Sarangapani Jatakam Director Mohankrishna Indraganti’s Telugu comedy, which will release on December 20, marks his completion of two decades in Telugu cinema. The writer-director, who has explored genres from crime capers to romance dramas and screwball comedies to thrillers, describes his new film starring Priyadarshi Pulikonda and Roopa Koduvayur as a comedy with elements of social satire.

Like many of his previous films, this one is also inspired by a literary work, but he has remained tight-lipped about the source. “I want the audience to watch it in theatres. As always, I have accepted the source material,” says Indraganti at the office of Sridevi Movies in Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad. This is Indraganti’s third film produced by Shivalenka Krishna Prasad. gentle And सम्मोहनम्,

Sarangapani Jatakam Indraganti’s first full-length comedy film ami thumi (2017), and the director believes that over the years, as cinema has leaned more towards action entertainment, he wondered whether audiences were becoming desensitized to excessive violence. “Some of my friends and family also regret that there are not many comedy films that they can watch together in theatres. It got me thinking and I became eager to write a comedy.

he describes Sarangpani… As a plot-based comedy and a mix of genres Ashta Chamma And ami thumi Bringing together romance, conflict, farcical comedy and social satire. Indraganti says he has written Sarangpani… Kind of like an old school comedy and a hat tip to writers like Peter Sellers, Woody Allen, Jandhyala, DV Narasu Raju, Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and Crazy Mohan. “I have enjoyed watching some of Kamal Haasan’s comedies – Michael Madana Kamarajan (Michael Madana Kamaraju). in telugu), Panchathanthiram, Brahmachari (Telugu version) Pammal’s Sammanadam) And partner lilavati – And appreciate the writing.”

Roopa Koduvayur and Priyadarshi in ‘Sarangapani Jatakam’. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In Sarangpani…Priyadarshi plays the titular character, whose actions are influenced by astrological predictions. Although Indraganti does not believe in astrology, some comments by his friend who has a keen interest in palmistry surprised him. “I wondered if it was like a weather forecast; If certain patterns can be predicted. Without dismissing belief, I wanted to explore how excessive reliance on predictions could cause one to lose one’s sense of logic.

adopting native culture

Ashta Chamma was inspired by oscar wilde the importance of Being Earnest Whereas ami thumi based on the play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan DuenaWhile drawing or taking inspiration from international literary works, Indraganti ensures that his narratives are rooted in Telugu culture. “I identify what will work culturally. the importance of Being Earnest It was set in a certain period in England and Oscar Wilde was attacking modernism; Some satirical elements may be adapted for Ashta ChammaI identify relatable social situations and characters and begin writing background stories for the characters rooted in our culture.

Having written and directed 12 films over 20 years, Indraganti credits the foundation of his writing discipline and techniques to learning screenwriting at York University, Toronto. A firm believer in some form of training for screenwriting and film production, he says, “I hear a lot of people saying that going to film school is not necessary and one can just pick up a camera and Can shoot. Would we ever tell someone who wants to be a surgeon that if they have enough passion, they can pick up a knife and perform surgery? Some training is beneficial. Go to a film school, watch the best movies, read film theory and cinema history, or apprentice with a filmmaker. Watch the classics of both world cinema and Telugu, and you will discover your voice and aesthetic.”

He says that it is important to learn the rules and structure of screenwriting if one wants to know how to break them. “Learning the craft will help us realize if we’re overwriting any dialogue or description.”

Reflecting on his work, Indraganti says that till date, he is aware of how the script unfolds. He explains how he discusses with the film’s editor about arriving at a plot-inciting incident at the 15th or 17th minute.

Indraganti believes that writing comedy ami thumi It was easy because it had a definite beginning, middle and end. “That story unfolds in a day and was easy to handle. But not all films are easy to write. Although he does not disclose the source material Sarangpani…Indraganti says the challenge was in creating a play that was set in a different time suitable for the contemporary context. “The original play that inspired Sarangpani… Structurally very well written. I just had to bring out the characters, put them in the right context and start writing. I didn’t need the entire playthrough to adapt. I just needed a few characters and sequences.”

writer’s block

Mohankrishna Indraganti, Vennela Kishore and Priyadarshi on the set. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Indraganti calls writing a solitary process, compared to directing a film with collaborators such as cinematographers and editors. “When you write with discipline, it can take about six months to have a proper script. Of that, at least four months are dedicated to rewriting, restructuring and removing what is not necessary. “This is when one might encounter writer’s block,” he says, adding from his own experience that there are techniques for overcoming the block. “You can read or meet people; My process is to read. Although it is laborious or time consuming, it helps to reach the right place and complete the writing. Indraganti remembers something (late) writer-director Jandhyala once told her: “He once told me that he wrote the dialogues for one of his films in three days; “Sometimes this process can take longer, maybe even a year.”

About her first collaboration with actor Priyadarshi, Indraganti says that she attended his guest lectures as a comprehensive student at the University of Hyderabad years ago. He was watching the actor closely. “I loved her MalleshamMail (Kambalapalli Kathalu)And BalagamWhen this story came up, I knew he would fit the role because his acting style with subtle humor would work.”

On how Priyadarshi is different from others he has worked with before, Indraganti says, “When you watch him perform, you can imagine that he could probably do something else. But at the editing table you realize how many options he has given you. He has the ability to imbue his performance with such subtle nuances that you cannot notice with the naked eye; The camera can capture it and then we can edit those pauses to create a particular feeling. It is a pleasure to work with him.”

In the case of Roopa Koduvayur, who debuted with director Venkatesh Maha uma maheshwar fierce formMalayalam film adaptation Maheshinte PratikramIndraganti says that she preferred to cast mostly Telugu-speaking women as female leads and in this film, the character required someone who could speak Telugu fluently and rapidly. “His performance aged It was like an audition for me, I never auditioned again.”

As a parting shot, Indraganti says that none of the actors, including Harsh, Vennela Kishore, Srinivas Avasarala and Naresh, portray the characters as well as they have done before. “All these talented actors, with different approaches to comedy, brought the characters to life.”