Director Sukumar has a tedency to make movies that rake up discussion on social media and other platforms. His Rangasthalam, with Ram Charan Tej, is going great at the box office with positive word of mouth and the revenues are good from Day 1 and Day 2 is expected to be sensational. In USA, the movie scored one Million USD, just from premieres and First day, Friday. He met the press to talk the movie and shared few details about the film and the appreciation he is receiving from audience and Industry.
He said, “I am happy that this movie is getting such a good response. I tried to make a movie that will resemble all my childhood memories on celluloid and I am glad that he got so much appreciation. I started this story with an ending and that gave me the entire film. This has been in the back of my mind from long time and when an elderly man asked me, why don’t I make films that represent our culture, I immediately wanted to do this film and my producers gave me a free hand to do the film, how I envisioned it. They never objected for re-shooots or on set improvisations and that gave me extra confidence to do what I believed in.”
He continued, “From earlier flops, my resolve to tell the story better has increased and I think they have helped me mature and make a film, that is understood by everyone. So, I don’t despise them, but I actually see them as my teachers. I decided to keep first day as a buffer, as I did not know how Ram Charan is prepared for this movie and after he reached the location, I immediately asked him for a shot. He got it right the first time and I was amazed, how he got the tone perfectly. His bonding with village kids is also a good memory for all of the unit.”
Sukumar talked about still few Godavari villages being so naive and outdated like the one he depicted in the film. He said, “Few villages in Polavaram are still like how we showed the village in 80’s in our Film. We hired few villagers as extras and they came for three days to set. They did not turn up on the fourth day. When we asked why, they said they got enough money for a month and they don’t want more. The society bank scene in the movie came from such memories and noticing them in the film.”
About the interesting punch lines in the movie, he said, “Most of them are on spot improvised by actors and I used them give them a start and the end. I should thank Jagapathi Babu for being a sport and showing his stomach in the film. I know how difficult it was for him to push out and walk, with a little bend. I got huge appreciation from many in the Industry and I thank them all.”
