An interview with the humble Sri Jandhyala

Good humour shall be as delicate as the pat of a tender leaf - Jandhyala.

He proposed himself to be an auditor after a course in chartered accountancy. But god disposed him to become the generator par excellence of humour-Hasya Brahma.

As the writer of best art films like Sankara Bharanam & Sagar Sangamam; super duper commercial hits like Adavi Ramudu, Jagadeka Virudu-Atiloka Sundari and as the director of super hit films like Mudda Mandaram, Nalugu Stambhalata, Anand Bhairavi, Aha Na Pellanta and Padamati Sandhya Ragam, Sri Jandhyala has made an indelible imprint in the hearts of Telugu cinema goers. He is a trendsetter as the director and writer of clean family films dressed with humour, which can be enjoyed by the whole family sitting together.

Here is an interview, with the endearing and humble Sri Jandhyala - a special treat from HamaraShehar.com.

Q:Can you tell us about your child hood please?

A:I am from Vijayawada. I did my SSLC from Monetessori high school and B.Com from S.R.R. Government College. I must say that we were well to do and my father was Andhra distributor of Bush radios. I had a pleasant childhood. I was very fond of stage especially mythological plays with the elaborate getups. I was awarded the best actor for my acting in many plays in school and at college level.

Q:But as a writer which was your first play?

A:Atmahuthi (self immolation) was my first play as a writer in 1964 when I was a student of SSLC. The second one was Bahukrita Vesham (many faces). But the play "Ek din ka Sultan" of 1968 has brought me name as a writer. It brought me success with it, being the play enacted over ten thousand times and with fifteen reprints of the script. It was also translated into Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and English.

Q:But how did you enter films?

A:I had the least desire to get into filmdom. I wanted to settle as an auditor studying CA. However, when Sri Gummadi Venkateswarao, a veteran of Telugu films saw my play Sandhya Ragam - Sankha Ravam, he arranged for it to be staged at Madras kalasagar. Sri B.N. Reddy happened to witness this stage play and invited me to write for his new film. That's how I stepped in to the Madras Cinema field.

Q:Interesting. What went on next?

A:Bad luck for me that, Sri B.N.Reddy passed away in a few days leaving me confused. I wanted to write for one film before I went back to Vijayawada. When I was faced with this disappointment the well-known director Sri Viswanath gave me moral support.

Q:Which was your first cinema?

A:My first as a writer was "Devudu Chesina Bommalu" of Sri Hanuman Prasad, released in 1976. The second one was "Pelli Kani Pelli".

Q:Did you return to Vijayawada then?

A:No. With the phenomenal success of Sri K. Viswanaths "Siri Siri Muvva", I took a firm footing in the cinema field in 1977. Between 1976 and 1981, I worked as a writer for about two hundred films. I worked with almost all great directors starting with Sri Viswanath and Sri K. Raghavendra Rao. I wrote for Siri Siri Muvva, Sita Ma Laxmi, Sankara Bharanam, Sapta padi and Sagar Sangamam of Sri Viswanath during that period only, along with hits like Driver Ramudu, Adavi Ramudu, Veta Gadu and Amara Deepam of Sri Raghavendra Rao.

Q:Which one was the first film to be directed by you?

A:It was Mudda Mandaram released in 1981. The next was Nalugu Stambhalata. Both the films went very well with the audience.

Q:What's your score in regard to films?

A:I wrote for 350 pictures & directed 42 films. I was awarded the state Nandi award for the best direction and the national award as best director of a regional film, both for the film "Ananda Bhairavi".

Q:Did you struggle to enter the cinema field?

A:Yes, for a short while in the beginning. But later it was a smooth ride.

Q:What inspired you to write?

A:The stage plays. First the mythological, the next being social ones. Apart from this I had a deep love for comedy. The writers Chilakamarthi, Panuganti, Kandukuri, Bhamidipadi Kameswara Rao and Sri Pada are all well read by me. PG Wode House is my English favourite. All these comedy writers also were an inspiration in my life.

Q:Who was the driving force for direction?

A:As a person, Sri K.Viswanath is the driving force. But I am also driven by a strong desire to direct films with good family sentiments. I strongly believe the norm that a good film makes us happy but an unworthy film spoils a whole generation.

Q:Who and what are your favourites?

A:

Heros: Charlie Chaplin, Rajkumar, Dilipkumar, NT Rama Rao & A Nageswara Rao. Heroines: Savithri. Directors: K.Viswanath, B.N.Reddy, Balchander, Bapu, and David Lein. In fact, I wrote to David Lein asking his permission to work as an assistant to him. Writers: All the comedy writers are my favourite. Villain: S.V.Rangarao. Cinema: Mayabazar; this one is an encyclopaedia for all films.

Q:What are the characteristics of a good film?

A:It depends on the individuals taste. In my opinion a good film may not do Good to the society, but should never do any harm. Every filmmaker should have this as a self-check.

Q:Were there any writers in your fore fathers?

A:Almost none. However, my grand father Sri Jandhyala Sivanna Sastry has authored a dictionary from Telugu to Hindi. He also wrote on Kalidas and Bhavabhuthi, the Sanskrit poets.

Q:Coming back, why did you turn into a director when you were already a successful writer?

A:There are two important reasons for this, the first being the neglect of script, without consulting the writer. Changing of script on the sets by the director subjected me to anguish.

The second one is the success of the film Sankara Bharanam. From this success I was more than convinced that audience would honour any film with a good motive behind it. With the blessing of Sri K. Viswanath I entered the stage of directorship.

Q:Why are you so fond of Comedy?

A:Yes. Comedy is my first love. All my plays are comedies. Even now I read the comedy story first, whenever I glance through a magazine.

Q:Why there is a dearth of good films of late?

A:There are many reasons for this. Inability to use the stories and authors available to us is one. The budget for a Telugu Cinema has grown so high that the producers have to run for remakes to get a minimum guarantee. This is the 2nd reason. Absence of class audience in theatres due to the onset of T.V. making the films to aim at only the mass audience being another reason. Also, of late the present day literature has lost its nativity.

Q:Do you hope that the days of healthy pictures will return?

A:Yes, They will. Even the Hollywood went through this phase about ten years back. I strongly believe that the golden age will repeat for the Telugu Cinema.

Q:Did the film field teach you any thing?

A:Yes, a lot. Here, every picture is a challenge. They demand a lot physically and mentally. One should never be headstrong, be ever obedient. Talent and good demeanour have to go together.

Q:Did you have your moments of pleasure and sorrow in this industry?

A:Many. For every film of mine released, the news of success brings happiness and the news of flop makes me unhappy. That's the reason why all the cinema people are tense on the day of release of their film. Release of a picture is like a delivery to a woman, we all desire for a succesful delivery. The success of a film lies in assessing the pulse of the audience.

Q:What are your views about luck?

A:Luck follows hard work and effort. Laziness never brings luck.

Q:Your definition of success?

A:The success achieved through the right path makes us to take pride for a long time to come.

Q:Are the present day films, taking the society astray?

A:Yes, they are. Filmmakers should never forget their responsibility towards the society.

Q:Do you believe in God?

A:Yes. I believe totally.

Q:Why do you think the moral values are on decline?

A:Yes they are sliding down all over the world. The trend of giving importance to quantity of earnings, rather than the quality of earning is the main reason for this decline.

Q:Your comment on I.T.

A:I am not well informed on I.T.

Q:Out of the films you made which are those you like most.

A:As a writer: SankaraBharanam, Saptapadi, Sagar Sangamama, Vetagadu, Jagadeka Virudu, Athiloka Sundari. As a Director: Nela Vanka, Ananda Bhairavi, Padamati Sandhya ragam.

Q:Do you believe in rebirth?

A:I have not given much thought to it.

Q:What are the basic qualities of a writer?

A:He must have a clear understanding of the society, its constituents and the incidents. As Shakespeare said, "while the normal human, enjoys the beauty of nature, the writer perceives the ugly side of it".

Q:What are the basic qualities required in a director?

A:He must have a strong will to detest the movies that harm the society, rather than the desire to make his film a success, by hook or crook.

Q:Do you like acting?

A:Yes. I did act in 'Apadbhandavudu' and would like to act if I get good roles.

Q:What is "love" in your language?

A:It's a great feeling. Can't be explained in words.

Q:What are your views about spousal relationship?

A:Couples should be friends first and the rest later.

Q:Which holiday spots do you like?

A:In India, they are spiritual places like Tirumala and Srungeri. Out side India it's Switzerland.

Q:Favourite Politicians?

A:Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Sastry

Q:Your favourite quotation?

A:Rama Krishna's words " What good, you desire for yourself, let it happen to the whole world. The bad, you want to avoid, let it not happen at all".

Q:What are the projects in hand?

A:One programme in Gemini TV. Joke Show on every Sunday for a whole year. Two picture in the planning stage.

Q:Did you face any disrespect in your field?

A:I arranged to send one of my films Nelavanka as an entry for national unity promotion section of the Delhi film festival. Some body saw to it that it never reached Delhi, denying its participation and screening at the national level. This political conspiracy pained me a lot.

Q:What is the highest accolade you received?

A:I feel I am yet to receive one.

Q:Your definition of humour?

A:"Good humour shall be, as delicate as the pat of a tender leaf - but never be like the strike of a bat". True comedy does not make one laugh but brings in him a feeling of happiness.

Q:Your advice to the newcomers?

A:All cannot succeed in this field. One has to struggle with dedication. Lots of young boys are spoiling their life with the passion they have on the cinema field. They must set themselves a time frame of two to three years, work sincerely and leave it if they don’t succeed.

Q:What is in store for Telugu Cinema?

A:Just as the audience change their taste from good films to bad ones, they will also change themselves from bad to good films. In this cycle of change lies the bright future of Telugu field.

Q:It's very difficult to make the humour a success, we are told. Your comments on it?

A:Yes. When the limit of humour is trespassed, it misfires. One has to be careful while writing or acting humour.

Q:What is the type of films you propose to produce?

A:I would like full-length clean comedies with family base. Similar to Gundamma Katha and Missamma of Vijaya Combines.

Q:What's your goal in life?

A:I will not venture to say that it's my life's goal. But I am aspiring to take up a Telugu film, which shall win an award at the national level. I pray God almighty to give me that strength.

Aadella ShivaKumar