A well-made love story never fails. The theme may be same but the way we deal with it and way we mould the characters make them unique, says Lakshmi Sowjanya, the debut woman director of Naga Shourya and Ritu Varma starrer ‘Varudu Kavalenu’.
Coming from Narsapur, Guntur, with love for cinema in heart, Lakshmi Sowjanya trained in acting school and for the last 15 years has been garnering experience and expertise in making cinema. She worked as an assistant director with the likes of Sekhar Kammula, Teja and Krishna Vamsi.
“I have learnt good things from each of these director. How Sekhar sir writes his story and explains to his actors, how Krishna Vamsi sir extracts what he wants from his actors, and Teja sir the way he makes his actors comfortable and how he sticks to his plan. I am happy with the journey I have taken to reach here. Challenges give me a kick. I do not enjoy things that come easy. Instead of highway the lanes and bylanes with their road blocks excite me and I enjoy overcoming those hurdles to achieve wentertainerhat I want,” shares the woman director, whose first film, ‘ Varudu Kavalenu’, a romantic family got great reviews from the audience and the critics.
The film has many cute, intense and memorable moments, soulful music with fun and entertainment. The characters represent Lakshmi’s own experiences and values.
Lakshmi’s father was a Maths lecturer and mother a home maker. Yet when she wanted to work in films. Her father brought her to Hyderabad. She says her success is all because of her father who respected his daughter’s wishes. “I will be ever thankful to my father. According to me he is the greatest. I owe a lot to him. I have always been independent. And I am strong. And it is the same independent woman I wanted my heroine should be. Ritu Varma was the right choice. Nagashourya is the kind of man every girl looks for. He is exactly like how I imagined the character to be even outside the film. Nadiya’s is one more important character.
Lyrics by Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry and music are another plus for the film. The folk song ‘Digu Digu Naaga’ gets a nice lift as special song with Ritu Varma looking radiant as she dances to this number.
It is a happy film, and leaves you with a good feeling. It’s like a picnic or an outing with family, says the director.
As a footnote, she gives the entire credit of her major milestone to the producer China Babu for trusting her, and her team for standing by her throughout the film making process that did take a long time due to Covid restrictions.
Having women behind the microphone calling the shots does have its impact on the film making process. Lakshmi and many others like her are creating the path for future of women professionals in Telugu film industry.
