Interview with Chakri Toleti

One of the most memorable scenes in Kamal Haasan’s classic, Sagara Sangamam, is a boy photographer capturing Kamal in funny angles. That bespectacled boy, Chakri Toleti, has now grown up to become a film director. Incidentally, he has directed Kamal for his very first film, Eenadu, a remake of super hit Hindi film, A Wednesday, which also stars Venkatesh in the lead role. In an exclusive chitchat with Telugucinema.com, he shares his views about filmmaking, his experiences with Kamal and Venky and lots more.

Why did you select a remake for your debut film?

Whether it is a remake or straight film, what matters is how well we narrated it. I liked the original film, A Wednesday, and it has good script, so we remade it. My intention is to make good films, irrespective of from where the original idea comes.

Any changes done to the original film?

Not many except that we localized it. Made it more engrossingly as possible.

You are popular as child artiste. In how many films did you act so far?

About 18 films in both Telugu and Tamil. Among Telugu films, Sagara Sangamam, Paila Pachchees, Mayuri were better known ones.

Where have you been all these years?

After graduating here, I left for USA where I studied filmmaking and later worked Disney. After that I worked with my brother in technology projects. We both managed several projects. During my stay at USA, I got enough practical experience in filmmaking and I came back to India to make my dreams (of filmmaking) realize. I am good at technical side and special effects in filmmaking. So when Krishnavamsi asked me to work for Sri Anjaneyam for special effects, I readily agreed. Then I also assisted

Kamal Haasan in the same department for Dasavatharam.

How did Eenadu happen? Is it because of you association with Kamal?

Chance to direct this film didn’t happen just because I know him very well, and we are family friends. We have been discussing lots of things for over years as I have regularly been in touch with him. One discussion led to another and I ended up taking this project. I liked A Wednesday and Kamal too impressed with it and so we decided to remake it.

Although my father who wrote for couple of Kamal Haasan’s films is a good friend to him, I got this chance on purely professional grounds – not on personal relationships.

So are you satisfied with the final product?

Oh, yes. Although it is not original film, recreating the same magic in Telugu and Tamil was tough and we achieved it. The disadvantage with a remake is that people compare our work with the original. But I am sure that those who have seen the original would also love Eenadu.

Why did you choose RED Camera Technology for Eenadu?

First and foremost, it brings super quality and audiences can enjoy the rich visuals on screen. The other reason is I am very accustomed to RED Cameras.

Do you think digital technology will change the filmmaking process?

In my opinion, digital technology will revolutionalise the whole process. Ultimately, it is the way to go. It is efficient, cost-effective, and gives wider options for filmmaker.

But it was not used in South India before? So how did your cameramen handle it?

We brought three technicians from USA, Australia and London who are specialized on RED camera. These technicians worked for Hollywood films like District 9, 300 etc. That is why I am saying Eenadu will look richer and technically sound.

You worked as actor with Kamal and directing him. Can you share your experiences when you acted with him? Also what was the experience like directing him?

I don’t remember my experiences as actor because I was really a child. As a director, I am happy to share my experiences. He is great actor and it is my fortune to direct him in the very first film. He knows everything about filmmaking and his vast knowledge and expertise comes as handy for any director.

How was it working with Venkatesh?

Venkatesh is also great actor. I am really very lucky to direct all these stalwarts - Kamal, Venky, Mohan Lal (for Tamil version) in my debut movie. Venkatesh is cool guy.

Whose idea it was to rope in Venky?

Even before Eenadu started, Kamal planned Marmayogi with Venky. So he suggested him for this too. It was Kamal’s idea.

Why did you rope in an established director Neelakanta to write dialogues?

I was discussing about dialogue writer with couple of my friends like Venkat Kuchipudi and they suggested Neelakantha’s name saying he is best choice for this kind of movies. I didn’t see his films before I roped in but I loved his knowledge and understanding of films. He has given me good dialogues.

What kind of films you like to see and direct?

I love all good films. I watch all kinds of films. But I haven’t seen a Telugu film for a long time. Only recently that I watched Magadheera. As I director, I love to experiment in all genres.

Any film that had lasting impression on you?

There are too many to name.

What’s next?

There are couple of ideas and plans. Lets see how they materialize.

visit Eenadu's Orkut Community at http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=93621841

visit Eenadu's Facebook Community at http://www.facebook.com/Eenadu

Hopes to get rid of the recession are up!

This might come as a big surprise to many but then while the entire world is reeling under recession, there is news that the IT giant Infosys has rolled out a fresh set of appointment letters. Yes, they are recruiting!!! While no one really knows as to how this is happening, what matters is it has definitely brought about a cheer amongst many and those who got the letter are definitely on cloud nine. While this is being looked at as a rather great achievement, it must be said that our nation which is so deeply drowned in the fangs of corruption and bribes has been able to sustain well to the market threats. While this is on, the US market which is the hub for causing such great ripples in our country seems to have begun its measures on a more stringent level to discourage H1B visa workers. In this process, the recent 'Stimulus Bill' that has been passed has turned out to be a nail hit on the head not just for the IT companies in India but also for those in the US who have been taking the assistance of Indian technical support for their projects. Apparently, as per the new law, the Congress has passed a resolution to all those banks and firms that have been given the bail out money to stop taking any foreign workers. This would mean that a total of a whopping one lakh aspiring professionals who want to make it to the dollar land would be barred from entering. This move has been causing quite dismay since many of the firms in India and US have been putting in repeated pleas to increase the quota of the H1 B visas from the past few months. Now, the experts are saying that this move could well be proving costly for the firms here since this has barred the entry of some of the finest talent available in the world. Many companies in the US have been slashing down their workforce on a daily basis and things have become quite critical not just for the existing Indian families but also for those who have gone there in the recent one or two years before the actual heat of recession has struck. Bogged down by financial commitments and the loans that they have raised, they seem to be in a stalemate situation unable to leave the US and at the same time not being able to survive there. What the future holds in store for this sort of situation is yet to be perceived but then with a move such as the one by Infosys, it has been proved that there is a ray of hope that still exists. There are those who say that the SAP market is still going strong and has not been affected greatly. Let us hope that things get back to normal soon so that the world gets to be a better place to live in. On a whole, it can be concluded that as of now the most unaffected areas by recession are SAP, Media and Infosys. And indeed, Astrologers and Psychiatrists have improved their business to ten times.

Locust swarms 'high' on serotonin

It is one of nature's most radical transformations - the moment a crowd of harmless desert locusts begins to swarm into a devastating plague.

Now scientists from the UK and Australia say they have discovered the trigger - the brain chemical serotonin.

The molecule is best known in humans as a target of anti-depressant drugs.

The discovery could lead to new control strategies for the pests, which plague 20% of the world's land, they write in Science journal.

Desert locusts are known to swarm by the billions, inflicting severe hardship on farmers in parts of Africa, China and other areas.

But the insects actually spend much of their life in a harmless, "solitary" phase.

Passive aggressive

When food runs short, they slowly become clustered together and enter their "gregarious" phase, culminating in an aggressive swarm.

Swarms can devastate crops and cause serious economic hardship

Prior to swarming, the locusts undergo a series of dramatic physical changes - their body colour darkens and their muscles grow stronger.

To find out the chemical signal that triggers this metamorphosis, scientists from Oxford University, Cambridge University and Sydney University began monitoring locusts in the laboratory.

They triggered the gregarious behaviour by tickling the beasts' hind legs, to simulate the jostling they experience in a crowd.

They found that locusts behaving the most gregariously (in swarm-mode) had approximately three times more serotonin in their systems than their calm, solitary comrades.

"The question of how locusts transform their behaviour in this way has puzzled scientists for almost 90 years," said co-author Dr Michael Anstey, from Oxford University.

"We knew the [physical] stimuli that cause locusts' amazing Jekyll and Hyde-style transformation.

Gregarious locusts (L) and solitary (R) were once thought to be different species

"But nobody had been able to identify the changes in the nervous system that turn antisocial locusts into monstrous swarms.

"Now we finally have the evidence to provide an answer."

Happy co-incidence

The team say their finding opens up a new idea for a locust control strategy - a chemical that inhibits serotonin and thus converts swarming locusts back to their solitary phase.

In humans, by contrast, keeping serotonin levels high is the aim of many anti-depressant drugs.

"Serotonin profoundly influences how we humans behave and interact," said co-author Dr Swidbert Ott, from Cambridge University.

"So to find that the same chemical is what causes a normally shy, antisocial insect to gang up in huge groups is amazing."

Obama 'set to close Guantanamo'

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US President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison within a year.

A draft order circulated on Wednesday also called for halting military trials in the prison, where terror suspects had been held for years without trial.

Separate orders are expected to ban abusive interrogations and review the detention of terror suspects.

On his first full day in office on Wednesday, Mr Obama issued orders on government ethics and transparency.

The measures included curbs on lobbying and a pay freeze for senior White House staff. Federal employees will have to sign up to new ethics procedures.

Later Mr Obama and his advisers are expected to discuss the global economic downturn affecting the US and also the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Sworn again

Late on Wednesday, a panel in the House of Representatives gave its support to a $358bn government spending package, giving the first post-inaugural backing to the Democrats' economic plans.

Obama sworn in for second time

Mr Obama - who was sworn in as America's new president on Tuesday - said he was beginning "a new era of openness" in government.

He was sworn in for a second time late on Wednesday, because one word had been out of order when the oath was first administered.

The White House said the ceremony had been repeated in an "abundance of caution".

On Wednesday, the US Senate confirmed the appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

Senators earlier approved six Cabinet members, including Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary and Steven Chu as energy secretary. Several other positions are still to be confirmed.

Trials suspended

The draft executive order on the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was circulated by the Obama administration on Wednesday.

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"The detention facilities at Guantanamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than one year from the date of this order," the draft read, according to Reuters.

It says anyone still in detention when the prison is shut "shall be returned to their home country, released, transferred to a third country or transferred to another United States detention facility".

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a White House official said the order would be signed on Thursday.

Mr Obama has repeatedly promised to close the Guantanamo Bay, where some 250 inmates accused of having links to terrorism remain and 21 cases are pending.

On Wednesday, judges suspended several of the military trials of terror suspects at Guantanamo, at Mr Obama's request. One trial involved several men accused in the 11 September attacks in the US.

The legal process has been widely criticised because the US military acts as jailer, judge and jury, the BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Guantanamo.

However, closing Guantanamo Bay will not be easy, he says. Questions remain over where those charged will be tried and where those freed can be safely sent.

On Thursday, Mr Obama is also expected to issue a separate executive banning abusive interrogation techniques such as waterboarding - a form of simulating drowning used by the CIA.

The president is also expected to order a review of America's detention policies, a White House official said.