SaiPallavi, What’s Your Opinion On Naxals?

Sai Pallavi is vigorously promoting her next release Virata Parvam starring Rana Daggubati. The actress, ahead of the release, interacted with media to discuss about her character and the movie.

What kind of reception you got from Sarala’s family?
The story is based on the character Sarala. We all went to visit the family. Sarala’s mother held my hand and she treated me like daughter. I turned emotional. I actually wanted to give privacy for them, so I thought whether I should go there or not. They presented me with saree. If they are happy with the movie, I’ll be more than happy.

What’s the first reaction, when you heard the script?
This world was very new to me. We told about the incidents during the time. I was born and brought up in Tamil Nadu. Situation there were different. I was educated about the movement, their thought process and the situations during the period.

What’s the element you liked the most?
When we play the story that we didn’t know, it will give you satisfaction. Known stories won’t give much satisfaction.

What’s the character sketch given to you and how did you understand the character in initial days?
I only wanted to know how it is going to be portrayed, because on script we will not know how realistic it is. Sometimes, you take cinematic liberty and make it look a more heroic. We wanted to see how real it is going to look. That was more important for me, when I read the script. I wanted to see how much it’s going to be a natural way of portraying it. Sometimes, I enjoy watching Indie films and offbeats films. When we see that the soul is very raw and real, though we can put it in a larger scale in theatres. So that gave me the thrill, that we are able to show the soul.

What was Vennela all about for you?
The rawness of the character. She was as raw as possible. She was like the sand that you can turn into anything. You can make her into a doll or you can turn her into weapon. She had some ideology in her which you can transform into something. I liked the honesty in the writing.

What difference that Rana brought with his entry into the film?
Venu first approached producers Sudhakar and Sridhar. Then, I came on board. Suresh Babu joined as other producers and that time Rana too read the script. He liked the script and wanted to play Ravanna’s character. He made the movie look much bigger. I was more grateful that he agreed to do the project.

Tell us about your working experience with Rana and the things you learnt from him?
I learnt about how big you can turn the scale of a film. My vision and my thoughts were like I can do only this much. But when a person like Rana came and taught me that, you can push it to a level more than whatever it is written on paper. I learnt that quality from him. He’s living every actor’s dream. Every character he chooses is different from each other.

You’re a spiritual person. How did you prepare your mind to play the role of a communist?
I don’t think spirituality has anything to do with that. Vennela is a very normal girl. When I play a Devadasi, I need to think like them. Same is the case with the character Vennela.

Have you found any similarities between Vennela character and Sai Pallavi?
We both of us love or look at the love same way. But she puts in an effort and she does something. But I don’t put in such efforts.

How different is this character from your previous roles?
Actually, as an artist we look for roles which are different. It gives satisfaction to play different roles and learn new things. I like films which give me little bit of pain and little bit of pressure.

How’s it working with all the seniors actors?
I admire all the actors- Nandita Das, Priyamani, Easwari Rao etc. I didn’t initially think that such big actors will do this movie. I feel honoured to see myself in the same frame with them.

What’s your opinion on naxals, before and after doing the movie?
I’m not the right person to talk about them, because I was not there. It’s like disrespecting them, if I talk good or bad about them. I only looked it more as an educational process of how people thought.

What kind of precautions you take to live up for this image you gained?
Personally, I think we shouldn’t put pressure on ourselves about an image. My job over here is to pick good films and entertain people. So, that is the only the pressure I put on myself. I do not go by image. I know that when I’m true to this and do it right, audience will get connected to it.

Tell us about director Venu Udugula?
Venu Udugula is a phenomenal writer. I learnt many things from him as well. He did research for the movie.

Were you worried about the commercial success, as the story is very intense and realistic?
I believe that, films actually live forever, even beyond me or any other actor. We don’t know whether few movies were hits or flops, but we like them because of the performances and other reasons. When I do a film, I only think that, that movie should be remembered, even after I passed away. Art stays forever. I want to make movies which stays forever.

Why did you take break in Telugu?
I didn’t take break, but I’m listening to different script. My Tamil film Gargi is set for release soon. That film is as close to me as Virata Parvam. Both are great stories. I also has a film with Sivakarthikeyan.