Writer Vakkamtham Vamsi is going to turn director shortly by directing NTR’s next. He shares his inspiration for turning writer and challenges that he faced to become a director. Here are few excerpts:
This movie would make me feel proud
At the time of ‘Oosaravelli’, NTR decided to introduce me as director and thereafter he started saying that Vamsi will become a good director. Hence I finally prepared a good story for him after abandoning many storylines. This movie will make me to feel proud about myself. The concept is not only new but would balance NTR’s image. I’m eagerly waiting for his call to direct the film. It’s not an ordinary opportunity to make my directorial debut with NTR’s film. He has personally given me the advance amount and even told me that he wanted to show the people that he has introduced a good director.
I did not get acting opportunities due to Kalyana Praptirastu failure
I never thought that I would become a story writer. My father Vakkamtham Surya Narayana Rao is a writer and stage actor. I too performed few stage shows. I became successful as a news reader in ETV channel even though I had no passion for it. I got selected as a hero while auditioning for new faces for Dasari Narayana Rao’s ‘Kalyana Praptirastu’. Since the film did not do well, I failed to get further chances in acting. So I shifted my gear to television and started acting in TV serials. My role Sukha Maharshi in Bapu’s ‘Baghavatam’ got wide appreciations. It was a fantastic experience working with Bapu garu.
My friends encouraged me to pen dialogues for Kalasukovalani and Ammayi Bagundi
My focus turned to the direction right at the time I was doing serials for my daily bread. But since I’m aware that story is the main element for the film, so I wanted to become a successful writer first before turning my focus on direction. My mother was worried about my career when she learned about my writing stories. Her wish was to see me on the screen. However my father was confident about me. I got the reading habit through him. I did not work under any senior writer, yet few of my emotional thoughts have led me to develop them into stories. I wrote dialogues for films like ‘Kalasukovalani’ and ‘Ammayi Bagundi’ with my friends’ encouragement.
My journey as writer started with Athanokkade
My first film as screenplay writer was ‘Ashok’ which I narrated first to NTR. My journey as writer started with Surender Reddy when he asked me to narrate the script of ‘Athanokkade’ with which he grabbed everyone’s attention towards him. Then I wrote ‘Athidi’, but it was ‘Kick’ which gave me the biggest kick in my career. Surender Reddy trusted my story 200% and did the film ‘Kick’. Similarly hero Ravi Teja also had belief in my subject and the results were positive accordingly.
I’m becoming a director not to project my anger on anyone
I’m becoming a director only due to passion on films but not to project my anger on anyone. All are aware that story is important for a film. However, cinema today is working on an idea than a story. Each one gives different treatment to an idea. I’m a great fan of Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani. He is one of those great directors who pass on the message to the audience through entertainment in his film. His filmmaking style has influenced me greatly.
Yevadu is not a copy of Face/Off
Forthcoming films with my stories are Ram Charan’s ‘Yevadu’, Allu Arjun-Surender Reddy’s ‘Race Gurram’ and Gopichand-B Gopal’s film. ‘Race Gurram’ is not a copy of ‘Face/Off’ because while Nicolas Cage and John Travolta appear from start to end of the film, Bunny will be seen for 10 minutes in ‘Yevadu’. This is a commercial action thriller. The idea of this plot struck my mind four years ago. I’ve provided script for ‘Kick 2’ also that’s going to come up in Ravi Teja and Surender Reddy combination once again.
