Sekhar Kammula: Passion for cinema?
As the movie went over budget, Mr.Producer, i will not charge any re-muneration untill we cut even, and once we make profit give me anything you wish
Yes this is a new generation director speaking. A director whose motive is not to make money, whose motives is not to slit open a producers wallet. His motive is to make qualitative cinema. Cinema which doesnt throw you into fantasy land and expects you to believe that it is easier to get away with an extra-marital affair New York City rather than in Mumbai or Delhi or Patna. The cinema he believes in has stories of a common man, his reactions to common problems that you and me face and react to, the cinema where middle class people behave like middle class people. The middle class of today where a woman is just as independent and knows her priorities as a middle class male would. No gimmicks, no masala, no skin show, just good cinema in its purest and honest form.
Ladies and Gentlemen one such director has arrived after a long painstaking wait.
SEKHAR KAMMULA
The director who won a national award for his first movie. The director who won tons of awards including the best director Nandi( equivalent to Filmfare for South Indian movies). The director who’s third movie is one of top 3 grossers of the year 2006.
I am sure many of you reading this article are dying to ask.. So, who is this guy?
This is Sekhar Kamulla to you all:
Born in Hyderabad, Raised in Hyderabad. He did his Engineering in Osmania University with a Bachelors degree in Computer Engineering. As, so often seen in most hyderabadis the US of A bug bit him too. He had to go the US of A to pursue his career in the Graduate program for Computer sciences. Thank God he did go to the States. Why?
Because as is the case with you, me, the guy sitting next to you, the guy bringing you chai in the Irani Cafe, the guy selling gupchup on the bandi, the father, mother, son, etc, etc, etc he too was fascinated by a six letter word called CINEMA. Sekhar( as he likes to be called) says he always used to see something in a movie which many common movie-goers would not even notice. The intricacies.
So, after graduating he gor en-rolled in a film-making course in Howard University. Made numerous short movies, worked as a clap-man, lightsman, coninuity person, editor, screenwiter, director.. almost every filed that is associated with in bringing a movie to light. His final project for the thesis was Anand(not to be mistaken with the cult Hrishida movie).
The first step was taken. The step to learn Cinema in a prestigious school, to know the technicalities, to know the detailing aspect, more importantly to realise that burning desire to make a movie was not just a passing dream. He can do it. And How?
Sekhar lands up back in hyderabad to work as a sofware consultant. Writes down a script he believed in. The first movie to come out of this mastermind was
DOLLAR DREAMS 2000
A story of six youngsters. A story of common youth of Hyderabad. A story which deals with finding happiness but at waht cost? Going to America!!!!
This movie though made at a shoestring budget of 17 Lakhs rupees, showed that a good movie can be made without high production values. The movie detailed the ideologies of today’s youth. The options they have when they graduate, the options they tend to make their own, the options they perinially neglect and the options they have and want to take but will not or more importantly cannot because of the peer pressure, family pressure and the society pressure. One of the choices being going to US of A. The carze, the hysteria, the hype, the status feeling is all shown in this beautifully crafted movie.
On one hand we have Hyderabad Blues which dealt with love and adjustments, then on the other we have Dollar Dreams which deals about options and choices.
One scene in the movie which will definitely make you to take notice of CHARACTER is when one couple who are expecting a baby in 2 months are frantically trying to get a visa so that the baby is born in USA and become a citizen. Forget the production value, this is a must watch movie. The language used is so common man’s language. The group of friends calling themselves Lafoot Gang( Fit-for-nothing).
Sekhar had no idea of post-production, he had no idea as to where he should register his movie, he had no idea how to find a distributor and whom to show the screening to get a distributor to buy it. The movie has more of English than Hindi/Telugu and he thought of registering the name under a English movie. Now he didnt know that if he had registered the movie as a telugu movie he would have cut a lot of cost, but he learnt. He learnt the hard way. He did not get distributors who would buy the reels. But, the fighter that he is.. he did not loose hope. He went to the manager of Sangeet theatre( Secunderabad’s then most hep movie hall) and paid money to the theatre owner to rent his theatre for one show a day for three days. One noon show for three days. He was pretty damn sure that if atleast 100 people watch his movie, by the word of mouth it would run. that is exactly what happened. people loved the movie, the movie was lapped by youngsters more. Then he had distributors queued up. He made a small amount of profit on the movie. the movie won him the prestigious National award for the best debutant director. Sekhar has arrived.
ANAND 2004
The puncline for the movie: Manchi Coffee Lanti Cinema ( Cinema like a good Coffee). It couldnt have been better. The puchline defined it all. Wonderful movie, beautiful music, beautiful editing, spectacular directon. Super performance by the lead actress Komalinee Mukherjee( who played shilpa Shetty Sister in Phir Milenge). The movie did not boast of any huge superstars, or any foreign locales. A very low budget movie. Sekhar did it again.
Even after the moderate sucess and high critical acclaim of Dollar Dreams Sekhar had to start th journey from the scratch. No investors, no producers. But, he wanted to make this movie right from his student days when he was studying Cinema. As mentioned earlier he had written the script of Anand as his final thesis. He was passionate about this movie, he believed in this movie. The movie if made would be released into telugu movie Industry when the movie which were ruling were Factionist movies, teenage movies and mindless comic movies. But, that had to stop according to Sekhar. A fantastic movie can be made without any of these was his answers with Anand. And boy-o-boy he did make it.
The movie begins during Roopa’s( Komalinee) childhood. She looses all her family in a terrible car accident. She believes she had a part in the death of her family as had she not tried to stop them they could have avoided the accident. Roopa grows into a confident yet unsure at times beautiful girl. She is about to get married to her Boyfriend, but, she is in two states of mind if she is marrying him because she loves him or because she he has everything in him that a girl when faced with araanged marriage scenario will never say no to. The marriage is broken on the wedding day beacuse of the adamant behaviour of the guy’s mom and i wont budge behaviour of Roopa. Enter Anand( Raja). Anand is the son of the person who in his drunken stupor hit the car driven my Roopa’s parents causing their death.
The film from there takes you through a journey.. the journey that sekhar mastered in his next venture Godavari..but started in Anand. The journey of Love-hate relationship was captured almost unbelievebly. The banters between Roopa-Anand- Anita(Roopa’s chilhood friend) are seen to be believed as to how real they look. The idea is “lifted”. Lifted from your life, lifted from my life, lifted from the life of the pan-wallah, lifted from my Grandma’s life. The movie gets so dangeroulsy close to real life that at times you feel that you are Roopa, that you are Anand, that you are Anita, that you are Anish Kuruvilla(Anand’s cousin and executive producer of the movie).
Some ohh so real scenes
Anand asking the Grandma to rent the room to him and explains to her how good-boy he is
Anand asking Anita if he can join her for a jog and Anita instantly retorts saying Light Tesuko( Light le… Chill out.. tahnks but no thanks)
Someone in the bus tries talking to Roopa about her broken marriage, and seeing roopa’s discomfort.. Anand asks her to tell such kind of people to shut up… Roopa’s response… You Hsut up
Little girl asking anand to give her the toothpaste so she can eat some
Anand when confromted by Rowdies doesnt resort to fighting with them, but just calls the police.
Anand talking about Roopa’s Ass
If i keep mentioning all the “ohh so real scenes” i would be putting in paper the entire screenplay.
Some amazing songs, equally amzing picturisation. Anand is a class 101 for all the students of the film craft to learn on how to make a fantastcic movie with a shoe-string budget. All you need is the drive.. the drive to captivate the viewers with you storytelling and attarcting the viewers into your thought process. The same drive did not diminish in Sekhar after the major success of Anand. The same passion, the same dedication, the same honesty was to be seen in his in next venture:
Godavari (2006)
A very good article on the review of Godavari is written by cinema fanatic Sudha can be found here The Journey is continued from where he had a small halt in Anand. Godavari is the story of characters evolving during a boat ride. It is loosley based on the characterization of Lord Rama from Ramayana. Ram(Sumanth) is a selfless guy who would give away his last penny to the needy. After completing his education in USA he wants to join politics but doesnt know where to start
. Sita is an Independent woman( or she believes she is) who’s Clothing business is dead as a do-do.
They both land up on the same boat which is going to Bhadrachalam.. and then shuru ho gaya safar( thats the start of the journey). the way Sekhar meticulously delas with his characters is amazing. there are no unwanted characters in the movie, there is no character which is ill-defined. Crytal clear.. every aspect of the movie is CRYTAL CLEAR. There is a subplot of a dog which is hillarious. Never have i seen the use of a “sutradhar” so imaginatively that too through a dog. Every scene invoving the dog cracks you up. …
(oz’s comment : to be continued… this post was “forcibly” published by oz, so readers could enjoy this amazing write up… next in line - striker’s secret obsession)
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-Sumeet, ^:)^ amazing write-up! We want more!!
(forcibly published by Oz.. he he)
-Oz, thanks for that “balatkaar” mate.
- WB, I just couldn’t hold myself back. This amazing writeup has been in the drafts section for over a month, my hands were itching, I wanted to spread this amazing knowledge about this amazing director… what the hell… I’ll buy sumeet a round of drinks this weekend.
wait till i “forcibly” publish Striker’s secret obsession. mindblowing yaar! (oz to self: Oye Control Yaar!)
oh damn.. sorry oz, i’ll get to it first thing on friday
Amazing write up Sumeet.Kudos man.Sekhar almost re defined Telugu cinema with the movie Anand.If you observe the movies Anand and Godavari closely,you can see a faint stamp of “Bapu” (another great Telugu director from 70’s and 80’s)kind of cinema which we missed during all these years.The strong female characters,”moments” defining the story,honesty in story telling,sensible comedy and sensuous songs (a-hem-”Andamga lena” what a song that was from Godavari) - huh,watching Sekhar’s movie is like having a filter coffee on a winter morning.
Here is an article by the man himself on his kind of cinema and his hope the “minority” like him will sure turn into “majority” in near future.Non Telugu readers,please excuse.
http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/sekharkammula-reply.html
another engineer turned filmaker??? that is music to my ears !!!!!
thanx sumeet for this wonderful write up…and thanx oz too….
sekar kammula … man to watch out for !!!!!
Sekhar is just about okay.nothing more than that. his heart is in the right place but when it comes to executuion sekhar has a long way to go.anand was an attempt at doing a hrishikesh mukherjee kind of film but where was the wit, charm and intelligence that hrishidas characters had? and the second half was such a bloody drag…couldnt sit through it..roopa in anand is an independant woman - a very todays woman who has grown up on her own, someone who has brought up her siblings ..Now why would someone like
that behave like a silly sentimental fool ?.all that roothna and manaana didnt go with the character..and that baby talk kind of dialog delivery.. real cinema is not just about real situations but real characters as well ..this is an area that sekhar should be working on….anyway telugu cinema today is such a cesspool that even the slightest deviation
from mainstream trash calls for a lot of courage and sk should atleast be commended for that.
Cheers.
The article was inspiring….
But….why doesnt India have some good,inexpensive film schools……why does someone who loves cinema in this country has to go for a course in US (I have heard lot of similar stories)… there is FTII…which takes/sucks fickin 3 prime years of your life to throw you in this big bad world of movies…..I had hope with Whistling Woods (Subhash Ghai’s school)….but that too costs 10 lakhs…to teach me direction…
Say I cant go to US…I dont have 10 lakhs…I dont want to spend 3 years of my life (and then start again from scratch)……any other option???
I mean why cant this country have film communities….where like minded people can just discuss movies…be it acting,direction,editing etc………I think for movies …no one can teach you something very revolutionary…all those who love cinema…always had within them…film schools were just needed for polishing their skills…
Why cant there be part time film schools for weekends,weekdays……why can we have some forum where we can just submit our short movies,stories,concepts……and get feedback….
I am really frustrated cause uptill now…I didnt had a forum also to put my views…thanks POC.
just wanted to share a different opinion.
i dint quite like Godavari. i think it had a loose script or atleast, got loose at execution.
His first mainstream film Anand was good, it created a wave, the telugu film industry desperately needed something like that. But definitely, from an execution point of view, it was not up to the mark. and that can be easily understood by the low finances the movie had. the major part of the finance was provided by NFDC. so he had to shoot it at a minimal budget. but he pulled it off very well to an astounding success.
i very much awaited his next film godavari, cos he wouldnt be having problems with finance now and his true talent could be materialised without compromises.
but i was disappointed with the movie. a loose script. sumeet, i really dint find the ‘Dog Comedy’ to be funny. dont know why. we are different people lol.
i came to know that the shooting of the movie Godavari went haywire cos of sudden rainfall in the godavari region(yes, godavari is a place/river).
as the movie was shot mostly outdoors and that too on a boat on the river, i think they had to make some compromises.
now im waiting for a sekhar kammula film for which he dint make any compromises. considering his sensibility, that would be great to watch. and then, one can actually know what he is capable of doing. im hoping to have one of his movies in my favourite movies list.
i respect this man. he has the sensibility. he definitely has the ‘passion for cinema’. he is honest. nobody is like that in the telugu film industry. he would be my first and obvious choice in the telugu film industry if i had to apply for work as an assitant director.
but right now, to say that he has proved himself to be a great ‘filmmaker’ would be an overstatement.
to say that he has proved that he has the potential to be a great filmmaker is justified.
to say that he is the most sensible/honest filmmaker in the telugu film industry is also justified.
In a world called the telugu film industry in which every second movie is about ‘i want (in that south indian nasal twang) to love you’ or ‘i want to be a friend’, Shekhar Kommula is indeed a refreshing change.
I had seen ‘Godavari’ back to back with another telugu film called ‘Pokiri’ (this was during my short holiday and i wanted to catch up on all the telugu movies b4 i head bak to mumbai) and i was startled at the two different worlds on display.
To say that ‘Godavari’ was refreshing would be an understatement of sorts. To say that Pokiri was running to a full house would be ah! stating the obvious.
Heartening to know that this kind of middle-of-the-road cinema is being made in the telugu film industry.
Komolina Mukherjee is a great find and rumour has it that she said no to Raghvedra Rao production of ‘Ramadas’ to starr in ‘Godavari’. Though the former was a bigger hit still i think she made quite a smart move to act in this finely crafted movie.
Good to know engineers are coming into the industry. There are already quite a few engineers:-
Ramu’s camp is full of them, which include himself, his chief AD prsently Akshay, Manish Gupta his writer, Shirish Kunder, talking about telegu stars Aditya OM hmmmm thats few I can remember I am sure there are lot more.
Talking about learning Direction. I believe a school would only refine ur talent. Its something you r born with. As far as the techniques involved in visual story telling you can learn in 2 days:) Rest is all common sense and the natural talent. In USA if u want to complete a MFA program you will have to spend 2-3 years atleast and shell out atleast $100k if going to a respected school. Compare to that, FTII is wonderful. The problem I find about FTII is that they only teach one aspect of filmmaking wheres as the US would teach u every department.
Well then the problem remains…..I mean what about people who want to learn something…how can they show there talent………
This is all very confusing…if an established person in the industry like Anurag has to go all this……then what about one who has not even started……
Long way to go…
Sumeet, thank’s for this. I am such a big fan of independent film, and I never hear of any independent filmmakers in India. Thank’s for this, of course I will find the movies, and what other independent filmmakers in India should we be watching out for?
- I think Sumeet still hasn’t woken up and checked out that his one month old draft got published last night…
Shitij Film industry is indeed very tough. Its kind of a ‘agnipath’ and one should be ready for it. A saying goes to be succesful the most important thing is luck, then comes ur contacts and then the talent.
There are so many ways to learn if you have money n time on your side take a masters program in a reputed school, you could join a short course at Zima, Arena which might not be the best but will teach u the basics. Then u need to enter the industry somehow. Talking of Anurag: very few people in the industry reach the stage he is presently at. There is no doubt he deserves a lot more and our wishes are with him. I am sure he will be a household name like Ramu.Our hope lies in people like him to revolutionise the kind of films we are making.
If you really have a passion why think of all the difficulties. Leave all to the allmighty and take a plunge. Thats what I have done and I have not even started anywhere:)
- You know, I don’t think the ways and process of getting into the film industry is “any” different from what “papads” people have to “bail” in other industries. Take for that matter the software industry. for people coming to the US, there are countless horror stories of what “engineers” have to go through to get work. me included.
The opening of gates to get a project or a job as a software engineer (or any other job) at an entry level position seems to be on the same plain as that for an AD in the cinema industry.
Thanks Manjeet/Oz,
I am also a so called software engineer (and trust me it SUCKS)…..I dont know about you people…but I dont want to end this life in my office staring this computer screen……
But I am also amazed…Oz for you to be a soft Pro @ US……you must be having good technical skills…..but I dont ‘have’/'want to have’ them.
I have read your writeups very carefully….and I think if you are a soft pro….then your REAL talent is getting wasted…….
I mean the ideas you gave to Anurag on Flasbacks were as creative as one can be……
I want to know what is going on from the people in this forum to do something (to take these ideas to the world)….Please dont get me wrong but I think at the end of the game only those of us who did somthing in this field (acting,directing,editing…etc.)…and did it good/best……will be remembered……rest will just come and go.
How can I be the one who did something…whether good/bad/best….that my journey will tell.
Guys been in the US I have realized its a shear waste of time. If you look at a typical NRI he spends his entire life struggling saving every single penny he can, merely survives and is worth around $500k at the end of his career. in the process is cut off from his country, culture his family, friends etc. I felt like a prisoner in the US. In Mumbai I am happy even if theres nothing too much happening as of now.
Manjeet could you share your profile, I will really appreciate that.
Thanks and Regards.
HOLY COW!!!!!! What the fuck is this….? Damnnnnnnnn… Oz, OZ, OZ, Oz…. Man o man… Dude i have no idea how to react on this.. no for real i have no idea… Guys i am neckdeep in my work but, will surely comeback later today and read every comment and try to answert them too. Thanks for Fantastic response, and hey Oz we needa talk…:-t, Lol!!=))
Ok… me a hyderbadi. Born and brought up there. Comp Sci engg from JNTU, USA bug for MS. Will finish in an year. Am bit by the 6 letter word too…
I saw shekar when he came to our coll festival last yr. Modest guy and really sweet. Loves cinema and makes it with all his heart. His songs are what I listen too when ever I think abt Andhra.
Shekar if u reading this, I am very certain ur, get on to PFC man… u belong here…
Sumeet..very bad..how could you keep such an amazing write up in warps for so long..Thanks OZ for letting it out.
The hospital scene you have mentioned in Dollar Dreams was the inspiration for him to make the movie. In real a couple approached his doctor sister and he was taken back by there USA bug.
I really wish I could get a one-one talk chance with Shekar. I am going to try my best to trace him dowm soon :d
great article sumeet! thanks for telling me about the site. the article makes me want to go out and find these movies when I get back to Minneapolis! i have not watched many indian movies but hope i can find these. any other recommendations?
@WB Thanks a lot man. Now i am in a fix…Should i finish this article or just leave it the way it is? You can see i havent even done the Proof-read for this one. Yeah.. Balaatkaar..lol.. Didnt even get a whiff of air that this was coming… Oz.. Maar Padegi(Mohit Ahlawat from “James” style)..lol kidding bro..
@ Fouthwall.. Yeah Sekhar is a name to watch out for in future.. unfortunately i havent seen many Bapu movies in telugu other than Mr.Pellam. “Andam ga lena” is one real good sensous song without getting vulgar or too much of skin show or even gyrations… Pure sensuality at its best. Defines exactly the character of Sita in the movie.. Check out Komalinee’s expressions in it..wow
@KK… yeah buddy mark him up there as someone not to miss
@ Kaalia… I respect your opinion, but i utterly disagree with your opinion too..if that makes sense
heres what u left
“Now why would someone like
that behave like a silly sentimental fool”
I want to stress on these three words “silly sentimental fool”. Alright are these three different words which shud read silly,sentimental and fool or these combined like the way u put.
My question, have you really seen anybody in life who is very matured and independent and still “doesnt”act silly, sentimental and/or a fool? if so, please let me know.. i want to meet that person. Another correction: Roopa doesnt raise her sibblings in the movie Anand. remember, she has only one brother who dies in the mishap?
another one from you:
“anyway telugu cinema today is such a cesspool that even the slightest deviation
from mainstream trash calls for a lot of courage and sk should atleast be commended for that.”
Dude, how many times have we seen a director start with a bang and fade away right from his second or third movie… what shud be commended of sekhar is growth as a director with each passing movie… and this gradual growth makes anyone a better director in the long run. So, Sekhar shud not be “ATLEAST” commended for that..but commended as in whole, as he is trying to bring in a refreshing revolution in cinema.
@Kalki… Funny is such a relative term.. you might not have liked the dog-comedy track..but i was ROFLMAO.
eg: A scene where when Ram is trying his level best to woo his Cousin.. the dog goes..” Ahh i love my dog life.. we dont have to go thru all this shit of woo’ing.. just wham bham thank you mam”
And yes you heard it right, the shooting went haywire because of rain and other uncontrollable situations, which i wanted to mention in the article..but cudnt.. that is exactly why sekhar said what i put as the begining of my article.
@SS welcome to the league
@Shitij..Thanks
@T! Thanks.. i think another independent moviemaker who made it big is Nagesh Kukunoor
@Ravptor.. Rock On my Man… Manasa Gelupu nee de raa( Heart.. victory is all yours)
@Sudha.. Thanks.. Check your e-mail. Your article on Godavari was fantastic too.
@ Tara.. Thanks for atlast coming on here..I hope you liked PFC… Keep coming here, you will get addicted as many up here are right now.
Speacial thanks to Oz… I am pretty sure had you not published this, it would have been sitting in the drafts for a lot many more days. Damn i am such a lazy ass.
am shifting my base to mumbai next week…. am almost running out of my savings… dont know where am going to put up…. dont know where am going to work…. dont know how am going to survive…. but one thing that am sure of is am leaving for good… such timely act to put this article on the loop… thank you both….you have reinforced my belief… it ain’t impossible to make the kind of films one wants to…. thanks for the ample dose… much needed motivation…
Shitij… here we go…………
After meeting the passionate cinema online lovers I have realised there are quite a few people like me. Mumbai is my hometown. I did BE in Mech here then MS in Mech from the USA, worke there for few years, got a chance to do a short film making course at NYFA. It convinced me that the field I should be in is Cinema. I always had a dream of making a film someday and did this course to learn the basics. As luck would have it I was able to get into the production dept. of ‘Jo Bole So Nihaal’, when they were filming in New York. It gave me a mixed feeling of our film industry and made some good contacts.
Just returned for good to pursue my dreams in Film making. Currently I am observing the post production work of a film. Hopefully would be assisting the director in his next venture:)
Thanks Manjeet.
MS in Mech…:o…I too am a BTech Mechi…
But when I look back @ my life…I feel what a waste of all those precious years…I mean I could have learned so much about movies in those formidable years of my life.
I hope you can really understand what I am talking about.
Man how was the experience like…working with Rahul Rawail,Sunny and co. (well actually no one except them are of any worth in the movie)…..and why did Rawail tried to act in the movie…his act was even worse than the movie itself…and add to that Kamaal Khan and you have a perfect box office RDX (disaster).
Really man I appreciate your desire to be someone…I not only hope…but I am confident that you will make it one day…
If I could be of some help in this journey of yours …I would really consider myself fortunate.
Really hope our actions speak louder…one day…that one day.
Shitij…….. Been an engineer also develops your mind. If u start very earlier in the films your mind might not grow. You need a mature mind to direct a film I think. It good to have varied experinces in life and then grow. Complete ur education and then do whatever u want to do.
Its an interesting incident that happened. I went to see the shooting of the film which was taking place in a Gurudwara in Queens. I was wearing my NYFA fleece and casually asked the line producer if there is anything I can be of help as I am from the same profession. They did not ask me anything technical about film making. The question was can u drive that 30 feet long mobile house in New York City, which happened to be Sunny’s makeup van. I did not even went back home and took off with them and stayed with them in the motel.
Talking of Sunny is a very nice person, very quite does not bother anyone.
Mr Rawail is a very difficult person to deal with. Who is much more interested in spying on the crew, who is doing what rater than direction. Screams uselessly. It was funny that the dialouges were changed at the very last moment. Nobody except the director knew what the heck was going on. The films screenplay is so stupid. May be it was the hot model in Florida which made him act. I dont know just kiddin:)
Seriously man the movie is pathetic……a scene where Kamaal Khan is in some pathetic wig and acts like he is the father of the real Kamaal Khan….really a genius like Rawail could have thought/shown that scene….what gets to my nerve is that Sunny actually believes him ~X(~X(
There is a ship scene where the heroine of the movie…who is supposed to be with FBI…is in a swim suit while Sunny is after Kamaal Khan…
Really man….the way Sunny’s mom reaches US from Punjab (that too in a flash)…no Visa nothing…
Boy the movie was creative…~X(~X(
shitij and manjeet …. u could’ve mailed/exchanged email addresses/chatted with each other and discussed on Jo bole so nihaal … or either of you cld’ve been an author on PFC and posted a seperate post titled ‘My experiences with Rahul rawail’ and discussed your opinions ….
Don’t mean to be sounding rude, but the above post is regarding Sekhar kammula …. it would be nice if u stuck to the topic …. coz ur comments aren’t anywhere related to the original post ….
OZ….Pls read
Are bhai Kartik, this site is new and we do not know how to be an author or rather if we can be author. Karthik theres a dialogue for u from the film ‘Jane bhi do yaron’ that goes “Shant Ghada dhari Bheem Shant!”. Its a classic dialogue with mumbaities when a person when is upset.
Is it ok to exchange contact info?
Rahul Rawail is not worth talking about:) Anyways I might have some interesting topics, which I would like to post how do i do that.
Please ignore my stupidity if I ignored some simple thing:)
Manjeet Singh,
to contact oz:
http://passionforcinema.com/contact/
“Shaant gadhdhari bheem shaant” :))
Theek hai yaar … another one : “Bade bade deshon main aisi chot choti baatein hoti raheti hain ” \:d/
Contact oz … and do post ur experiences/ discussions … I’m sure everyone would love to hear them ….
Seriously man the movie is pathetic
Very Good article
[admin note: comment has personal attacks and abuse]
[edited] sekhar kammula
he is commercial guy under the mask of art.
He collected lakhs of ruppes from NRI huy who was selected for his recent film Happy days.
Ok !!! i had good experience with [edited]
beware of wild sekhar kammula.
ok
i will come with prrofs next time.
What the fuck is this terro talking about?
where is the “prrofs”?
Though i have a hunch he could be right.
I remember DOLLAR DREAMS got such bad reviews i didnt even bother. Even though i really wanted to see it.
Not sure Mainak. Think he is drunk and found our site or someone who is unemployed - thereby an idle brain - and has access to the internet.
prrofs could be proofs. huy could be guy.
Well he has left the url of Sekhar’s official website
Mainak, do watch Dollar Dreams, its a nice little movie. It won Sekhar the national for best Debut.
:)itz the lovely article dude. It was an inspired me a lot.
Dear Sir,,,,,,,,
please contact me as i need to discuess about Dollar Dreams and required the print to view in
cinema,,,,
my no. are 09892342434 & 09833577407
thanx
regards
hayat
It’s a nice movie Dude! I like the way Sekhar passion of making film
hi iam sampath hyd ur great director naa ku chaala estam ellani ti movis antee and baguunadhi naa ku direstion neerpistharaa naa ku action antee estam amd directinon mee next pic kii thisu konntaara 9949005604
rajendhranagar kismathpur rangaredydist 3-100 my ho.no . sampathsharma_sam@yahoomail.com
ur movie inspired me whn iwas in my bad times and roopa’s character made me live confidently in life for watever problems you get in ur life..
Thank you shekhar for providing such a beautifull movie.
I HAD SEEN ALL UR MOVIES.ALL MOVIES ARE EXCELLENT.ESPECIALLY THE MOVIVE HAPPY DAYS TOUCH MY HEART. EVERY SEEN AND EVERY CHARACTER VERY INTARESTING AND PERPOSFULL.THE CHARACTERS LIKES
NOT ONLY ME BUT ALSO MY FRIENDS.I NEVER SEND MAILS FOR EVER PREVIESLY.BUT I WANT TO WISH YOU THAT’S WISE I SEND A MAIL FOR YOU.SHEKAR SIR,I WANT TALK WITH YOU ATLEAST ONE TIME PLEASE I REQUEST YOU SIR. MY MOBIL NO.9347573056.TELL ME YOUR NUMBER.
I WAIT FOR YOUR CALL BECAUSE YOU ARE VERY BUSY.
really shekar kammula was great
if he accept me i want to act inhis movies:)>-
sir if u want new talent i will send you the photograph of mine
u have to contact me on my mail id
my email id is dumpala.nagesh@gmail.com
Hi shekar!!
I understand that u dont have much time to view all this meassages in ur daily schedule,but we can never for get the word trust and hope..
We had a wonderful movie (Happy Days) that captured our entire engg life like a dream come true. I really appreciate the way you deal with the movies ur the inspiration to many younger buds..I am proud atleast we have a creative director who comes with middle class emotions..
All the best!!
Cheers!
I have completed my b.tech, but after seeing your movie HAPPYDAYS i justgot a thought to do backe to college life its sso good and we want you to give the same to us
For some people making a film is a business. For some people, it is a just passion. Shekhar Kammula belonged to the second category, as he is one of the very few directors in Telugu who handles his movies very sensibly and differently. Shekar
Hello sir,
i Feel very Happy to Saw the Movie “HAPPY DAYS”. i Had Same Idea While Iam Doing The Enginerring . I Saw the Happy Days Whbat i Had IJdea in My Mind.. I Feel Veryy Veryy Happy With Ur Direction… I have Another Idea.plzz Let Me Share With U..
i Hope u can Give Me a Reply to Mail Id..iam Searching Ur Address in so many Websites.. but I didnt Find it.. please Give me a Address to My Mail id…
I Hope My Happy Days Will Come Soon With Ur Reply..
Iam Eagrly Waiting for ur Reply
Thax in Advance
Rajesh G
these all r very very wonderful movies come by shekar kammula’s creativity and also beautyful muzik:w;
please give me a chance to act in ur films iam interested in acting iam studying btech i one of bestcolleges in A.p. i have that zeal to act
Please some one give me the address of Mr. Sekhar Kammula..atleast his mail Id..Please do this for me…Thanks in advance..
Mr. Sekhar Kammula…I am a S/W Engineer..working in WIPRO Hyderabad. I am a singer too. Please listen to me first and then decide whether I’ll be useful to you or not. Please give me a chance. I’ll be waiting for your call. Thank you..
Dear MR. Shekhar,
I donot know whether you read this mail or not, but like many people I am also having the desire to check how far my stories get impress the classic directors like you, I have completed my B.tech in mech engg from NIT warangal in 2006, i have a big dream to see my name on silver screen as a story writer, i have few beatiful stories, and i think you can only direct such type of stories, if i get opportunity i will explain you, I want my name on screen for a sucessful film, nothing else.
Kamalakar
sir i have seen ur films they are truly beatiful
Sekhar sir.. U made the best of best pictures than the movies which are in recent telugu standards.
I like the way how u present the movie to the audience.
I like the way you use music for helping your script.
I like the way how do you end up a movie… like in anand and godavari..
I have seen your Happy Days for so many times..
I am eagerly waiting for ur next movie how it could be..
I am waiting to listen songs for ur next movie.
Cheers and regards,
Siva Prasad.
Hello shekar garu,
One day i was going to college.Thatday i saw a banner in usha mayuri.That was the new cinema(ANAND) .That time i hadn’t intrest to go to college.I went the movie Anand on the releasing day at USHA MAYURI(MORNING SHOW).AT first i could not understand the movie ,basically i couldn’t decide the movie how it was.But while i was seeing the movie i felt goog feeling.So on thatday i went first show second time for seeing the movie (Baically iam fan of films).That time i understood “this film was different movie to the tollywood.In first week i saw that movie 7 times in usha mayuri.I very much like that movie.After that i saw u r Godavari.I saw that only 2 times.Because What i expected from u that not appeared in the Godavari.Now i saw u r HAPPY DAYS in DEVI (WITH U R TEAM AT FIRST DAY MORNING SHOW).I felt very good feeling .I tryed to break my record (in first week 7 times ).But i couldn’t.Because i couldn,t get the tickets.Even though i saw happy days 10 times from 2 day.
Our telugu film industry want this type of different films.
All the best for u r next movie.
Happy Days
:d/ 
8-| :w; :-w :)> -:((
Hi Mr. Shekar,
Thanks for the movie Happy Days(HD), mate, this move just bowled me out, rightly as you said, anyone who had attended college would see themselves in the movie, well I am one of them and living away from india for so long and missing on every friend that I had in college is very frustrating and sometimes shed tears, those carefree days are long gone and how I long for them now.
Those sweet feelings and the sadness when you miss out of some silly things make up for HAPPY DAYs, I would like to thank you Mr. Sekhar Kammula and the cast for this wonderful movie.
I was never telugu cinema crazy buff, but for some reason this movie made a tremendous impact on me, I listen to these songs over and over again, going to work, at work and coming back from work and at home. These tracks are amazing
:d
Helo Sir How ru i am intersted in Acting Plz Give me one offer and i shall Prove it .
To
Shekhar kamuula garu
We are students frm australia like to tell u tht we admire all ur movie….specially anand and *+-*Happy Days*-+*.after watching happy days for the first time we felt why we did nt do our graduation in CBIT….The movie ws picturised so beautiful and realistic…and made us feel tht we are missing the most happening place (hyd)..We all enjoyed a lot and had a gud time and this movie has enriched all our days in college….Currently we r studying masters in Australia….we all love u see the movie like this all the time………We feel happy days is worth watching in hyd theatre rather than australia…makes us feel come back to india…..anyhw great success fr ur movie…and cheers for movies to come……
Happy days characters were very keenly selected and all the actors gave there best… and the friendship btw them ws seriously marvelous…a true frnd is rear treasure…it ws shown perfectiy..
The best character fr me(Kanna) is *”Tyson”*who serioulsy impressed with his way of speech delivery and kind hearted.cares fr every frnd….fr sunil he like the jill jill jega ..very joveal guy and the way he call appu.**arey appu ga**..*and praveen liked the senior shras boyfrnd..his husky voice and cool dialogue .
We all felt like ” ade be life ante” after this movie.we enjoy a lot even in melbourne.bt gtng gud frnds is very hard here …this movie has brought a new color to the student life…..
And we all hope this movie will run 365 days..as we hv confident in our youth of hyderabad..
We need a second part of this movie plz dnt say no.
We all hope to c ur reply on this…….very soon…….thnx u a lot for a great movie **+HAPPY DAYS+**[-x[-x[-x[-x[-x:((:o):-h:-h:d/:d/
I would like to propose a parallel movie to ANAND, ie not a sequel or a prequel, but a movie within a movie. Here’s how it could go -
“Anand gets his father cured. And is actually pretending that he is not well. That he was pretending to be crazy to avoid a jail sentence. Rupa gets to know that. So she walks out on him and goes back to her life.
The old boyfriend keeps investigating Anand, and kills the advertising agency boss
and he frames Rupa in the murder
Anand comes to the rescue… and takes the blame on himself
So Anitha goes to Anand’s brother and asks him for the help of the IPS officer
They investigate together… so much of the movie is on these three, like a thriller… then they find out that the boyfriend did the murder… by then Anitha falls in love with Anand’s brother…
and the IPS officer explains everything to Rupa who comes to know that Anand helped her and she falls in love with him all over again… ”
I would love to help write it up if you want.
Regards. Wish you a happy new year 2008.
Hi Guys,
This is shekar here, I am very much intereted in acting, Please any one knows shekar kammula Email address or contact details to contact him.
Please forward me. I will thankful to you Guys.
Hope i wil receive positive response.
shekar
Hi shekhar sir,
U r sooo creative and talented director…Happy days is an awesome movie..i love watching ur movies…I cant forget “Anand ” because the charecter’s name is Roopa ( thats my name ) …hmmmmm
Wish u all the best and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR too
have a bright and colorful year sir….
waiting for ur reply
ROOPA
i wouldnt be the last person to say, he does amazing job.
his art is a materpiece.
his work is amazing. shekhar has da art of
reaching ppls heart through his characters in da film.
most importantly he doesnt make a hero oriented
movies. which is clear that ppl doesn go to his movies for a particular actor.
ppl go watch his movies, for the story, for
entertainment,an for his wrk.
kuddos, shekha u made it.
keep up the good wrk . an lookin forward to c more movies like anand, godavari,happy days.
hai sir give me a chance. plz sir.
hai sir,
u r the only director in present telugu directors,can grow to reach the level of KALATAPASVI VISHWANATH garu.
Among our present telugu directors only u can direct better films than MANIRATHNAM, SHANKAR.
Hope u can take telugu film to international standars and level
Nice description of talent !!
I am a software engineer. I have a couple of beautiful scripts.. want to make a good film in telugu. But, I don’t know how to start with. I don’t want to waste 2-3 years in a film school. Can I start off without any training if I get a producer?
hey sekhar,
Hey sekhar have seen all your movies..enjoyed all of them.Left happiness(home)long time back.Dude there is a recommendation from me::Please get a script of people thriving to get citizenships and permanent residencies from other countries leaving their identity which is indian… secondly if you can get any script with our corrupted system(only we can change it and everybody has to think in that way,then only we will be able to change it)that would be nice and touching.Yot take care and all the best in watever you do….an indian in overseas
Hey indu,
You need to get experience…i mean working as an assistant direcor.Cinema is not an easy task.Iam not discouraging you but u get confidence after you work for some time as an assistant director..so all the best
hi sekher garu,
u will receive PADMASRI AWARD by
the year 2014 .
hi ,
indu,
seen ur message dated 24th feb,
very interested to know about ur scripts my cell no 9346305830 (india)
Hi Sekhar,
This is Madhu, working as software engineer in Bangalore, I’ve one story, I want you to put this story on screen, this story is entirely about youth in Hyderabad.
Please let me know how can I reach you.
Thanks,
Maddy
its really fantastic
i too wish to become a director like u
u r a hard working man
please give me some tips to become a good director like u.not fully but half talented as u
:d/
shekarkammula is one of the best directors,i think his views in the film is different and sensible touch i like him
hi madhu,
with ref ur item in thi s box dt 29 feb,i request u send the hyd youth story line 2 this email address -mvlkrao@rediffmail .com
hi Rao,
with ref ur item in this box dt 6th mar,
You are asking everones storeis to send it to you. by the by who r u?
hi,
this is kishor from vizag.i want to act in movies n would be mine dream come true ,if i would get a chance to work with you.
i have lost 22 kgs of weight,with the only inspiration of acting.
i have really struggled to0 shape u my self
i would be happy if i can forward my portfolio to you ,please sir.
please,let me know how do i proceed,please help me my dream of acting come true.
Happy days characters were very keenly selected and all the actors gave there best
hi sekhar sir,
this is gayathri.u r my inspiration.i even cant blink my eyelids while watching ur movie.i just enjoy each n every second of ur movie.they r so close 2 reality,n they just stay in our heart 4 ever.Thanks 2 u ,u r a trend setter in telugu film industry(south indian film industry ofcourse),u made the audience go 2 watch a film by knowing the director of the film,not by hero or heroin.u r the one who takes story n ur direction as the hero of the filmm n so u r here.working hard 2 b a director like u.thanks 4 being my inspiration.I believe it can take me 2 great heights.thank u so much………
Hey shekar fans
some guy started teh site for shekar. He put teh information he got from th net into one place and he also started a forum to discuss shekar movies and other movies.
Join here so we can discuss more
http://www.shekarkammula.com
i even cant blink my eyelids while watching ur movie.i just enjoy each n every second of ur movie.they r so close 2 reality,n they just stay in our heart 4 ever.Thanks 2 u ,u r a trend setter in telugu film industry(south indian film industry ofcourse),u made the audience go 2 watch a film by knowing the director of the film,not by hero or heroin.u r the one who takes story n ur direction as the hero of the filmm n so u r here.working hard 2 b a director like u.thanks 4 being my inspiration.I believe it can take me 2 great heights.thank u so much……… plz give meeeeee reply please sir
sir plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz send me mail .give me ur iddddddddddddddddddddddd
This guy(Shekar) is going to be a encyclopedia of future cinema. I haven’t watched the movie “Anand” at one strech. However, exp the “Happy Days” movie 3 times. He is a man behind the characters. Congratulations!!! Shekar, you have a long way to go. Do make good movies.
Naren
hi,shekar sir, this is maicha, ur job is excellent.go on ur own way .but dont bend da variables which r play in ur cinema circumstances.try to b fresh as like ur initial time to the industry.i am one like u as introvert.i wanna meet u. is there any possibility to u.it’my mobile no:9885103098.
hi
Sir
It’s been interesting and pleasure to watch all your movies. I am a big fan of yours. I like the freshness in your movies. The subtle message delivery with social punch is amazing. I do have passion for cinema and am looking to attend Film school in California sometime soon. As I can see the MFA degrees are quiet expensive. I am planning for a AA instead. Would you advice going for Associate of Arts in Film (AA)? There has been no technical movie background in my life other than watching
currently am working in IT.
Thanks in advance.
waiting reply.
Hi Shekar,
Congratulations for Happy Days success.
Your style is unique.
Please continue making good movies.
Thanks.
Hi Sekhar ur going with good track do……………best films and do one biggest fild with mahesh which cross the 300 center in industry record
i am looking for movie chance get back to me..
Thanks& Regards
A Viswanath
9000272767
hai sir am srikanth am 4m hyd am doing mba.i am interested about films and your direction.iwould like to direct the film.iwant to work with you .9703422534.sir pleeeeeeeeeeeeeee send your emalidddddddddd,
hello sir
u proved one more time creaters make anything u r tha fassion of cinema ur the hero real time hero i strongly belive director is hero u films r prooved
thnk u sir
all the best frm ur next project
bye
HELLO SIR,
I AM AJAY RAGAVA RESIDING AT RTC X ROADS.I AM A BIG FAN OF U.
I WANT U R PERSONAL EMAIL ID AND WEBSITE. PLEASE ACCEPT MY REQUEST AND MY EAMIL ID IS ajay_290@rediffmail.com.
I WANT TO CHAT WITH U PERSONALLY.
your’s sincerely,
ajay ragava.
Hi Shekar,
Congratulations!! your dreams come true…it has been decades to pitch something new to the industry, a fresh world and a new sense of direction to the God Father industry…there is sense of inspiration..for the next generation..keep up the good work. if you think i deserve your eamil id please reply to muppidi.sm@gmail.com. Thanks
shyam
films r films
but u r filims r life
thats all we can say
sir
this praveen desh pande dialysis technologiost nims hospital
i never thought to see a film being directed r wanted to work with the filim producers but after watching u fllms
intrested to work with u in film in any dept
i dont want role r money
25yrs male from hyd gandhinagar
hyd
if u think this gay can atleast serve tea during shooting
iam ready for that
my mobile number 9985008408
thanking u
praveendeshpande
Hi sir,
I am doing mba from one of the IIMs. I would like to do my summers with you. Could you please accept my request and let me do summers?
I am aslo an alumnus of CBIT and you are 14 years senior to me.
I have sent lot of mails to srija, but she didn’t respond.
Regards,
kiran
Hey I am just a normal guy, really interested in making my career in movies. Once chance for me is enough. I really wanted to become a good screen writer/director. My passion toward movies is increasing enormously day by day. However I do not know how and where to start it. It would really be helpful if somebody help me in this. I want to be the best in making quality movies in the future to rise my flag(India) in the world arena.
sir, i m very interested in acting i know tat u ll give chance 2 to new people i completed my engg n persuing mba so please give me 1 chance plzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hi Sekhar
I am Pranava Kumar.V. Congrats for coming up with all success movies. Keep it up.
I am very much interested in acting though i have no acting experience. i dream to work in any of ur projects. hope u consider my request. waiting for ur reply sir. Thank u again.
Hi Sekhar,
I really enjoy watching your movies.i like all your movies espcially Happy Days. My son is great fan of that movie who is 2 years old. He is watching the movie daily onece. i don’t know what magic in that movie. my son could not speak anything and ask us to keep ‘Arere Arere’ movie. We are not able to stop him to watch the movie. some times we take it as our advantage that when ever we busy with our work and he distrub us with his nauty things, we keep Happy Days movie CD and do our work.
Please spare some time read this and reply to me.
Hi Mr Shekar kammula,
This is rahman.Working in a software company.”Happy Days” is an Excellent movie that i haven’t seen yet.
Because of this movie i’m going meet all my friends. After
long time i’m going to meet my friends.
hi sekhar sir ths is vipul frm mumbai,m doin ma engg in pune n very recently i saw ur movie HAPPY DAYS …..mindblowin n excellent i really dnt hav ne words to express m a damm moviebug,n especially m a actor m doin marathi n hindi theatres since 8yrs n franklyspeaking i really wanna work wid u fr d happydays hindi remake,coz wht i think though the film is frm engg bakground so it require d real.life engg heroes,n sir i wanna do dat movie in marathi also but its a long process aftr 5yrs but ma first movie will b definately based n inspired on happydays only,m dying fr ur personal mob no n email id too n sir i really dnt wanna keep myself in d marathi hindi circle i wanna b versatile like kamala haasan ma acting guru ma god!hop u’l definately rply ma mail
thanking u
urs hardcore fan
vipul
ma cell nos:-09881096057 n 09096305235
@ All,
A few points to ponder.
Dollar dreams was a wonderful start for a new director.
Anand was a decent movie.
Godavari was the usual commercial movie made with Bapu’ish visuals.
Happy Days was commercial crap at its best..So, does this make Sekhar Kammula a great director? I mean one good movie??
Please use the word ‘great’ sparingly. Please let us stop massaging each other’s ego. These days, when I look at PFC, its like “you’ve written a great article”..ah..”mate you are no less..” “this is the greatest movie I’ve seen” etc etc etc (not intended to hurt anyone..but this is what I honestly feel)
I really feel Chandra Sekhar Yeleti is head and shoulders above everyone in the present telugu industry. But I dont really understand why every other slightly different commercial venture is termed a ‘Cult Classic’ in telugu movie industry?
I hope somebody understands what I am trying to say..
(p.s. If you dont, yes Sekhar Kammula is the next best thing to Hitchcock)
jeevitham… artham kani avesham..andahriki sontham.
prema..teliyani vayasulo thappulu.. prethiokkari sontham.
yevvanam..manako voram..chesukundham aaajeevitham bangaram..aaaeeeyeevannamloney..
Dear Sekhar,
I do love movies, and I love to be on bigscreen,and you are one such who choose and give chance for fresh talents, and i mean not I the best talented one.. but a dream, which made me to write to you. and do write some funny poetry like the above ones…even if not for a film chance. I would like to see a “Hi” mail from u.
All the best for the upcoming projects.
Tons of love and wishes
Shiv