Annie: We need directors to write stories for young actors

In writer-director Srikanth Reddy Pella's series Home Town, which premieres on Aha this Friday, Prajwal Yadma plays Srikanth, an underperforming school student who is nonetheless preordained to pursue higher studies in the US and fulfil his middle-class father's dreams. Prajwal says that the show captures a well-rounded perspective of an average middle-class family, adding, “Just like the teaser which begins in a fun zone but gets emotional, something similar happens at our homes where we have our jovial side as well as times when we go days without talking to each other. This show touches every corner of the house—you won’t feel that the director didn’t cover this or that angle.” Prajwal also talks about his character’s dilemma, which adds to the show’s flavour, he believes. “If a character suffers, people enjoy the innocence of that situation,” he states.

Rajeev Kanakala, who plays the protagonist’s father, too expresses confidence in Home Town resonating with both younger and elder audience members. He elaborates, “Sometimes, youngsters want to do their own thing, while elders try to oppose it. They might seem strict, but they are always coming with good intentions. Sometimes, neither of the sides is wrong; it’s the situation that is twisted—elders can’t always explain their stance, and kids often overaim in their goals. Slowly, things have to change, and both kids and parents have to be educated on that level.”

Annie, who plays Srikanth’s sister Jyothi, talks about why the show will also resonate with young middle-class girls. “Jyothi likes her daddy, and still there is some block which keeps her, like many young girls, from freely communicating with her parents. She can’t open up about certain things. Srikanth is jovial, and Jyothi wants to be too. She is happy, yet longing to share a few things; it’s Jyothi’s battle that keeps going on simultaneously with Srikanth’s battle,” she notes. Annie also notes that Home Town is very much in sync with the kind of OTT content that people are watching these days. She adds, “There is nothing artificial here. This is a show rooted in culture and family bonds, coming at the right time for the right audience.”

Talking about his working experience with writer-director Srikanth Reddy Palle, Prajwal states, “My character is largely inspired by Srikanth sir himself, so I travelled with him for over a month, observing him, how he is talking, etc. Initially, he gave me a character brief. Later, the character developed over many conversations and one-to-one discussions. More than my role, Srikanth sir would tell me about the protagonist’s relationships—how he would be around his father, for instance. If I acted too scared in some scenes, he would tell me, ‘Srikanth doesn’t take it that seriously. So, chill.’" Meanwhile, Rajeev remembers the initial days on sets when he and Srikanth would have minor disagreements on how to approach the role. He says, “Initially, he wasn’t convinced about some of my improvisations, where I felt the emotional pitch had to be higher, looking at the overall story graph. However, the editor laughed seeing the rushes a few days later. That’s when Srikanth came and told me, ‘Please do it your way, sir,’ Rajeev recalls with a chuckle, adding, “There were also occasions when I went overboard and he stopped me.”

Prajwal, who shares he was the last person to join the series' cast, talks about how his theatre experience helped him overcome his initial nervousness of working with senior actors like Rajeev and Jhansi, who plays his mother in the series. He says, “Besides craft, theatre teaches you confidence and discipline. Also, you get the understanding of 'metre', an emotional pitch in which actors operate. Once you know what metre to play around with, you are sorted.” Annie too credits Rajeev and Jhansi for creating a comfortable atmosphere on the sets. She adds, “They have a Tom and Jerry vibe off-screen, which creates a space for young actors like us to talk and interact. Off shoot, Rajeev sir and I also had some serious discussions about future work and life.” On the other hand, Rajeev Kanakala recalls the shooting experience with a pinch of humour, as he reflects, “Sometimes, Prajwal would see me on location and do a little prep before the shot. Meanwhile, I would perform one way during rehearsals and a different way in the final take.” He adds, “I don’t like to drain myself, hence I save my energy for the final take. Too many rehearsals bring a monotony.”

Annie, who has worked as a child artist in several films, including award-winning performances in Trap and Rajanna, talks about the challenges of outgrowing her ‘child artist’ image. She states, “It has been very difficult. The ‘baby’ tag sticks to most young actors. Rajanna created a huge impact. Whenever I go, they still recognise me, and it shocks me. I recently did a series titled 21 and Pregnant, and people have started recognising me with that project. However, it is still difficult, and I am trying to break out of it.” Annie also talks about her own artistic growth over the years and her learnings. She recalls, “When I was younger, I would leave it upon my director; they would show me how to do a scene. However, once I grew up, I realised the need to support other actors. For example, you need to give your best even during suggestion shots, otherwise it dilutes your co-actors' performance. Your performance should be helpful to both of you, and now I am learning to do it right.”

Rajeev, who began his film career almost 30 years ago, says that he still has a lot to offer. He adds, “I may have done 50 kinds of roles, but only 10-15 of them had something novel or a variety. I want to play a villain that goes against the grain, someone not loud or theatrical, someone who is subtle, yet evokes fear. Similarly, I should be prepared if such a role comes my way.”

Meanwhile, Annie says she is waiting to listen to good stories where women have a major role to play, adding, “My heart is happy if people think of me as a good performer.” The Rajanna actor also believes that OTT creators can do better when it comes to writing stories around young actors or stories catering to young audiences. “If you watch the Hindi OTT landscape, there are many shows which have younger protagonists. We need more of such OTT content that gives us a chance to prove ourselves. We are waiting for directors to write stories for young actors like us,” Annie concludes.