Anand Devarakonda is ready with his second film Middle-Class Melodies that will be out on Amazon. On this occasion, we had an exclusive interview with him. Here is the transcript.
How disappointing was your debut film’s failure?
It was indeed quite disappointing. The subject was good and so was the narration. But somehow I felt that today’s generation did not like the old set up and dark theme of the film. I gave my everything but sometimes things are not in our hands.
How excited are you about Middle-Class Melodies?
Oh, we all are super excited about this film and are very confident that the film will click and impress everyone. The film is a family drama filled with comedy and emotion. The small town set up and how my character beats all odds is the best part of the film.
Tell us about your role?
I play this small-town guy who falls in love with Varsha. Situations change and I land in Guntur to make it big by establishing a hotel there. What problems do I face there is the story of the film.
You are from Telangana. How difficult was it to play the Guntur guy?
My role was quite simple but I had to work hard on the Guntur slang. But my director was so clear that he knew how I would behave, talk, and even respond to emotions. I feel I am a director’s actor and do what is applicable to a film. So, I went according to the flow of my director’s vision.
Tell us about your director Vinod?
The people from Guntur are quite friendly and as my director is also from there, he knew so much about the emotions which he used perfectly in our film. There will be no forced scenes and punches written by my director will impress big time. Also, I had a lovely time shooting this film in Guntur. The food that we used to eat was on another level altogether.
You are not a conventional hero. How are you selecting your scripts?
As I said earlier, I am a director’s actor and know my strengths and weakness. I am from those who give importance to the story than my role. So, all my films have strong content and roles related to real characters who are among us. The films I am being offered are also realistic dramas where I get to showcase my talent.
How much is Vijay Devarakonda helping you in bagging projects?
He never interferes in selecting stories. His work starts once the film ends with its shoot. After seeing the film, he gives his output and he is pretty brutal when it comes to his reviews. He tells me everything about what I did wrong in the film.
What is the biggest disadvantage of being Vijay Devarakonda’s brother?
Undoubtedly, the comparison. He has reached a stage where he is quite successful. Also, as he is a pan-India actor, I am being compared a lot and the general audience has so much to say about my films. This comparison is very hard to digest but being Vijay’s brother also has helped me very much in the industry.
The best advice Vijay has given you about your career?
He clearly told me about the trolls and how seriously one needs to take them. Also, he told me to always appreciate constructive critisism. But the best thing he and my dad told me was about the way directors give narration. Vijay feels that some directors narrate the story well but cannot bring the same on the screen. He gave me tips on how to choose the best scripts.
Future projects?
I have signed two films and also started shooting for one. I play a government teacher in this film which has a very realistic theme and I will be seen in a boy next door look. I am getting decent offers and am excited to do all sorts of films.
Finally, what are the highlights of this film?
Our film has romance, drama, and comedy. The small town setup, all the actors, and narration are quite breezy. We have gone through a lot in this lockdown and this film will come in as a fresh breathe of air.
With that, we ended our interview with Anand and wished him the best of luck with his film.
Interviewed by Avad
