Suresh Kondeti, producer of the hit film Premiste, started his career as a journalist in Krishna Pathrika. He later worked as a successful film reporter for Vaartha. He began his film career as a distributor for the hit film Santhosham and later started a film magazine of the same name. His first film as a producer, Premiste, is one of the biggest hits of this year. In a tete a tete, he speaks about his new film Shock.
Your first film as a producer was Premiste by Shankar. Now you’re producing Ram Gopal Verma’s Shock?
After Premiste released. Everybody starting asking me what I will do next. What movie was I planning to produce next? When Premiste was declared a hit I wanted to produce another film which is as good as Premiste and which will be equally successful commercially. Once while discussing something with Harish, the movie director, I came to know about the Shock. Later when I went to Mumbai to interview him, he congratulated me for the success of Premiste and that I did a good job with the films publicity. I generally told him that I would like to work with him. I guess he took it seriously. After just two minutes he told me that I was going to produce Shock. That surprised me totally. But I agreed to do it. That’s how I bought the rights of the movie Shock. Only three songs are left to be picturised.
Its being said that Ram Gopal Verma gave you a shock?
Yes he did give me a shock. He never called me and offered me the movie. I went to interview him for the movie Shiva (the Hindi film). And this discussion came up during a break. It was agreed then and there.
What’s the budget of the movie?
That’s something I can’t disclose (laughing).
What made you decide to produce this movie?
I heard the story through Harish sometime back. It showed good potential. Plus with Ravi Teja and Jyothika in the lead it has all it takes to be a commercial hit. Ravi Teja is a successful mass hero. Jyothika has also impressed the Telugu audiences with her last few films, whether it was Tagore or Mass or even the dubbed Manmadha and Chandramukhi. She has given quite a few hits recently. And I had a very good feeling about the story of the movie.
To which genre does this movie belong to?
When people hear the title shock or that it is a Ram Gopal Verma movie they assume it to be a horror movie. But that is not the case. Shock is an out and out commercial movie. I always wanted to produce good movies that are also commercially successful. The first half of the movie is a complete entertainer and the second half is emotionally inclined.
You are said to have bought the movie for ten corers and done a fifteen corer business on it. Is it true?
Let’s see. I will tell you after the movie has released.
Is this confidence because it is a Ram Gopal Verma movie or because of the director, Harish?
I have confidence in the story and Mr. Ram Gopal Verma. Followed by, the hero and the director. I have seen the way Harish has shot the movie. I am sure he will become one of the top directors in the Telugu film industry. Ravi Teja was chosen after seeing his performance in the movie Venky. His comic sense in that film was very good.
You are well known for the publicity of your films. What are you planning for shock?
I have thought about it day and night about how differently I can present this movie. All I can say is that the publicity of this movie is five times better than that of Premiste.
What about the music for the film?
The music of the film is very good .its the first film for the music directors( Ajay-Athul) I am sure people will like it a lot. We are planning to release the audio on a large scale. The function will be even grander than that of Premiste or even the Santhosham awards function. We are hoping people will remember it for a long time. The audio will be released in the first week of January.
Can tell us about the director of the movie, Harish?
I have known Harish for some time now. He is a very good person and very talented. He has done hundred percent justices to the story.
What was it about him that impressed you?
If a person like Ram Gopal Verma is giving him a chance then that person definitely has talent. Ravi Teja also spoke well about him. And when I started discussing the subject with him, I realized how talented he actually is.
What’s the duration of the movie?
Normal. It is as long as any commercial movie.
You were first introduced into this field as a journalist, then as a film distributor and now you are a producer. Which role brought you the most satisfaction?
I was satisfied as a journalist. I was satisfied even working as distributor. I am happy every time I see the latest edition of my magazine. I am both happy and satisfied with all my work till now.
You have experienced both hits as well as flops as a distributor. How did balance both?
Ninety five percent of the films I have distributed have been hits. Only five percent were flops. It did not bother me much. I am not worried about that.
Hero Chiranjeevi has encouraged you a lot. Are you planning to produce any of his films?
If he gives me a chance. I will produce it (laughing).
How does he inspire you?
When ever I saw him working, I always wondered that why does a person of his stature and fame, have to work so hard for others. He is very caring about people around him. He has the energy of a small boy. When I am around him I also feel very energetic. When ever I am feeling low I go to him and he completely boosts up my spirits.
How do feel to have worked with two great directors like Shankar and Ram Gopal Verma?
I am very happy to have worked with both of them. Shankar learnt Telugu specially to promote this movie. He took out time to discuss the movie with me. Even Ram Gopal Verma. I will never forget those two incidents.
Are you planning to open a factory like Ram Gopal Verma’s film factory?
(smiles) no I am not planning anything like that. But I might be a part of Ram Gopal Verma’s factory.
