Nivetha Thomas, Vishwadev Rachakonda, small actors Arun and Abhay in ’35’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
First time, Telugu movie teaser 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu (Not a small story) may seem like a comment on how we perceive mathematics and whether the education system encourages inquiry in students. First-time director Nanda Kishore Emani described the film as a relationship story in the backdrop of mathematics. “My aim is to draw the audience’s attention to the relationship on screen – between Saraswati (Nivetha Thomas) and Prasad (Vishwadev Rachakonda), their children Arun and Varun, the child’s relationship with their teacher (Priyadarshi) and mentor (Gowtami). I am seen in 35 as a pass mark for a relationship. Besides being entertained, it will be a bonus if people think about it.” Presented by actor Rana Daggubati, the film is slated to hit the theaters on September 6.
Nanda Kishore has been a part of the Telugu film industry for 11 years. He wrote the dialogue for it Stand Rahul, Screenplay for a short film directed by Sankalp Pinkie in the Netflix anthology Pitta Kathaluamong other projects. A native of Visakhapatnam, he is an accountant turned filmmaker. “I used to write fiction for school and college magazines. I love stories. If I had been born decades earlier, I might have written a book. Visual media is more popular now, so I chose cinema,” he said, during an interview at a cafe in Hyderabad.
Nanda Kishore cites doyens K Viswanath, K Balachander, Bapu and Singeetham Srinivasa Rao among his inspirations. “I have loved stories that seem to come from real life. A lot of what I learned about cinema was through Indian films.
Temple city ethos
Director Nanda Kishore Emani | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
When he started writing 35Nanda Kishore sets the story in Tirupati and cites “creative and commercial reasons”. “When a story involves good characters, some of us may question whether such people exist in our time. If the story is set in a temple town, we tend to think that the divinity of the area makes people be good. I also want to transport the audience to different locations and immerse yourself in the narrative.
From a trade point of view, Nanda Kishore said that we don’t have family dramas set in Tirupati of late and it has become a stereotype to show faction dramas and action in Rayalaseema and family dramas in Godavari belt. “Until the mid-2000s, we would get at least two or three family entertainers a year. The frequency has decreased now,” he said, and hopes 35 will help fill the void.
The film’s crew including cinematographer Niketh Bommi and production designers Latha Naidu and Nanda Kishore say the story brings together talented technicians. “Narratives come to life when supported by a great technical team.” For Niketh, the brief was to place the camera as a witness to the event, without interrupting it. At her side, Latha helped design the sets with a lively vibe.
35 had music by Vivek Sagar and Nanda Kishore told that the emphasis was on using Indian string instruments, veering towards Indian classical music. “Vivek’s music for this film is unique.”
When the conversation turned to travel, Nanda Kishore said that in his early days as a filmmaker, he never used his CA credentials to make connections. “If I introduce myself as a CA to producers and directors, I don’t think they’ll think of me as a storyteller.”
Later, he got a job as a chartered accountant before moving into cinema. “The interest in the story got the better of me and I took the plunge.”
Short film route
Nanda Kishore Emani | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
In 2012, when learning about a short film contest by Happy Saturday in which director SS Rajamouli was the judge, Nanda Kishore submitted a short film that he had made with the help of friends. The following week, he received a call asking him to participate in an event that would involve all participants. “Sir Rajamouli interacted with all of us and talked about cinema for more than two hours. It was my first cinema master class. Nanda Kishore’s film found mention among the three in the contest.
Although this recognition motivates him, it is not easy to get a foothold in the industry. He made another short film titled Chiranjeevi and got over a million views on YouTube. But again, it is difficult to attract the attention of the industry. “I had to be practical and decided to pack my bags and leave Hyderabad.” But soon, a friend told me that veteran director K Viswanath wanted to watch the film. Nanda Kishore went to the director’s house in a heartbeat and was charmed when the doyen appreciated his work. Viswanath also wanted Nanda Kishore to be invited for a private screening Sagara Sangamam hosted by a mutual friend. “That attitude gives me confidence that if I try harder, I can make an impression on the industry.”
As 35 ready for release, Nanda Kishore reflected, “I don’t give up easily, whether it’s pursuing an education to become a CA or a filmmaker. A film cannot be judged by its size. I believe in the words of Rajamouli that a film is big if it is high in emotional connection. I hope my film can attract the attention of the audience.”
(tagToTranslate)35 Telugu movies
