Supriya Yarlagadda, who has been the Executive Producer of films like 'Rarandoi Veduka Chuddham' and 'Hello!' in recent years, awaits the release of 'Boys Hostel' (dubbed from 'Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare') this week. Ahead of the release of the Telugu-dubbed Kannada film, she interacts with the media to talk about why she thinks the youthful comedy will do magic at the box-office.
'Boys Hostel' hits the cinemas on August 26.
When I watched the Kannada film ('Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare'), I had a good time. The Telugu audience accept good films from all languages without any bias. They are expecting quality even in dubbed movies. 'Boys Hostel' involves scores of voices because of the number of boys involved. Usually, dubbed movies don't involve many voices. For this movie, we had to make a special effort to ensure that the energy and frolic of a boys' hostel gets captured. The conversations are natural. It's not a typical film where emotional dialogues can be written by a single person. This is a comedy with a contemporary edge.
The Kannada release was limited in Hyderabad. Since the Kannada original is a big hit, exhibitors in the Telugu States are very positive about 'Boys Hostel'. The Telugu audience give so much revenue if they like a movie.
The Kannada film couldn't have been a remake. You can't recreate such kind of energy. That's why Annapurna Studios and Chai Bisket Films decided to buy the dubbing rights. We needed to carry out dubbing works in six dubbing studios to do justice to the film.
In today's times, good films of all languages have become universal. Even if you want to remake a good film, you have to do an adaptation. Remaking might not excite your audience. Gone are the times when the audience would watch remakes to compare the original with the remake, the performance of the hero in the original with that in the remake.
We reshot some portions for the Telugu version separately. They involve Rashmi Gautam and Tharun Bhascker. Rashmi is the best choice. When her name was suggested, I gave the go-ahead without a second thought. I feel she is a hot actress.
Annapurna Studios is very much willing to collaborate with other studios/banners. These days, trends have changed and it's essential to bring out something new. For this, you will need collaborations. 'Boys Hostel' has been done with Chai Bisket Films. When you are doing a collaboration, you have to trust the other side's instincts sometimes.
Chai Bisket Films are wizards in promotions. They are pro and know what sells. They have their own strengths, just as Annapurna Studios has its own unique set of merits. For 'Boys Hostel', we have leveraged our respective strengths.
I need to be extremely responsible about the choices I make as a producer. Anything that I do will be seen in conjunction with Annapurna Studios. That's why I have to be very careful.
There is no better producer than Nagarjuna garu. He believes in the director and makes films like 'Uyyala Jampala'. In terms of quantity, we may not have done many movies. But in terms of quality and innovative promotions, we have done a lot. We haven't fallen behind others in terms of content. Annapurna Studios has played a pioneering role.
I belong to the third generation of the larger Akkineni family. But I am working with the second generation. I saw my father making calculations on a daily basis after a day's shoot as a producer. I grew up in a certain atmosphere where I saw my father engaged in the production side every day.
Annapurna Studios has been a go-to hub in the Telugu film industry for decades. There was a time when the studio struggled to find customers. Had Nagarjuna garu not been a hero, I don't know for how long the studio would have survived. We are a legacy studio in the Telugu heartland. All studios in Chennai were sold. There are defunct studios in Mumbai barring a couple of them that are still strong. On the other hand, Annapurna Studios has always been growing.
It was in 1999 when I started working in the studio. I was the one who used to collect money from producers (towards studio rent). I would lock up the room that had cameras so that the producer would be forced to come to me. I would then use the opportunity to make him pay the dues. There are several practical issues that a studio faces on a day-to-day basis. We have to keep paying our hundreds of staff members.
Virtual production is the next big technology. It's a new tool for imagination to go wild. Sitting in Hyderabad, we tend to think that Mumbai and other industries in the world are doing extraordinary things in studios. How can we always do better on the infrastructure front? That's what we always ask ourselves at Annapurna Studios. Nagarjuna garu has brought in virtual production even though people here don't know how to use it. He wants our studio to take the lead.
I believe in destiny. I wanted to become a heroine against my grandfather's advice. The result is known to all. As kids, we in the larger Akkineni family didn't grow up as cinema kids. (When asked about why nobody in the family has become a director).
I don't make decisions for Nagarjuna garu's career. I don't know why there is no release from him this year.
