Pedakapu-1 is a new age political thriller under the direction of sensible director Srikanth Addala starring young talented Virat Karna. Miryala Ravinder Reddy is producing this film ambitiously on Dwarka Creations who gave a blockbuster with Akhanda. The promotional content of the film is getting a tremendous response. The trailer released just like this has increased the expectations of the movie. Star cinematographer Chhota K. Naidu, who has done the film’s DVP, shared the features of the film in a press conference as the film hits the screens on September 29.
What was your first impression when you heard the story of Pedakapu-1?
Our journey started when Srikanth Addala made his debut film Kota Bangaralokam. He tells me the story of every film he has done since then. We want to do it together, but I can’t have dates. Coming to Pedakapu-1, this is a different film like Kothabangaram. Srikanth said he will wait for you if necessary. Srikanth is very cool like his films. Looks like K Vishwanath to me. But with Narappa a new transformation came in him. Even when the story of Pedakapu-1 was told, it was as intense as what we have seen in the trailer. He also started acting in this. It shocked me as a cameraman that Srikanth directed such a film and gave such an output.
You also have to struggle as a DVP for such action films, don’t you?
I do not use the word difficult. I love to work. I like to work very much. This story demands a new pattern, new colors and making. I found it challenging.
Vivi Vinayak compared you with PC Sriram didn’t he?
Vinayak has seen some portions of this movie. So he felt that way. But one thing is true.. He is not great enough to compare with PC Shriram. PC Shriram garu is the ultimate. VSR Swamy, Vincent, PC Sriram are all great uncles.
When you see the trailer, is it visually very impactful? The reason for such best output?
Credit goes to the director in this regard. Such an output comes only with the help of the director. The same was said for the new golden world visual. Appreciated that it was taken very well. I didn’t talk like that in the film I did later. Again now they are talking about what they did with Srikanth. The thing to know here is that the director’s vision is more important than my best.
You have done films with many big stars. How was it working with the new hero Virat?
I always respect the position of hero. The protagonist is important to me. Small is not big. I see myself as a leader in a story. As a cameraman, I have a vision of how the protagonist should be. While working with Virat, he did not feel like a newcomer. Like a seasoned actor, he did a wonderful job.
Did you suggest Anasuya’s role in this film?
It has a different character. There was a lot of thinking about who to cast for the role. We thought that Anasuya would be good in this role. Very good character. He did better than we thought. Not only this character.. Director Srikanth has designed every character very well.
How did it feel to see Srikanth Addala as an actor?
Srikanth is truly amazing as an actor. What a difficult shot he did in a single take. Every scene done by Srikanth in this would have been okay in a single take. Every scene done by Srikanth was directed by our producer Ravinder Reddy. As soon as they get shot, they say OK (laughs). We had a lot of fun.
Akhanda movie became a big hit in Dwarka creations. Now how far will the lip reach?
If this film is usually produced by another producer, they ask to make it in five to six crores. But this story demands 40 crores. Because of Ravinder Reddy, it was shot with such a huge budget. It is understandable if the producer believes in this story more than me or Srikanth. Pedakapu is such a good and great movie. This is not the case. It can be understood that there are 2 lips too.
Pedakapu story happened in 1983 during NTR’s political entry?
Srikanth took the incident that started when Rama Rao threw a party as this story. Srikanth is a big fan of his father, Rama Rao. Srikanth has a good grasp on Srikanth’s father’s effort, his behavior and the events that he encountered from around him during the days when Rama Rao threw the party. Srikanth wrote this story inspired by them.
What excited you while shooting this film?
There are many. If you see in the trailer a girl is seen hanging from a dead tree. That scene is very important in the movie. It is a two acre farm. Everything is muddy. Putting a dead tree there is a big task. Cranes don’t work in that mud. It is impossible for humans to carry a tree. I will tell you how to put it after watching the movie. If you say it now, there will be no kick. That is a really big task. There are about a thousand junior artists in that scene. The girl (Brigada) was in a hanging position for a whole day. This is possible because of the production.
There is also a town called Munaka Lanka. We chose a house and shot there. If it rains, it will sink. While we were shooting, it rained and the house got submerged. For this, we stopped again for three months and shot there after the water was gone. If I were a cameraman, I would have used Godari like this. I used Godari only to one level in Kothabangaru world. He got a chance to use it completely in this movie. In this, I have shown Godari, which is unknown even to those born and brought up in Godari areas. Really feels very new. We have shown the areas where no one goes. The hero’s house is in Godari Gattu. We have to travel for two and a half hours from our hotel. However, we tried to give a new experience to the audience.
Another big element in this movie is the struggle of the hero and the batch to get the flag stick very interesting. For this, a big tree is cut down in the forest and brought back. This is a big task for all of us. Shooting this Chettu Pathe episode is a miracle in my career. It was created by Srikanth and played by fight master Peter Haines. This is the episode I am most proud of. We also worked very hard to create the atmosphere of 83. We have taken a lot of care.
What about lip 1 music?
Srikanth Addala and Mickey Jay Meyer have a good rapport. Srikanth strongly believed in Mickey. I was surprised that Mickey gave such background music. Also, heroine Pragathi also performed terrifically.
Since when is Chiranjeevi’s movie?
They said that Chiranjeevi’s film will be released from November.
