sumanth's interview

sumanth’s latest movie Boni is releasing on 12 June 2009. His last release was around one and half years back. He terms Boni as a humorous love story against mafia backdrop like Kshana Kshanam. Here are the excerpts of chitchat -


Tell us how Boni happened?
Director Raj Pippalla was in the team that worked for the Canada schedule of Nagarjuna’s Ravoyi Chandamama. He has been trying to make a Telugu film since then. He met me during the making of Pourudu film and narrated a couple scripts. The first script needs huge budget. I liked the second script immediately. I asked him to find a producer. I also assured him that I would produce it myself if he couldn’t manage to get any producer. During the shoot of interval fight of Pourudu film in Jayabheri club, Raj came along with Ramana Gogula. That is how Boni film materialized.

What kind of a movie Boni is?
Boni is a commercial Telugu movie. It has a love story laced with action elements. This film sports cocky humor. And it reminds us of old Ram Gopal Varma’s film like Kshana Kshanam. This film has a raw mafia backdrop with an underline fun element. Watching Boni will be like reading a Chandamama katha.

Tell us about your character?
I am doing the role of a youngster who wants earn money. He joins mafia and their plans go wrong. He is a low level guy in the mafia pyramid. He has small goals in life.

Why is this film titled as Boni?
It was Raj who coined the title Boni. I joked that people would call it ‘Poni’ if the film fails. But Boni is apt and relevant to the story. And it created tremendous positive buzz among the movie lovers and in trade circles. And the word Boni will be uttered more than 20 times in the movie.

What is your contribution to Boni apart from acting?
My involvement will be there for any film only at script level. Once script is finalized I make sure that I don’t interfere. I let the director and producer do their job. I didn’t see the rushes of Boni. I just saw final cut and gave my analysis.

What is your gut feel after watching the final cut?
I saw the movie three times. One is the final cut, other one is the cut with reshot episodes and third one is after the corrections. We do lose judgment after watching a film for so many times. We screened the movie to trail audiences, who are not connected to film industry. We have shown it to them in raw shape in the editing room. The response is far exceeding than what I expected. Those twenty people gave extremely positive feedback. It is giving us a good feeling about the movie.

Tell us about director Raj Pippalla?
There is a distinct style about him. He brings ‘Guy Ritchie’ kind of humor to the movie. We tried to balance what he offered and what a typical Telugu cinema requires. Lot of work is done by him in styling this movie differently. He is basically a funny guy and he got lots of fun element into the movie. He will be an asset to film industry like Sekhar Kammula and Krish in a different genre. If Sekhar Kammula and Krish have shown their expertise in romance and philosophy, Raj will be known from cocky humor in the future.

How is Ramana Gogula as a producer?
Boni is basically Ramana Gogula’s baby though Raj is the director. He put everything together for the movie. He worked really hard. Boni belongs to Ramana Gogula, Raj Pippalla and me in that particular harder. Ramana Gogula put more efforts than both of us. It took around one and half years to produce this movie. It went over budget and number of shooting days increased phenomenally. But Ramana Gogula never compromised. Most of my films are under budget. But some how, this movie has gone over budget.

Tell us about the first time heroine Kriti Kharbandha?
Her character in this film is a full length one and the entire story revolved around her character. We took chances with a new girl and she turned out to be an apt actress. We needed softness and delicateness from her and got it.

You have two new actors from your family – Sushant and Naga Chaitanya?
I liked the promos and title of Sushant’s Current. Naga Chaitanya’s launch will be the most anticipated one in Telugu film industry after that of Ram Charan Teja’s a couple of years ago. He is in the right hands. Both of them are well trained and I wish all the best to them.

One last question! There is a rumor that you will be getting married soon?
You need a girl to get married. Find me a bride and I will marry her (giggles)