'Ramarao On Duty' is heading to theatres on July 29. In this interview, debutant director Sarath Mandava talks about the film, working with Ravi Teja, his strengths and weaknesses, and more.
I would call this film an investigative action entertainer. Since Ravi Teja is a mass actor, the proceedings are massy. Why he gets involved in the investigation, and why he has to do it is interesting. Usually, a missing persons racket is investigated by the police department. But here, the hero who is a Deputy Collector takes up the investigation. Usually, those in the Group I services have many powers. They don't use them in real life in order to avoid inter-departmental conflicts.
Sand is an essential ingredient in our lives. We don't realize how important it is. There was a time when sand mining used to be sustainable. After the advances in technology and increased demand, sand mining has been indiscriminate. Governments have imposed curbs on indiscriminate sand mining to save Nature and prevent flooding, etc. My hero in the film takes up this fight as well.
At the script level, 'Ramarao On Duty' is unique. I am not claiming that I have written a pathbreaking movie. Ravi Teja has done many unique roles in the past and I took care not to sound repetitive.
It's true that the audience's tastes might have changed in the pandemic era. But my film has got strong and unique content. Even the fights are driven by the script. I picked five fight masters for the different action blocks.
Rama Rao is one name we all have heard in our lives. NT Rama Rao is the numero uno Telugu personality. To this day, we hear the name in the context of Tarak (Jr NTR) and KTR (TRS leader).
Actor Venu Thottempudi has played a Circle Inspector named Murali in my film. A few other names were mooted but his videos from movies like 'Chirunavvutho' happened to be repeatedly suggested by my smartphone for some reason. I thought I should approach him for the character.
For Malini the character, I needed someone who is performance-oriented more than glamorous. That's why I chose Rajisha Vijayan. It was not easy to convince her because she felt she might be cast for a glamorous role. This is her first Telugu movie. She really liked the script. She asked me if I would delete some scenes after shooting them with her. I assured her I won't do anything of that sort (laughs).
Composer Sam CS bowled us over with his 2019 film 'Khaidi'. The BGM for the interval block blew away my mind. His work for 'Vikram Vedha', too, was superb. He was the first technician to be roped in. The songs are situational with the exception of the special song 'Naa Peru Seesaa'.
The run-time is 140 minutes. I believe that my film has the capacity to engage the audience for the entire run-time.
I sincerely believe that story is like a temple that shouldn't be breached once it is locked. I once happened to listen to director Dasari Narayana Rao's old interview. He said that the result is not in the maker's hands. All we can do is let the story run its natural course.
There was a time when I wanted to become a journalist. When you want to judge a movie, do it after the entire movie is over. Reviews are very important and I have learned a great deal from them. But, in the name of reviewing, they are dishing out instant commentary (referring to Live Updates). I am saying this out of anguish, not anger. Not all movie reviews are genuine. A movie is a collective hard work of 100s of people who work in the 24 crafts.
Journalists must check with the director/actor before writing something. For example, someone called me and asked me why 'Ramarao On Duty' was going to be reshot for 20 days. I clarified that some 3-4 days of shoot were left and not 20 days. (Note: Sarath recently called out media for spreading lies about Ravi Teja being miffed with producer Sudhakar Cherukuri over remuneration issues for 'Ramarao On Duty')
I don't know my strengths but I am aware of my weaknesses. I can't do feel-good movies and the Sekhar Kammula school of cinema. Action, entertainment, and thrillers are my areas. I can do a film without fights. I have written a story that is satirical and socially aware; it is in the Rajkumar Hirani space. I would also love to do a political film.
