KVR Mahendra: Drama works best in the absence of technology

Renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard's famous quote, “Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world,” has inspired countless filmmakers across the world, who use the line to vouch for the near-magical qualities of moving images. Filmmaker KVR Mahendra and his team took it a step further with their film Bharathanatyam, a crime comedy set in the world of cinema. Paying tribute to the iconic line in the film, Bharathanatyam’s protagonist, played by debutant Surya Teja Aelay, is an assistant director who unwittingly enters the world of crime. Tongue-in-cheek meta comedy meets crime in this entertainer, which was also written by Surya. Bharathanatyam comes five years after KVR Mahendra's maiden directorial, Dorasani (2019), a romantic drama set in the 80s.

While Dorasani marked the debuts of actors Anand Deverakonda and Shivathmika Rajashekar, Bharathanatyam also features a debutant at the helm. Talking to CE about the film’s inception, Mahendra said, “I was actually working on a crime drama right after Dorasani, for an established actor. The script was also pretty terrific. Just when we were figuring out the budgets, the pandemic happened and the world shut shop. A lot of films, that went into development before the pandemic, had to be indefinitely shelved. The fate of my project was no different. I started to work on another film, and right before the world was opening up again, I was contacted by Surya.” Mahendra continues, “I initially thought Surya just wanted me to listen to the story, and act as a sounding board. I found myself connecting to the story, following which Surya told me he wanted me on board as a director.” Mahendra also reveals that his ability to direct newcomers cinched the deal. “The producers of the film were also newcomers but they were impressed by my sensibilities as well as the way I groomed Anand Deverakonda for his big screen debut.” The filmmaker also states that the project coming his way, after being fully set up, pushed him to take it. Having worked on a film from the same genre as Bharathanatyam also helped. 

Shedding light on working with an individual who is as new to the world of screenwriting as he is to acting, Mahendra explains how he collaborated as a fellow writer for Bharathanatyam, saying, “What novices bring to the table in enthusiasm and fresh ideas, they lack in practicality and structure. That is where my input proved to be beneficial to the writing process. Writing a story may not need experience, but writing a screenplay definitely needs some. I have also written the climax portions. All in all, I have done my best to ensure that my contribution does justice to the film.” 

Crafting genre films also comes with its own set of challenges in Telugu cinema, where screenplays follow their own conventions of special songs, extended comic sequences, interval bangers, and the like. What path did Mahendra take while directing Bharathanatyam? “It is true that we as an audience are not the most receptive lot towards experimentation. But we do understand structure. The audience has an intuitive sense of whether events fit in a story or not, maybe it comes from the bedtime stories we were narrated to as kids. We did add all the elements that make Bharathanatyam an entertainer first, then a genre film. There are twists, a really solid interval block, comedy portions and even a dance number. That said, I have also done my best to ensure that an element of novelty runs throughout the film. Every sequence and portion was approached with freshness,” replies Mahendra.

The director delves into one of his pet peeves while talking about his writing process. Mahendra notes, “Dorasani, my debut film, was set in the late 20th century. More than anything else, the idea was to transport myself back into my own childhood, when there were no phones or the internet. Somehow, it is harder to retain drama on screen with the advent of modern-day technology. Bharathanatyam is set in the present day, but I have tried my best to ensure that smartphones and technology only pop up when they absolutely have to. Drama works best in the absence of technology.”

The director is also all praises for his technicians, which include music composer Vivek Sagar, cinematographer Venkat R Shakamuri, and editor Raviteja Girijala. Mahendra says, “It was hard to get Vivek Sagar on board. He is very choosy with his projects. But, I am glad he joined us. Venkat R Shakamuri has given his career-best work in Bharathanatyam. “

As the film is inching closer to its April 5 release date, which is also incidentally when Vijay Deverakonda’s film Family Star is hitting the theatres, the director signs off on an optimistic note, “I believe we have a good film on our hands. We are doing our best to promote it in all ways possible. I hope the audience loves the film, Bharathanatyam offers something for everyone.”