N Shankar, the director who shot to fame with the films like Jayam Manadera, Sri Ramulayya, Encounter and Jai Bolo Telangana has expressed himself in an exclusive interview to greatandhra.com.
Here are the highlights.
Web Is Better Than Theatre: The opportunity to release the films online at a price is certainly an opportunity for many. Because, not every film can pull the audience to theatres. Such films need artistes with face value, stars etc. But the content on the web can be experimental, out of the box and far from pulp fiction. Valuable content can be seen on OTTs now. Adding to that budget will be in control.
Above all, releasing a film to theatre is a bigger task than making. If the film flops, we have to prepare to give back the money. If it becomes a hit, we have to wait for money to see in our hands. But all this mess won’t be there for web/OTT.
Struggles: I struggled a lot before entering films and after becoming the director. Mine is a long struggle. I cried for many sleepless nights. A hero and some producers have advised me not to make Jai Bolo Telangana film assuming it will spoil my career. They also thought that Telangana State would never become a reality. After winning the Best Director award some people have moved the court that I shouldn’t be given that award as I made a film that drives destruction. But I was with KCR’s movement and will be with him forever.
As a lyricist and Future Goals: I wrote a song for Encounter and that was later made into 12 different languages. My inclination for writing continues. My future goal is to build a studio and give employment for as many as I can.