Known for his Stylish film making and introducing his Heroes in a new manner every time, this Gen X director of the Telugu film industry, is presently riding high on the success of his latest film ‘Pokiri’. In an interview with Ragalahari, Puri Jagannadh tells us about his film ‘Pokiri’ which is the first declared hit of this year’s summer releases.
Q: How are you enjoying the success of ‘Pokiri’?
A: I am enjoying it a lot. We are getting fantastic reports from all the areas. Right from day one the talk has been unanimous. No divided talk at all. It is still running for house full shows. People are not getting tickets for the show. We are getting calls that tickets are not available. It is same thing here, in Karnataka, in Chennai and even in US and Australia. On the whole I am enjoying a lot.
Q: Is it true that you went to Narsipatnam to watch the movie? Why that place in particular?
A: Yes I did go there. One thing is that it has been three years since I went home to see my parents and once after the movie releases I would have become busy with the publicity and other related issues. So I went there before the release and watched the movie with my parents.
Q: What was the kind of response in your home town?
A: It was good. It was the same like in all the other areas. Just because it is my home town the people won’t accept it if the movie is not good. The audiences are very sure of what they want. If the movie is good then they will appreciate it, if not its gone. At all the places the response has been the same.
Q: Do you think the title ‘Pokiri’ is in part, responsible for the film’s success?
A: Definitely. The title ‘Pokiri’ does draw attention because Mahesh Babu is a decent sort of guy. Initially some people did not like the title. But the title ‘Pokiri’ does draw attention, especially that of the youth.
Q: Did you suggest the title?
A: Yes (smiles).
Q: What did Mahesh Babu have to say when he heard the title ‘Pokiri’?
A: He agreed immediately. He liked it a lot. There were absolutely no comments on the title.
Q: Mahesh Babu had a complete make over in ‘Pokiri’. Whether it was his hair style or his wardrobe, it was well received specially by the youth. Your comments?
A: The reason for Mahesh’s dressing style was the subject i.e. the gangster and the Mafia background. So the hero had to look like the rough and tough guy. That is why we used the shirt on shirt style and dull colored pants. And the hair; He grew it for three months and then went in for that hair cut for the film. We wanted a special look for Mahesh in the film.
Q: Where did you get his hair styled?
A: In Bombay. It set well for him. The second cut was even better than the first.
Q: Who was the costumer?
A: That was Mahesh’s personal costumer.
Q: ‘Pokiri’ is rich in terms of its technical values. Be it the backdrops, the fights sequences or even the camera work. How many cameras did you use for the film?
A: We used the same camera through out the movie.
Q: You got the cameras from Australia?
A: That was only because we did not get some operators here. If not we used the regular cameras for most of the film. Only for some shots we used those cameras. And this is common. Nothing was specially flown in for ‘Pokiri’.
Q: Tell us about your technical department?
A: Camera i.e. the Visuals were done by Shyam K. Naidu. He handled them well. He has worked for all my films. We share a good rapport. I don’t need to expect much from him. In the same way Editing, Marthand K. Venkatesh. Very sharp editing. He doesn’t drag the scenes. Whether you like the scene or not, by the time you blink, the scene is over. Fights by Vijayan are very good and look realistic. Even if 10 people attack the hero, the fight will look believable. Vijayan was well appreciated for the fights. And the songs! All the six songs are very nice.
Q: The back ground music has been appreciated a lot; especially the bullet sound and the sound where the heroine gets scared?
A: Yes. Mani garu has been appreciated a lot for his back ground score in ‘Pokiri’. Even the film’s Audio was well received.
Q: How is you rapport with Manisharma?
A: This is the first time that we have worked together. And I am very happy that we did. Actually he was supposed to have composed music for my first film itself. But for some reason it did not work out. And after so many years, now, for my 13th movie, we got an opportunity to work together.
Q: Which is your favorite song of all the six in ‘Pokiri’? You specifically wanted the remix version of “Galagala Godarila”?
A: The song that I feel is very stylish is “Dole Dole” then comes “Devuda”. That is my order of favorites. But “Devuda” song became very popular. That is the number one song of the movie. Then “Galagala Godaarlai”. These three are my favorite numbers.
Q: Then in one song you gave a complete look for Mahesh. You showed him in a panchi?
A: That was his fans wish. Many fans of Mahesh asked to show him wear a lungi. That is why that look in that song. He has not done it in any of his previous movies. And I promised his fans that I would make him wear a lungi. So I convinced Mahesh to wear one for the song. A song is for entertainment. So I told him that when so many people are asking for it, why not oblige them. So for the last song we showed him in a lungi.
Q: This is the first time you worked with Mahesh Babu. What do you think of his working style?
A: He is a very comfortable person to work with. He is a director’s hero. He is happy with his work and is also a hard worker. Never interferes with the story or the screen play. He is totally into what he does, I mean, until the scene is completed he will be in the mood of that scene. That is if we are shooting for a serious scene, he doesn’t interact much with the crew in between the shots, he just goes and sits in his van till we call him for the next shot. Works really hard and generally very comfortable to work with. We can make him do what we want.
Q: Did he give any suggestions after listening to the story or after watching the film?
A: Very few. Small suggestions like this could be better and so on, definitely. Like when the cameramen and I are discussing about a scene he adds in a few pointers, in the general sense. Commonly done. Everybody has small inputs to suggest.
Q: Mahesh Babu-Ileana pair has become quite popular?
A: Yes. Their pair has got a very good response.
Q: What made you chose Ileana for the role?
A: Firstly she has got the teen look. She looks good. And her performance in ‘Devdas’ was also good. And people say that, so far she is the best pair for Mahesh.
Q: For how long did you work on ‘Pokiri’ subject?
A: I think I took around four months.
Q: Brahmanandam-Aali combination comedy scenes are a must in your films. And it is a highlight in this movie also. Who suggested their comedy track for ‘Pokiri’?
A: I only suggested the track. Did you like it? (Smiles). Their comedy track also got a good response.
Q: Did you any time, in real life, observe their kind of behavior?
A: Yes I did. I observed a couple of people, whom I am acquainted with. When they give money to beggars, they look at them in a superior way, as if they are feeding his entire family. So I thought it would be kind of funny to show the beggars point of view and their frustration .I wrote those scenes.
Q: Not only the masses but all classes of people watched this film. What was the best compliment you received so far for ‘Pokiri’?
A: Many police people complimented me on the movie. They said that they were proud of the movie and really liked it a lot. That is, seriously, the best compliment for me.
Q: You got the compliments from them as you hyped the Police Department?
A: Yes. That is why. Many people from the department complimented the movie
Q: But the Channels were degraded in the movie?
A: Not degraded. Those are small mistakes which happen. Even I am media right. I belong to the film media, TV media. Print media. All kinds of media. So if I comment on the media, it means that I am commenting on myself. Not on others. You tell me. We have 44 channels in this country. All of which, five times a week, air crime related programs. What is the need to show how a murder or a rape was committed? Don’t you think that is wrong? And why are they doing it? For money.
Q: But aren’t they showing similar things in films?
A: They are. What I am saying is we are doing it for money. They are doing it for money. We all are doing it because we are greedy for money. We put songs to attract people. And they show such elements to increase their TRPs. I just wanted to remind people of our greed for money
Q: In the same way that the media comments on your movies?
A: Definitely. See each media talks about their own character. When I make a film I talk about my films and work. The same with the other Medias. They talk about their work character and their media. Everybody is doing business and everybody is greedy. I just wanted to remind people of that.
Q: The fights in ‘Pokiri’ are the highlights, be it in case of their settings or composition or backdrop. Your comments?
A: When I have to do a fight sequence, I think of a concept. Then I narrate the concept to the fight master. My concepts are such that, like in the train sequence, with out much violence, if you hit one person the third person should get scared, the other sequence will have people using guns and knifes etc and the other is only shootouts. Like that. When I tell the concept to the fight master, he sees as to what he can add to that scene or how he can better it. My main idea is that, there should be a sense of reality to the fights. That is handled by the fight master. Not to over do it. But the fights have received a fantastic response. Even girls called up to compliment on the fights.
Q: When Mahesh Babu appeared in a police uniform in ‘Pokiri’ people couldn’t stop clapping. Did anybody tell you how well that looked?
A: Many people told me about that. That is why the movie became a hit, because of the good talk. Initially Mahesh was hesitant to wear the uniform. He did not know whether it would suit him or not. But when he tired it on, it looked really good on him.
Q: ‘Pokiri’ was given an ‘A’ certificate because of the violence in the movie. Regarding that there was some problem at the theaters. Your comments?
A: ‘Pokiri’ was given an ‘A’ certificate because they said that it had too much of violence in it. But you have families going for the movie and none of them are complaining. It is not a movie which will have a bad influence on the kids. Yes. There were some problems at certain theaters. But at the remaining places all was fine. But the ‘A’ certificate was unnecessary. I feel I should not accept an ‘A’ certificate for another film.
Q: Although the title ‘Pokiri’ sounds very mass. The posters and the movie have a very classy look?
A: Yes. That was deliberate. Like the title the logo is also very short and rough but at the same time looks to be written free handedly. The movie was also given a very classy appearance.
