This is your first Sankranthi release. How did the festive crowd respond to ‘Nammo Venkatesa’?

Yes. This the first time that my film has been released during Sankrathi and I have just realized the potential of the festive season. ‘Nammo Venkatesa’ has turned out to be the biggest hit of my career as well as Venkatesh’s.  The distributors had bought the film on a Non refundable advance (NRA) basis but now there are happy with the film’s performance. Four more theaters will be screening the film in Rajamundry where we started with 4 theaters. The film is breaking records in East Godavari and Vizag areas.

Why do you think the film has done so well?

The credit goes to the performances. First and foremost is Venkatesh’s characterization. He told me that he will trust me blindly and gave me the complete freedom and cooperation. Generally heroes of his stature would shy away from doing such roles. Next is Brahmanandam. He makes fun and a total bakra of the hero like making him dance to Arya 2 songs.

Highlight scenes like the Jathakam and the interview scene, also the Drinking scene, the chase at the climax of the film and the non stop laughter from the interval, I think kept the audiences entertained.

We had also worked hard to make the film a visual treat. We canned songs at some of the previously unseen locales in Iceland despite the narrow road ways and low oxygen levels. All our hard work has paid off.

You have some signature comedy scenes in all your films. Don’t you think that you will run the risk of becoming repetitive?

You are referring to the drinking scenes? I do. I was in two minds about the drinking scene in ‘Nammo Venkatesa’. But when I told my distributor, Mr NRK Reddy, he told me that the people would except to see an entertaining scene like that in my films just like Amitab’s hugely successful drunk scenes.  I though about it for over 10 days and finally decided not to cut it. And am glad. That scene is one of the highlights and most entertaining scene of the film.

You have done a kind of role reversal with your comedians. Brahmanandam is seen in a slightly negative light in ‘Nammo Venkatesa’ while Master Bharat, who had earlier done naughty roles in your film is seen helping the hero in this film.

Yes. I wanted to show the different shades of these actors. And Venkatesh’s ability to portray comedy is another reason. Venkatesh is undoubtedly one of the finest heroes of Indian cinema with an amazing comic timing.

It is being felt that the film’s love angle was not dealt with properly and the that film was slightly prolonged more than necessary

‘Nammo Venkatesa’ has more or less like a one side love track. More over the film was meant to be an entertainer rather than a love story. That is why we did not go into depth regarding Trisha’s side of the love track. One of the main reasons that the film worked was the sentiments that were portrayed in the last fifteen minutes of the film. The action episodes were planned to entertain and satisfy the mass movie goers.

What about the technicians of ‘Nammo Venkatesa’?

I have to specially mention and compliment Varma, our 24 year old editor, for his relentless hard work. Devi Sri’s music is entertaining and nice. A.S.Prakash is an excellent art director. Writer Gopi Mohan worked along with me for over a year on this movie. Our wave lengths match and it worked well for us while scripting the movie.

So. How much is the film raking in?

‘Nammo Venkatesa’ was made with a 20 crore budget. I think it will make more than 30 crores all over AP.

Your next film is with Mahesh Babu?

Yes. It is a beautifully love story with entertaining action in between. Actually I am very much relaxed while shooting action sequences and get very tensed when I have to can comedy scenes.  Mahesh had specifically told me not to fore go my signature comedy style for this film. It will be my second love story after Anandam. It will be like poetry on screen. We will shoot most of the film in north India including areas like Ladhak.