This year has seen several debutants in Telugu cinema, and it is now time for Srikar Nayan, who is making his directorial debut with Summer Holidays. Produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni under his Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainments banner, the film is set to hit the screens on November 6. Child artistes Rohan Roy and Arun play the lead roles in this emotional drama, which also features Jayasudha, Rajiv Kanakala, Vasuki, Harshini and Ramana Bhargav in important roles.
Srikar hails from Kakinada but pursued his education in different places. "I studied in Visakhapatnam until my intermediate and then moved to NIT Warangal. After that, I shifted to Hyderabad," says Srikar Nayan, who entered the film industry in 2019 as an assistant director.
But the passion for cinema started much earlier for Srikar as he started making short films during his intermediate days. After working as an assistant director on a few films, he also began writing his own stories. "I had a few stories ready and started looking for opportunities. Through Madhura Sreedhar Reddy garu, I met Dheeraj Mogilineni garu and narrated a thriller story to him. He liked it but suggested that gaining some filmmaking experience would be beneficial before taking it forward," says Srikar.
Later he narrated the story of Summer Holidays to Dheeraj, who liked it and invited him for further discussions. "When I first narrated the story to Dheeraj garu, its title was Summer Friend. However, Dheeraj garu changed it to Summer Holidays, as he felt it was more appropriate. Once he decided to produce the film, everything moved quickly, from finalising the cast and technicians to completing the other preparations," shares Srikar.
The film revolves around two children from completely different backgrounds who become friends during their summer holidays. "I developed the story around this idea. Most of us have wonderful memories of visiting our grandparents' villages during summer vacations. Playing cricket, eating palm fruit, listening to our grandmothers' stories and making new friends in the village are experiences we can all relate to. These memories inspired me to write this story," reveals Srikar.
When asked whether the story was based on his real-life experiences, he said that while it was not entirely autobiographical, a few incidents were inspired by his own life and his friends' experiences. When asked whether Summer Holidays is a children's film, Srikar says, "This is not a children's film, but a film for adults featuring children. It is an out-and-out entertainer. The film is an emotional drama, and I am sure everyone will be reminded of their childhood days after watching it."
Veteran actor Jayasudha plays an important role in the film. "My family has always been a big fan of Jayasudha garu. I watched Kotha Bangaru Lokam with my family when I was in 7th Class, followed by Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu and Sathamanam Bhavathi. Jayasudha garu played important roles in all three films, and we always felt she was like a member of our own family. I believe audiences will also connect with her, and her character is very important to the story," he says.
Jayasudha plays Arun's grandmother, and the scenes between them are expected to be deeply emotional. "Their scenes will be heart-touching and might even bring tears to the audience's eyes. Vasuki garu also has a very important role in the film. While writing the story, I had her in mind for this character. I felt that such a talented actor deserved a significant role. Her character also delivers some of the film's key messages through powerful dialogues towards the climax," reveals Srikar.
When asked how it was to work with child artistes, who play important roles in the film, Srikar says, "I conducted workshops for both Arun and Rohan. Another child artiste, Khushi, who is known for Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, also plays a role, but her part is very limited. We approached her after watching the trailer of that film."
He further revealed that around 100 children participated in a few scenes, which made shooting quite challenging. "It is very difficult to manage so many children on a film set. Even when everything is ready for a shot, one child might throw a paper ball, another might move away, or someone playing in the ground might have to be brought back for the scene to continue. These little things make it challenging," says Srikar, who feels it would have been more apt if if the film had been released during the summer holidays. "Unfortunately, due to a few reasons, we couldn't release it during that period. We initially planned to release it in July, but since Chennai Love Story was also scheduled around that time, Dheeraj garu suggested that we wait. The release date changed a few times, and we finally locked November 6."
Interestingly, while the film was being shot, child actor Arun received the news that he had won a National Award for his performance in 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu. "Our entire team was extremely happy when we heard the news, and Arun was equally delighted. In fact, he cried when his mother first shared the news with him," recalls Srikar.
The children also had to get the Godavari dialect right for their characters. The makers even arranged for a few other actors to stay in Rajahmundry for a few days so they could get familiar with the local slang. "The children picked up the dialect very easily. For a few other actors, we asked them to interact with local people in Rajahmundry for a few days so that they could understand the local flavour. They managed to get it right," says the filmmaker.
Srikar feels that audiences are now looking for a change from the bloodshed, gore and violence seen in many films. "Audience are now looking for something different and pleasant. Summer Holidays offer a refreshing emotional experience and leave a gentle smile on your face. I strongly believe audiences will welcome a feel-good film like this, especially at a time when many are waiting for such content," says Srikar, adding that he wanted to tell a story filled with warmth and emotional appeal, much like Sathyam Sundaram, starring Arvind Swamy and Karthi. "The characters of Rohan and Arun reminded me of the two lead characters in that film."
