Nanda Kishore Imani: ’35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu’ is a relationship story, math is just context
Nivetha Thomas, Vishwadev Rachakonda, child actors Arun and Abhay in ’35’ | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
First Look Telugu Movie Teaser 35 – Chinna Katha Kadu (not a short story) may seem like a commentary on how we perceive mathematics and whether the education system encourages inquiry in a student. First-time director Nanda Kishore Imani described his film as a relationship story set in the backdrop of mathematics. “My intention is to draw the audience into the on-screen relationships — Saraswati (Nivetha Thomas) and Prasad (Vishwadev Rachakonda), their children Arun and Varun, the teacher (Priyadarshi) and the mentor (Gautami) and the child’s relationship. I see 35 as the pass mark for their relationship. Apart from entertainment, it will be a bonus if people think at home.” Presented by actor Rana Daggubati, the film is slated to hit the theaters on September 6.
Nanda Kishore has been part of the Telugu film industry for 11 years. Wrote the dialogue for wait Rahul Short Film Screenplay by Director Sankalp Pinkie In the Netflix collection biliousnessAmong other projects. A resident of Visakhapatnam, he is a chartered accountant turned filmmaker. “I used to write stories in school-college magazines. I enjoyed telling stories. Had I been born a few decades ago, I might have written a book. The visual medium is more prominent today, so I chose cinema,” he says, during this interview at a cafe in Hyderabad.
Nanda Kishore cites Doyen K Vishwanath, K Balachander, Bapu and Singhetham Srinivas Rao among his inspirations. “I enjoyed stories that seemed to come from real life. A lot of what I learned about cinema was through Indian films.”
Temple City Policy
Director Nanda Kishore Imani Photo credit: Special Arrangements
When he started writing 35Nanda Kishore set the story in Tirupati and cited “creative and commercial reasons”. “When a story involves characters of good character, some of us may question whether such people exist in this day and age. If a story is set in a temple town, we think that the divinity of the region is kind to the people. makes it possible. I wanted to take the audience to a different place and immerse them in the narrative.”
From a trade point of view, Nanda Kishore says that of late we don’t have family dramas set in Tirupati and it has become a stereotype to show gangs and action dramas in Rayalaseema and family dramas in the Godavari region. “Till the mid-2000s, we used to get at least two or three family entertainments every year. The frequency has come down now,” he said and hopes 35 will help fill the void.
The film’s crew includes cinematographer Niketh Bomi and production designers Lotha Naidu and Nanda Kishore say the story brings together talented technicians. “A narrative comes alive when supported by a good technical team.” For Niketh, the brief is to place the camera as a witness to events without interfering. For her part, Latha helped design the set with a live-in vibe.
35 Vivek Sagar and Nanda Kishore have music that leans towards Indian classical music with an emphasis on using Indian string instruments. “Vivek’s music for this film is unique.”
When the conversation turns to his journey, Nanda Kishore says that in his early days as an aspiring filmmaker, he didn’t use his CA credentials to forge connections. “If I were to introduce myself as a CA to producers and directors, I felt they wouldn’t take me seriously as a storyteller.”
Also, he enjoyed his career as a chartered accountant before switching to cinema. “The passion for storytelling got the better of me and I was hooked.”
Short film route
Nanda Kishore Imani Photo credit: Special Arrangements
In 2012, on learning about a short film competition by people For which director SS Rajamouli was the judge, Nanda Kishore submitted a short film that he made with the help of his friends. Weeks later, he receives a call requesting him to participate in an event that will involve all participants. “Rajamouli sir interacted with all of us and talked about the movie for over two hours. It was my first film masterclass.” Nanda Kishore’s film received one of the top three mentions in the competition.
Although this recognition motivated him, stepping into the industry was not easy. He produced another short film called eternal life And it has garnered over a million views on YouTube. Yet again, attracting industry attention was difficult. “I had to be practical and decided to pack my bags and leave Hyderabad.” But soon, a friend informed him that veteran director K Viswanath was interested in watching his film. Nanda Kishore nervously went to the director’s residence and was shocked when Doyen praised his work. Vishwanath was also keen that Nanda Kishore be invited for a private screening The confluence of the oceans Hosted by a mutual friend. “This gesture gave me the confidence that if I try harder, I can make a mark in the industry.”
as 35 All set for release, Nanda Kishore reflects, “I don’t give up easily, be it pursuing my education to become a CA or a filmmaker. A film cannot be judged by its scale. I believe in Rajamouli’s words that a film is big if it connects emotionally. I hope my film resonates with the audience.”
