Latest news with #Praveena
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Praveena Paruchuri: We can't judge from Jubilee Hills what audience wants
Kothapallilo Okkapudu is Praveena Paruchuri's third film as a producer, and her first as a director. This is not the first time, though, that she has risked it all on a filmmaking project. The US-based cardiologist had to constantly shuttle between US and India to both shoot and complete post-production for her latest film that will hit theatres on July 18. Praveena reminisces about the road trip which she took during her sabbatical after C/O Kancharapalem (2018) released, where she interacted with many villagers. She recalls, 'I asked many people what they liked about the film. It hadn't released on OTT yet. As I asked my questions, I saw that they were able to see themselves on the screen — the way the characters sit together with their friends, for drinking and dancing sessions, or the little romances they pursue. There was that relatability for them.' Both C/O Kancharapalem and Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya were based in smaller towns. Meanwhile, Kothapallilo Okkapudu is set in a small village. She recalls her early memories of visiting many smaller localities in the two Telugu-speaking states. 'When I first visited Hyderabad, it was as alien to me as Japan. However, the minute I went to towns, I felt a sense of comfort and groundedness. It reminded me of the place that my family and I come from. To me, India means small towns and villages.' It's very important to be in touch with audience to create more authentic stories, Praveena believes. She adds, 'When C/O Kancharapalem came, many people said it won't work. Three films later, they are still saying it. However, I don't think we should judge, sitting in Jubilee Hills, what the audience wants. I don't think that's a good attitude. What I learnt was that if we tell the story, with neatness and cleanliness, Telugu audience will receive it very openly and encourage it.' Praveena further talks about the reception of Kothapallilo Okappudu at the recently held public screenings. 'When I think of family films, I think of Venkatesh gaaru's movies (laughs). But surprisingly, this film is catering to all audience groups. Some scenes which I was doubtful about and yet insisted upon — it was great to see them work out. The thing is I like Telugu cinema, and represent a type of audience. When I am here, more audience like me must exist too,' she notes.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Rana Daggubati: VFX and AI have made scaling up easier, but human stories matter
In 2018, New York-based cardiologist Praveena Paruchuri and writer-director Venkatesh Maha approached producer Sureshbabu and his son, actor-producer Rana Daggubati, with their Telugu indie film Care of Kancharapalem(CoK). Praveena had produced and acted in the film. Sensing its potential, Rana and Sureshbabu came on board to distribute it. Seven years later, Praveena is making her directorial debut with Kothapallilo Okappudu, releasing on July 18. Once again, Rana is backing her work. Chatting at Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad, Rana reflects: 'Independent films often get lost in a market dominated by bigger productions. Dad watched CoK and felt it was something I might want to support. It didn't follow the usual rules of commercial cinema, but it was entertaining and full of heart. I was proud to put my name to it, and even more so when it resonated with audiences. It also brought me in touch with Praveena and Maha, whom I wouldn't have met in the regular cinema space.' Rana's relationship with indie cinema goes back further. In 2004, he produced Bommalatta (A Belly Full of Dreams). 'Even though I come from a film family, I didn't know how to get that film to audiences.' Multiplexes hadn't taken off then, and hardly anyone turned up. 'The only money we made was ₹50 lakh from Doordarshan after it won two National Awards,' he says, laughing. The revival Over time, Rana transitioned into acting and shot to fame playing the antagonist in the Baahubali films. Yet, his eye never left the indie film space. He revived Spirit Media, the company he had founded in the early 2000s to focus on animation and visual effects, to champion smaller, heartfelt films. Since then, Spirit Media has backed titles such as Pareshan, 35: Chinna Katha Kaadu, Bapu, 23, and the Telugu version of Charlie 777. Their latest offering is Kothapallilo Okappudu (Once Upon a Time in Kothapalli). In the lead-up to its release, the team has been hosting select preview screenings across cities to build buzz through word of mouth. Praveena recalls being caught up with work in the US during the pandemic, shortly after co-producing her second film, Uma Maheshwara Ugra Roopasya, with Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni. 'I hadn't planned on returning to India in 2022–23,' she says. 'But when Aparna Malladi, who had mentored many filmmakers, including Maha, fell seriously ill, I came to visit her. She has since passed away. During that trip, a friend shared the story that eventually became this film.' Multitask by design Praveena chose to produce, direct, and act in a key role in Kothapallilo Okappudu — not out of ambition, but necessity. 'As a second-generation Indian American with no industry connections, no one was going to call and ask me to make a film,' she says. 'I had to create my own opportunities.' What drew her in was the story, especially the character of Ramakrishna, the protagonist. 'I didn't know who to cast at first. Then, by chance, I met Manoj Chandra in New York and felt he was perfect for the role,' she says. Having worked on CoK, which featured several non-actors, she was inspired by the approach of filmmakers like Mira Nair and Rajnesh Domalpalli, who held acting workshops and worked closely with newcomers. 'I wanted to follow a similar path, in my own way.' Though Praveena and Rana stayed in touch occasionally — she fondly recalls meeting him at Comic Con in the US — it was not until Kothapallilo... was completed that he saw the film. 'It's an honest story about ordinary people,' says Rana. 'It explores belief, a complex subject, but in a way that's simple and open-ended.' What stood out to him most was the response after a test screening. 'Right outside my office, in the corridor, I overheard a few people discussing the film. One person shared a story from his village, another offered a completely different view. They didn't know I was listening, but I was struck by how the film got them thinking.' He was equally intrigued by how a team based in the US — Praveena, Manoj, and cinematographer Petros Antoniadis — could tell a rural Telugu story through a globally fluent visual language. 'They looked at our culture through a fresh lens,' he says. With 2024 seeing a few small-budget films like 35 and Committee Kurrolu succeed at the box office, Rana believes human stories, regardless of scale, can connect with audiences. 'And cinema,' he adds, 'is best experienced on the big screen, without distractions.' Finding the niche Spirit Media recently acquired the Indian distribution rights for Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, and the experience brought with it fresh insights. 'The film, which features a lot of Malayalam, performed unexpectedly well in the North, particularly Delhi, and even in Karnataka. Surprisingly, it didn't do as well in Kerala,' says Rana. 'With Charlie 777, we still had audiences in the eighth week. What I've come to realise is that there is an audience for every kind of cinema. Rather than obsess over box office numbers, the challenge is finding the right screens and release windows for smaller films.' Rana is proud that films he has backed — like Care of Kancharapalem — 'have aged beautifully.' While his family's banner, Suresh Productions, handles larger commercial releases, he continues to champion indie and experimental cinema through Spirit Media. Having just marked a decade since Baahubali: The Beginning, Rana reflects on how scale has become more accessible. 'With visual effects and AI, scale is now in everyone's hands. What really matters is a good story.' As for the current obsession with box office stats, he is candid: 'Most of those numbers are inflated, it's just a dopamine hit,' he says with a laugh. When asked whether he consciously gravitates towards arthouse cinema, Rana clarifies, 'I'm drawn to films with a distinct voice. I grew up in Film Nagar and it still excites me to see stories and characters that reflect the cultural diversity of India.' Established and new The choice of onboarding an American cinematographer, Petros Antoniadis, Praveena explains, was to capture the rural terrain with a fresh perspective. While composer Mani Sharma brought in the 90s nostalgia to the songs, she chose Varun Unni for the emotionally-stepped background score. Both Praveena and Rana state that its charm lies in presenting newcomers like Manoj and Monika alongside seasoned actors such as Benerjee and Ravindra Vijay. Praveena highlights the dusky Usha Bonella, nicknamed 'andham' (beauty), while Rana points out how an experienced actor like Banerjee realistically portrayed his character and how Ravindra Vijay might become the crowd favourite. 'You will like him because he is so good at being evil. He's like a meme!' Plans are in motion to take the film to international film festivals, but Praveena is firm that it will stay true to its Indian roots —with song and dance intact. 'I don't want to create a separate 'festival cut',' she says. Rana adds, 'Cinema can take us into spaces we least expect. When I watched Sinners, I was blown away. It started as a gangster film but evolved into something entirely different. Kothapallilo… has a similar moment of surprise.'
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
TTD opens admissions for SV Music and Dance college and Dolu school
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has invited applications from eligible students for admission to various courses for the academic year 2025-26 at Sri Venkateswara College of Music and Dance as well as Sri Venkateswara Nadaswaram & Dolu School, Tirupati. Applications will be accepted starting from Monday (June 2). The college offers full-time Visharada (diploma) and Praveena (Advanced diploma) courses in Vocal, Veena, flute, violin, Nadaswaram, Dolu, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, dance, Harikatha, Mridangam and Ghatam. Similarly, the school offers full-time certificate and diploma courses. Classes will commence from June 27 and hostel facilities will be open for students coming from other regions. Those interested can obtain the application form during college working hours by submitting a demand draft for ₹50 in the name of 'The Executive Officer, TTD'. The eligibility criterion for admission into the college and the school is eighth standard pass and fifth standard, respectively. For additional details, contact 9440793205 or 9848374408.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Man arrested for murder of woman in Kerala's Thirunelly; victim's daugher traced
Kozhikode: Police on Monday arrested the person accused of murdering a woman in Appappara near Thirunelly in Wayanad on Sunday night. Dileesh, 37, a native of Pilakkavu Thara, was arrested from near an abandoned house inside a plantation close to the house where the woman was murdered. He was on the terrace of a shuttered room adjacent to a dilapidated house and taken into custody with the help of forest department officials. He was arrested in connection with the murder of Praveena, 34, a native of Edayoor Kunnu, at her house on Sunday night. Following Dileesh's arrest, police also found Praveena's missing nine-year-old daughter. It is believed that Dileesh had taken shelter with the child by removing roof tiles and hiding inside the locked house. Thirunelly Police later shifted the child to a secure location. Praveena, who had been living separately from her husband, was allegedly in a relationship with Dileesh. It is suspected that a dispute between them led to the murder, which took place around 7.30pm on Sunday. Praveena's older daughter, aged 14, sustained injuries to her neck and ear and was admitted to Wayanad govt medical college. Police has recorded her statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Following the murder, police launched a search for Dileesh and the missing child on Sunday night. On Monday morning, an extensive search was conducted with the help of locals, forest personnel, and the fire force. The search also involved a police dog squad and drone surveillance. Dileesh and the child were found around 10am on Monday.
