Excusive Interview with Ram

Handsome young hero Ram is considered as the next big thing in Tollywood. With just three movies, he has already earned a name and an image on his own. After the stupendous success of Ready, Ram has suddenly become most sought after young hero. His maiden film, Devadas, was released on Sankranthi 2006 and went on to become huge hit. In 2009 too, he joins the Sankranthi race with Maska. The word Maska means trapping one by sooth talking. Here he talks about the film…

With whom you play ‘Maska’?

To everyone. No one is left with my maska.

Who fell for your maska – Hansika or Sheela?

Both. I gave Maska to both of them without knowing each other.

Okay, What is the story of the movie?

Oh, no, I don’t fall for your maska. No way I can reveal the story however hard you try and trap

You must have been mastered the art now?

True. I almost got Master’s degree in it by the end of the shooting (laughs).

The combination of director B.Gopal – M.S.Raju and Ram sound odd!

Yes, I too had my own apprehensions prior to the shooting. I felt that he belongs to old school of filmmaking and doubted his ability in directing a youthful entertainer. All my fears dispelled by first day shoot ended. Then I realized how wrong I was. He is coolest director I have seen. I used to be regular visitor to the sets of all our home productions produced by my uncle Sravanthi Ravikishore and I knew how some directors create hungama canning scenes. Where as B.Gopal executes same scenes it without any fuss! He is so cool guy.

B.Gopal says Maska will be another Bobbili Raja

It is true that Maska is highly mass entertainer like Bobbili Raja but I can’t compare both of them. I tell you one funny co-incidence. When Bobbili Raja released, I was about 3 years old and my parents say I used to sing and dance with Balapam (chalk-piece) in hand for the popular song, Balapam Patti Bhama Vallo, from the movie. Today, B.Gopal’s daughter who is also three year old now dances to one of the songs from my film. It is really funny to know this.

How was it working with producer M.S.Raju

He knows me since my childhood. When I did my first short film at the age of 13, he promised me that he would produce my first film. But it didn’t work out as I got chance in Devadas. As soon as Jagadam premiere show finished and he rushed to me and hugged me. He congratulated me for my work in the movie and said lets start a movie immediately. But as there is no proper story, we could not begin it. Only after Ready’s release, things have fallen in place. He treats his son Sumanth and me same way. We are like a family.

Post Ready, people are expecting a lot from you!

I know only one thing that is to work hard for each film and give 100 percent to it. Expectations are bound to rise but I give my best to each movie that I accept. I hope Maska pays off all our team’s hard work.

You romanced two damsels on screen for the first time in this film. Off screen, who impressed you the most?

(ha..ha) you are putting me in trouble. All romance is restricted to on screen only.

Before shooting started, both the heroines were a bit plump. Now they look so lean. What did you make to them?

(laughs again). It is M.S.Raju who asked them to go for dieting. So when the actual shoot began, they came into ‘good size’.

Heard that both of them did compete each other in everything

I understood what you are referring to. I don’t talk about their glam act on screen but they did good job as per acting is concerned. We had doubts about Sheela prior to the shoot but she surprised everyone. We really astounded by her work in the movie.

You are romancing with only heroine (Kajal) now in your current film!

What do you mean? Should I romance with two girls in all of my films? Maska needed two heroines as per the script so we took them.

What next?

Presently I am doing for my home banner with new director Saravanan. Shooting is under progress. I will accept another movie this year-end but nothing has been finalized yet.

M S Raju on Maska

Just few days before the release of his latest flick, Maska, producer M S Raju looks real confident on his film. He seems very happy with the final product and for the first time he screens all the songs on avid studio for Web Journalists at Ramanaidu Studios on Friday (Jan 9, 2009). Later he talks about the movie and much more in a lengthy chitchat.

A very special Pongal

This is very special Sankranthi in my career. My career is at stake on Maska. Such situation is not new to me. I underwent such crises earlier too when Devi was releasing, I was at zero. Before Satruvu, all things went topsy-turvy. But my passion towards the films and commitment to deliver quality movies made me bounce back. With Maska, I am sure that my banner would reclaim the lost glory.

Maska has commercial punch

The constant question that is being asked these days is why did I choose a ‘mass entertainer’ for Maska. But this is not the first time that I made films that have ‘mass appeal’. Even Varsham and Okkadu had that same commercial punch even though they were sensible and superb scripts. Like wise, Maska has the ingredients that appeals to the larger audiences.

Sankranthi Bonanza

Although Maska doesn’t fall in any particular genre, it is a pucca commercial movie. In one word, it is a Pongal Bonanza for the audiences who seek good entertainment at festival time. That doesn’t mean that it has unusual script but some of the scenes that we conceived are never seen on Telugu screen. It brings novelty. I am very satisfied with the final output. We took lot of care and time for postproduction too. I could have released it on 9th, I waited to be it perfect. When you see the movie on the screen the first impression that comes across would be that the filmmakers tried hard to entertain you. That was the precise intention.

You see Maska in everyday life..

Every needs to do ‘maska’ in life. In fact, even in the cordial gesture like na’maska’ram, you find maska in it.

Ram has in it to be superstar

Regarding casting, first and foremost I must talk about our hero Ram and his energy level. I believe he will be one of the superstars in the future in our Telugu filmdom. His commitment to give best work, his dance movements and his energy levels astounded me. He is best thing that happened to Tollywood in the recent times.

After watching Satruvu, Ramanaidu said that it was the best performance in Venky’s career. After that he did great movies, though. Mansantha Nuvve was the best film in Uday Kiran’s career. Okkadu was the biggest hit in Mahesh Babu’s career at that time. For Prabhas, Varsham is highest grocer in his career even today (with adjusted inflation). I am sure Maska will remain one of the biggest hit in his career in future too.

Beautiful damsels

Hansika is really looking beautiful in the movie. She is gorgeous and her chemistry with Ram is impressive. I was criticized for the selection of Sheela for another female lead. She was selected after much thinking because the character requires a girl who can perform as well as look glam. Both of them have done really well.

Cold Water Hot Water

If you ask why I selected B Gopal for this particular project, I can’t explain it in words. Why I chose 18 year old by Devi Sri Prasad as music director for Devi? What made me to give break to V N Aditya with Manasantha Nuvve? B.Gopal delivered biggest blockbusters in the past but he is down. But he’s experience and his command over direction has helped the movie a lot. He is cool guy. I am very temperamental. Our combination is like mix of Cold Water and Hot Water.

Sunil is strength

Sunil has acted in all of our productions after he entered into the film industry. He once again has done a very important role as hero’s friend in Maska. He might be doing ‘joker’ roles but he is intelligent in real life. His valuable suggestions helped me a lot.

No song okayed in three months

Music is the major strength to the movie. In the first three months, both music director Chakri and I sat for several times but no song was Okayed. At one time he was really dejected. One day, he requested me to finalize at least one song so that his confidence would rise. Not that he had given bad songs in those sittings but I wanted best and beat oriented music. Such intensive work was done for music too. Chakri has given wonderful re-recording too.

Reason for releasing it own..

Suresh Babu has been a good friend to me for the last 23 years. He supported me all through. When I showed Manasantha Nuvve to him, he said only one thin ,”hold it on, Raju. Release it on yourself, don’t sell it.” Uday Kiran gave big hit with Nuvvu Nuvvu and our banner value made buyers flocking to bag Manasantha Nuvve. Yet, on the advice of Suresh Babu, I released it on my own. It made history. When I shown Maska, he said the same. That is the reason why I am releasing it on own.

Expecting new records

We are hoping that the movie creates new records. Releasing in almost with 300 Prints. 90 prints catered for Nizam. Even in districts like Krishna, we are releasing it with about 18.

Vaana disappointed me

In the recent times, I was disappointed with Vaana and Pournami. Aata was moderate success. We made money on it. But Vaana completely washed out.

New projects..

Will tell after the release of Maska.