge about the film industry was close to zero. Still, I wanted to be an actor. I won the best actor award for a documentary film that I made. So, I don't think I sacrificed anything to become an actor.
Are you aware that people have accused you of copying other actors in your first film?
I was told that people feel that I had imitated Kalyanram in the film. But I want to clarfy that I didn't. The director told me what to do and I did just that. Where is the question of copying? Maybe such allegations are made because people think that I'm trying to replace heroes like Tarun and Udaykiran. That is not true either.
Tell us about your experience of working with director Sukumar.
It was an honor for me. He knows what he wants from his stars and he waits patiently until he gets it. He respects the contribution of the entire team. He'd listen to everybody, but when it comes to making decisions, he listens to his heart. I had no problems at all working with the director because I took a sportive attitude towards things. He is the director and he knows what he wants for the film.
What about the film's music?
Credit goes completely to Devi Shri Prasad. There is going to be a big expectation about this film too. Each song is distinct and special.
Why such a big budget for your film?
Sukumar took a big break because he wanted to make sure that everything goes perfectly well for this film. Lot of time was spent in planning. But if you thought that the film's budget was big, then you haven't seen its box office performance reports. The results justified the risks. The producer was the man of his word. He stuck to his commitment and didn't balk at the thought of investing so much in a film that was being made by a young director with a young hero.
Most new directors deal with the "curse of the second film". Normally, the second films fail even if the first ones are big hits. Weren't you worried about it?
This is mainly because the directors don't take time to come up with a good script for their second film. Sukumar is different. He took about two years' gap before he made his new film. There is no reason for this film to flop.
How do you pick your films?
I look for an element of unpredictability in the scripts. It makes the audience more interested in watching it.
What are your future projects?
I might do my third film for Shravanti Ravikishore. In fact, I should have done my very first film with them. But, I'm not so sure about the new project yet.
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- 17.08.2007
