She became popular when she lent her voice to the romantic number “E Vellalo..” from Gulabi. Later she took the stage by storm as an anchor. Not satisfied with being a singer and an anchor, she started dubbing for top heroines like Soundarya. If you did not get it as yet, this multi talented, sweet faced, honey voiced person is non other than the charming lady with a traffic stopping smile, Sunitha. In an interview with Ragalahari this cheerful personality shares her experiences and some of her memorable moments before and after she joined the music and film industry.
Q: How did your singing career begin?
A: My first offer was not something I went after. Somebody heard me sing and gave me an opportunity. But if we want to achieve something we should not wait for the opportunity to come around right? but work towards our goal. In that way my father often told people about me, that I can sing.
Q: Are you an only child?
A: No. I have a younger sister. Only girls for my parents (Smiles).
Q: Is she also a singer?
A: She is a very good singer. But likes to sing more of the classical songs. She likes M.S. Subbalakshmi songs a lot and doesn’t get tired of singing them.
Q: What about your education?
A: I did my intermediate for BH College in Guntur and then came here. I tried (smiling) to do my BA privately from the Telugu University.
Q: Your Telugu is very pure. In the sense your speech in Telugu is very true to its sense and not affected. How come?
A: (Laughs…) hmm... My mother is from the Malladi family. They were very well known for their excellence in the stage and drama fields. So a lot of prominence was given to the language and how you spoke. And I grew up in Guntur. The Telugu spoken in Guntur and Vijayawada is different and clearer than the one spoken here. Other than that my father was very particular about how we spoke. He always says that your language is your identity. Where ever you go people will always observe how and what you speak so what ever we say should be spoken in very clear terms.
Q: Do you read books?
A: I rarely get time to read books. But I do enjoy reading a couple of novels.
Q: Tell us about your first stage show?
A: My first stage show was in…95. That was before I did the Doordarshan program ‘Paadave Koyila’. And I sang a Hindi song ,“Na Koi Umang Hai”.. My first song was not in Telugu. Though now I am able to speak Hyderabadi Hindi well, at that time I was not good at Hindi. And that day I was more bothered about how many people will clap for me after I finished singing (Laughs).
Q: And were you appreciated?
A: There? No. I mean, because I was a kid nobody bothered with me. Everybody generally told me that I sang well and left. But nobody appreciated me as such.
Q: Was that a satisfying experience?
A: No. Not at all. I was so nervous when I sang that time; I did not even know what I was singing.
Q: How old were you at the time of your first stage show?
A: Sixteen. But if you are asking about my first stage show before I entered the industry; I was three years old at that time. It was for the opening our family friend’s Krishna Priya Nursing home. I remember, I think it was after we went to Tirupathi, because I was bald and people kept teasing me as “Gundu Pilla” (bald girl). I used to get so irritated (laughing…). So that was my first stage show. It was not exactly a stage show also. They just sat me on a small stool, put a mike in front of me and told me to sing. And I sang “Yendaro Mahanubavulu”
Q: What was the first Prize you ever won? Did you win any cash prize?
A: My first prize was a small cup I won for a singing competition in school, Balanandam School in Guntur. I was in third class that time. My first cash prize I won when I was six years old, for a state wide singing competition held by Ambica Darbar Agarbatti Company, in Eluru. It was a very prestigious competition and I won Rs 500 in that.
Q: What did you do with that money?
A: I don’t know. Don’t remember actually. I think my mother bought me two dresses with that money.
Q: How did you get into anchoring?
A: It was after ‘Gulabi’ movie released. There was a program called Anthakshari on Gemini TV. Sri and Suma were anchoring the show and they wanted to introduce me in that show, because at that time my song “E Vellalo” from ‘Gulabi’ became very popular. So they wanted to do a show on me and introduced me also in a very colorful manner. Like they said “we will now introduce you to a gulabi” and magically I appeared on screen. So after seeing me in that show they thought that I would suit anchoring and so offered me. I first anchored a live show in the US. It was fun doing that. I mean I was free. After ‘Gulabi’ I was waiting for more songs and in the mean time did anchoring. It was fun being seen on TV (smiles).
Q: How did ‘Gulabi’ happen?
A: I went for a program once and at the same program flutist Nagaraju was performing. After the show he told me that there is a recording the next day and asked me to come for it. At that point I was actually going to go to Guntur to meet my mother, so I hesitated, but anyway since it was one song I agreed. I went to Ramanaidu studio the next day. After going there they told me that my voice was not good (smiles). I mean not directly but said that my voice was weak. That I was not able to emote properly and asked me if I strained my voice and things like that. I felt bad and offended and wanted to prove them wrong. So I told them to give me the song and that I will perform it in the evening. And I went home, practiced and went back and recorded the song. That was my first challenge and the best song till date.
Q: What were you opportunities like, post ‘Gulabi’? Because at that time we had very few local singers as our industry people vied more for outside singers?
A: See. There was nothing like that. If people have talent they will come up. When I went to Chennai what I noticed is that the recognition that a singer gets when he/she sings in different languages is much more and different from what a singer singing in only the local language gets. I went to Chennai in 97 but could not stay there for long because I missed my people and my language here. After my marriage my Husband, he used to work for Gemini TV, left his job and was with me for 6 to 7 months to encourage me in my profession. I cannot sit idle for a long time. I have to keep doing something or the other. Then we decided to come back to Hyderabad.
As for my opportunities after ‘Gulabi’. I did get a lot offers but people around kept telling me that I did not get the kind of recognition that I should have got. But In fact after ‘Gulabi’ my song “Maagamasam Epuduvachindo” from ‘Egire Paavurama’ made me even more popular than what ‘Gulabi’ did. After that I sang for a string of S.V.Krishna Reddy’s movies and other movies as well. But still people kept telling me that my image was not up to my singing. I did not understand that. They would tell me that I should market myself better as in talk about my singing etc. but I believe my singing should speak for me not the other way round. See Janaki, Susheela and Chitra became popular because of their singing not marketing. Now day’s singers are becoming popular because of music channels. Now I have to tell that I sang in ‘Godavari’ and ‘Ramadasu’, of course we have to change according to our times…but that is something I cannot digest (laughs).
Q: You also took up dubbing. Who was the artist you first dubbed for?
A: After ‘Gulabi’….everything was after ‘Gulabi’ (laughs) that movie was a huge turning point for me in everyway. When, during the song recording, I would normally ask as to how my voice was or whether my expression was right Ram Gopal Verma heard my voice on mike and later asked me to dub for their next film ‘Annaganaga Oka Roju’. I did not know anything about dubbing and actually had a very bad impression about it. I thought that it would spoil my voice and all. But still went for the dubbing. Could not do it. Felt tortured and tortured them in return. Could not get the expression right. Basically I had absolutely not interest in it. At that time I was very uncomfortable speaking a lot let alone dub. Now because I am used to it; am able to chat regardless of the camera. But then I was shy and could not laugh and cry when and as required. But even after struggling for three days they still wanted me to dub whether or not I got it right. And I dubbed. But nor was I satisfied with what I was doing nor was the product good. After a lot of pampering and cajoling I still could not get it and so they finally gave up on me. But ironically at that point I got interested in doing it. And even Ram Gopal Verma said that he wanted me to dub, because my voice was different and said that we need to encourage this kind of talent. And that that talent should come from ABCL Corp. So they took me to Chennai and there also we struggled but nothing came of it. Finally 15 days before the release they said sorry to me and called by Saritha to do the dubbing. She completed the entire movie in just a single day. She looked like a goddess to me. So that was my first dubbing experience.
I came back to Hyderabad after that and ‘Egire Pavurama’ happened. Again people liked my voice and wanted me to dub for the heroine. This time although I was able to get the dialogues right and could cry a bit naturally, I absolutely could not laugh. So again I was rejected. First time when they said sorry for ‘Annaganaga Oka Roju’ I did not feel bad but this time it pricked my ego. And I decided that I have to prove myself in that arena. I got that opportunity for Kodi Ramakrishna’s ‘Pelli Pandiri’ movie in which Raasi was the heroine. Till that time she used to dub for others but could not dub for her own movie. So that was the first movie where my voice was okayed 100% and the movie released.
Q: What was the most difficult aspect of dubbing, for you?
A: See. To be in a dark room with nothing around except a monitor and to try to tell and emote what is happening on screen is a difficult job. Especially if you have to cry and laugh suddenly. I mean when people are acting emotions will come easier because the atmosphere is created but in dubbing there is nothing of that sort. We have to get into another person’s character and do it and it is not an easy job. But now after experience it comes naturally to you. Even if you wake me up in my sleep and ask me to emote in a particular way I can do it. And you need loads of patience for this job. I mean I might feel I said everything well. But how my voice actually sounds on the mike, that people sitting in the room only can tell and each director will want dialogues said in a certain manner and style. So after a lot of experiences with different directors today I am able to say all this about dubbing.
Q: You are a singer, a dubbing artist and you also anchored shows. You did not concentrate on singing, alone?
A: It is not that I did not concentrate on singing. When I joined the industry around 96-97 there was a huge change in the industry. A lot of music directors and singers entered the film industry. Everybody had their own songs and singers. So when there were not many songs to sing what was I supposed to do. After S.P.Balasubrahmanyam and Chitra garu’s generation, who sang songs for an entire film, where do you have singers doing single card songs? Of course putting aside Usha-Patnaik and Chakri-Kausalya, where do have singers singing for an entire film. I sang for Ramana Gogula’s ‘Badri’ like that. But nowadays you don’t find single card songs anymore. I was not going to sit idle. So I took up the opportunities that came along and everything happened around the same time for me. I will agree that no other singer got as much exposure as I did and most of it I owe to Navaragam program through which I got my break as a singer. Till now I never went to any music director and asked him for an opportunity. Even anchoring happened unexpectedly. I never had the need to introduce myself to people.
Q: Every singer has their own favorite Ragam. Which you’re favorite?
A: Oh… I like Sree Ragam, Kalyani Ragam... Mohan Kalyani Ragam, hmmm… Mohan Ragam and Beher Ragam. But I like Desi a lot.
Q: What songs did you sing in that Ragam?
A: I did not sing any film song in that Ragam. I learned Lalitha Sangitham and sang private songs but not film songs. There is one song which Dwara Lakshmi sang in that Ragam I like that song a lot. (Sunitha went on to croon the song in a very soulful voice).
Q: On a personal note. Your’s was a love marriage right?
A: (smiles)50%.
Q: In between anchoring and singing songs where did you get the time for romance?
A: Kiran (Sunitha’s husband) was supervising the program I did for Gemini TV. It was there that we met. It was one side love for him. He never told me directly. There were a couple of guys Vamsi and Venkat. They used to always call me chellamma and they would call Kiran bavagaru. I never really understood. Then after one year I came to know about it. He did not tell me even then. He wrote a letter to my father telling him that he loves me and wants to marry me. My father gave me the letter and said that I was supposed to have got that letter instead of him and that is sounded very official (laughs).
I read the letter and went to Kiran the next day. The first thing that I asked him was whether I knew how to write in Telugu (laughs again). There were so many mistakes in that letter.
Q: It looks like a scene from ‘Aparichitudu’. He approaching your father before asking you?
A: (laughs) something like that. But before he gave the letter to my father he bought me a dress for my birthday. It was a really nice dress and so I wore it. So maybe he thought I accepted his love and that is why he approached my father. He never directly approached me though. Always messengers. I waited and waited and finally said yes. But I would always tease him saying that if he sent another person I would propose to that person and marry him. Like a today’s girl I used to tease him a lot in reverse.
Q: So you enjoyed those days?
A: A lot. Immensely. Later I realized how much of torture he actually must have gone through.
Q: And after marriage?
A: (smiling) he is taking revenge now.
Q: When did you get married?
A: August 15th.
Q: So who got Independence?
A: Me. Very frankly I can say that. I got total independence. People speak very nostalgically after marriage but for me marriage is the most beautiful experience. I can say that very sincerely.
Q: What kind of support did you get from him in regards to your profession?
A: Like I said before he supported me a lot. After marriage he left his job and for a year or so helped me in my struggle in Chennai. His only complaint is that he tells me that I don’t project my self well as a singer. He says that I can’t speak properly on the phone. Says that I am unfit for this profession as in I worry too much about my family and want to do everything myself even when people are around to help. He keeps telling me to concentrate on my profession. That is his only complaint. But he is always supporting me, very positively.
Q: How was his support during your disappointing moments?
A: There was this one song which I sang in a Telugu movie that they were going to dub in to Tamil. But they did not okay my voice for the Tamil song. I felt very bad about that. Then Kiran tried to console me. He told “You are only 16...” (on an after thought)no actually I was 20 at that time. Mine was an early marriage. So he told “You are only 20 years old. You are still like a baby in this industry. Don’t feel bad because you lost out on one song when you have an entire lifetime left. Think about the 40 songs you will get to sing against that one song you lost out on.” After he told all that in a certain level. I felt okay about it. Then he bought me coconut water to drink. Bought me my favorite flowers. I felt a lot better after that. And by the next day I was alright. Even I don’t worry about things for long. It’s a part of life.
Q: Tell us about your kids?
A: My older one is Akash. He was born a year after my marriage. My father and everybody around me told me at that time “you are only 20 why do you want to have kids so early” but I did not listen. Honestly motherhood has been the most enjoyable aspect of my life. Even the labor pains seem nothing in front of motherhood. When they suggested that I undergo cesarean. I refused. I wanted a normal delivery. And my kids are as supportive as my husband, my In-laws and my parents. When I tell them I am going for work they just say okay and after I come back they ask me what song I recorded that day. They ask “Did you sing twinkle twinkle little star?” he also remembers each and every song that I sang after he was born. They don’t cry when I got out or any thing like that. (Her face lighting up, she adds) I have a very sweet, cute and a fantastic family.
Q: You performed at stage shows outside the country also. Tell about those experiences and which is your favorite place so far?
A: Normally when we go for stage shows abroad. We are taken to the venue first. I perform over there and that is it. Sight seeing…little bit. Usually where ever I go I have relatives there. So I stay at their place. My favorite place? San Hosse. I liked that place a lot. Everything over there, every flower or tree or even a leaf seemed very fresh. I felt happy at that place. That and recently I went to Singapore. That place also I like. And an Island in Malaysia also I like.
Q: Did you anytime face any kind of problems during stage shows at such places?
A: No I did not face any problems as such. My only problem was that me being a pure vegetarian, I could not get the food I liked. If I had relatives at those places it was okay. But at other places I had to depend on Pizzas and other junk food. And for such cases I used to take pickles with me (smiling).
Q: Tell us about your awards? Which is best so far?
A: My best award…I won the first prize for a National level competition once. That prize is very small and cute and it was presented to me by the then Governor. So that one is very precious for me. The other was a gold medal I won when I was a kid during my school competitions. Then my first TV Nandi award for “Gundeki Savadi Endukku” song from Antharangalu serial. That also is very precious for me. In that way almost all my award are precious. For the past three years I am being awarded the Nandi, those are very precious for me.
Q: What is your ambition?
A: Like everybody I want to be successful commercially, sing a lot of songs and earn a lot of money. That because I have responsibilities. But as a singer I want to sing good songs. Just sing. Sing till my last breath and die. I want to be known as a good human being. People should remember me and tell that Sunitha was a nice person. At the same time I want to win at least one National award as a singer. It doesn’t matter for which language I get that.
Q: Are you singing in other languages?
A: I am not trying to sing in other languages as yet. Because if I have to sing in other languages I might have to leave my home for some time. But my kids are still very young and I would not want to leave them. And I am quite busy now and happy with my life the way it is. May be after singing in a few more good movies like ‘Ramadasu’ and ‘Godavari’. And after I become a little more well known I will try to sing in other languages.
Q: You said your mother was your teacher. Were there any instances where she criticized or appreciated your songs?
A: She always criticizes the way I sing (laughing). Very rarely does she openly appreciate my songs. She says “why can’t you hold your breath consistently? You are not eating properly”. No matter what she is talking to me about she will finally end up complaining that I don’t eat properly (laughs). Seriously. She liked my songs in ‘Ramadasu’ a lot. That is the best compliment from her, I thought.
Q: Any instances of criticism about which you felt really bad?
A: Normally, I myself criticize some of my songs and don’t mind telling it aloud. In the beginning what I would not
like about myself was that I was seriously weak and could not sing properly. I mean I could sing the song but there wouldn’t be any depth to it. I could not do 100% justice to the song. But later with experience, having the opportunity to sing different kinds of songs and for different music directors. And after my pregnancy, that is, with my normal body changes, I thought that I was able to get that depth in my songs. Earlier I would feel really bad with all the criticism. But I would criticize myself. Even for dubbing. Now when I watch the movies I dubbed for earlier I think “what kind of work did I do?” I feel I could have done a better job.
Q: Who is your favorite music director? In whose composition do you feel you should sing at least one song?
A: It was my life ambition to sing an Ilayraja composition, to work for Bapu and Viswanath films. And I have achieved all three. Ilayraja introduced me to both the Tamil and Kannada Industries and in Telugu I sang for ‘Sivaputhrudu’ movie, of his composition. I sang as well as dubbed for Bapu’s ‘Radhagopalam’ movie. Then I sang “Korrike…” in Viswanath’s ‘Swarnabhishekam’ movie. It is the the best song. After that I was satisfied that I achieved what I thought. Now I want to sing a Rehman composition. Your list keeps growing in that sense. You are not just satisfied with what you have already achieved.
Q: Who are your favorite singers? Who do you consider as a very good singer?
A: I like the clarity in Susheela garu’s voice and the expression with which Janaki garu sings. I like the versatility of Balasubrahmanyam garu. He proved that we need to add a pinch of mimicry to singing. He can easily match his voice to any hero that he sings for. I am crazy about him. I love everything he does. Chitra garu has got the clarity of Susheela garu’s voice and the expression of Janaki garu. Her voice is so soothing that it makes you forget your world. Now tell me how can I decide who is my favorite?
Q: No mater how much knowledge one has about music. There is always this yearning to learn more about it. What are your efforts to that effect?
A: Right now I am in a position where I am not able to do anything in that aspect. From when I started to take up dubbing in a full fledged way. No...That is wrong. From when I started getting the opportunities for dubbing I had to strike a balance between dubbing and singing. I did not want to let people think that I was unavailable for one thing because I was occupied with the other. And in the mean while I started a family and family is important. So it is difficult to learn so much when one is trying to strike a balance between all these aspects of one’s life and career. It is proving to be a great deal to teach my husband (laughing). But I should take time out to learn. I want to learn Hindustani music by any chance. Let’s see how far it works out (smiling).
Q: When is your birthday?
A: 10th May. Do you want the year also (smiling) I don’t mind telling. 1978.
Q: How do you celebrate your birthday?
A: Till now I did not do anything special for that day. Generally. Take a head bath, wear new clothes. Earlier when ever you wear new clothes it’s a birthday (smiles). Wear a new sari. Go to the temple. Then comeback and wait for my husband to give me something (laughs). Last year for my birthday my son gave me a greeting card and wrote “Happy Birthday Amma” on it. That is very precious for me.
Q: What was the best gift you got from your husband after marriage?
A: Best gift that I got or gave?
Q: And what you gave also?
A: What best gift I gave … I am only the best gift (smiling). No. The first gift I gave…for Valentines day I bought him a bike with my own earnings (after a moments hesitation..) I should not be telling what I gave right? Sorry sorry. What gift he gave me…he buys me flowers regularly. No occasion as such. What ever he likes he buys for me. What he bought for me before our marriage was the best gift. It was a gift given with a lot of passion. Because he did not know whether I would say yes or no. So with a great lover’s passion he bought me that gift. That was the best gift. Now it becomes more like a duty. You know “It is my wife’s birthday I should buy her a gift” kind of thing.
Q: Who apologizes first when you’ll fight?
A: Me. I mean he also says sorry. But I am the first to speak. I am always telling him to take such things lightly. If you fight over something you should resolve that issue then and there. Not carry it on to the future. Even if matters run to the extremes you should not drag the issue. But when I am speaking he just sits quietly as if thinking and even yawns in between. That really irritates me a lot. And I will be like “you are like this only. You are not speaking to me. You are not bothered about me anymore” and things like that. But I will tell shamelessly that when ever we fight I start it. But all with good reason, mind you. I don’t fight without a good reason. I tell “why don’t you give the kids a bath. At such time only you get to bond with them” and he will be like “why do I have to give them a bath for that.” Pakka Telangana. He is usually detached from stuff and I don’t like that. I on the other hand involve myself into everything (laughs).
Q: Did you anytime feel that you have missed out on your friends because of your career?
A: I had few friends even as a kid. There was no playing with friends on the weekends and such. We used to stay in Guntur and our master, my Guru, used to stay in Vijayawada. So every Saturday my mother would take us to him. After the class we would go to our grandmother’s place and the next day again to master’s place for classes in Classical music. Seven years we spent like that. Intermediate I studied in a girl’s college and there also I was busy with singing competitions. Going out with friends, parties and picnics, nothing of that sort. And after that I got married.
Q: Normally many singers touch the feet of Music Directors when ever they meet. What do you think about such show of respect?
A: By the time I joined the industry that trend had changed. I did not meet any music director who insisted that we touch his feet and now it does not exist any longer. Everybody is on friendly terms with each other. Such things we should feel like doing then only will it be of any value. But I never had to face any such situation where it was like I won’t be given an opportunity to sing if I don’t touch the music director’s feet. Keeravani garu, Ramana Gogula garu or Krishna Reddy garu none of them asked for such show of respect. But I, on my own touched Ilayraja garu’s feet when I met him for the first time. Whether or not he gave me a chance to sing it was enough to just see him. I respect him that much.
Then I got the opportunity to meet Mahadevan garu. As long as I was seeing him I could see this glow about his face. Like they show in films? For gods they have this light glowing behind their heads? It was like that when I saw Mahadevan garu. I could not look directly at his face. After that the best thing in my life was when I met Sallur Rajeswar Rao garu. That was the time when I sang the song “Gundeki Savadi Enduku” for Antharangalu. Vasu Rao garu and Koti garu. It seems have the habit of making their father listen to some of the tunes they compose. So when Vasu Rao garu played the song for him, Rajeswar Rao garu asked for me. When I heard that, I felt as if I achieved a lot already. At that time he could not speak properly due to a paralyses stroke. When I met him he asked whether I heard any of his songs and asked me to sing “Kanarani devude..” of his composition. When I was singing that songs he just closed his eyes and listened. I felt as if he was recollecting all his memories. After I finished he said “You are singing like Susheela” that compliment made my life.
Q: Are you inclined towards only classical music or do you also like upbeat, western and modern kind of music?
A: I very rarely listen to fast beat songs. It is not like I do not have any inters in it at all. In fact it is actually very difficult to sing western songs. My voice doesn’t suit that culture. May be it is because I never practiced that type of songs. I have been practicing only classical and melodious music since my childhood and my voice suits the classical type not the upbeat western type of songs. I did try to learn the western music but could not do it (laughs).
Q: Usually singers do know how to play certain musical instruments. What about you?
A: I learned to play the Veena. Also Kuchipudi dance. But what used to happen was after all the makeup and everything they would place a mike in front of me and tell me to sing. I used to get so irritated that I stopped dancing. Same thing with Veena. They would tell me to sing while I played the instrument. So that also I left. When I was a kid my mother and aunt set up the Annamacharya Sangeetha Nruthya Kalasala where they would teach how to play Violin, Flute, Guitar, Veena and also Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dance forms. So though I never received a formal training in all these I learned about all of them.
Q: What is your favorite song from your recent films in which you sang?
A: I am yet to recover from ‘Sri Ramadasu’ movie. Like they said in the movie it is still “Antha Rama Mayam”. Although people appreciated my songs previously, the kind of appreciation I received for ‘Ramadasu’ movie is something I will never forget in my life. I mean people praised me to such high levels that I did not know how to react to the compliments I was receiving. For all this I am in life long debt to Keeravani garu and Ragavendra garu. Actually for the song “Chalu Chalu Chalu” it was kind of uncomfortable for both Charan and me to sing that first night song as we had to sing that song in the same room. Even though we requested the director for separate cabins he refused. But some how we sang it and I never really expected it to get the kind of appreciation it got. And while singing “Idi Idigo Na Ramudu” I actually got tears in my eyes. At the time that I was getting over the effect of singing these songs I got the opportunity to sing “Andaga Lena” song from ‘Godavari’. So these songs I really enjoyed singing.
Q: Did you not feel anything, when you sang that song from ‘Godavari’?
A: At the Audio disc function of ‘Sri Ramadasu’ Veturi garu called me and asked me how I could “Andaga Lena Asalem Balena” song. I got confused and asked whether I did not sing that song well. Then he said “you be careful because after people will listen to that song they will ask the same thing that how can a pretty girl like you ask whether or not you are beautiful. They might even crack jokes about it”. I was surprised when he said that (laughs). He just said that and left.
Q: We heard that you are producing a film?
A: Normally when some new people come and tell me that they have a lot of money and that they want to produce a film I just tell them to wait till the time is right. After I suggest that to people how will I produce a film?
Q: Then what about the talks doing the rounds?
A: Yes there are talks doing rounds that Sunitha is producing a movie or acting in one or even directing a movie.
Who knows, I might even do it in the future (laughs). See in this industry when a person is constantly busy with one or the other thing, people get the impression that that person is earning a lot of money and such kind of things spread. But I know how much money I am earning and how much I am spending.
Q: Did your husband anytime ask you to sing a song for him?
A: The day after our marriage, Kiran was not at home, at that time I thought that after he will come home, he will come to me and ask me to sing for him. But from that day till today, he never asked me even once to sing for him. Yes, he tells me that “you sang that song well “or “that song is nice” but he never once asked me to sing for him. Generally he comes to the recording sessions, but that to after I finished singing the song and when they are listening to the recording, at that time he will come and say “oh you sang really well”, “not bad” or that this song will be a hit or not, such things.
Q: Your’s is a love marriage right? Did you anytime feel that you missed out on the routines of an arranged marriage like Pelli chupulu etc?
A: What Pelli chupulu? (Smiles) we were looking at each other for the past two years by then. Actually I could not believe that I got married that early at 19 years of age. And I don’t think I could have gone through a pelli chupulu kind of situation. I am just not the kind of person to sit in front of a group of people and sing shyly when they ask me to sing. I mean it is the most difficult situation in life, where you are being observed by a bunch of strangers, as to what you are wearing, how long is your hair or even what color nail polish your are wearing. Let alone having to sing in front of them. And on top of that you don’t even know whether you are going to marry that person for sure. I am actually happy that I missed it.
Once when I went to London for a function organized by ETA (European Telugu Association) I wore a half sari. I love wearing a half sari. I keep teasing Kiran that he married me before I could even wear a half sari. So, I think it was three years back, for this show I wore a half sari and performed. After the show, one elderly man walked up to me and asked me what my gothram was. I new what he was getting at but started acting just for sake of fun (smiling mischievously). So told him my gothram. Then he asked what my father does, that also I answered. Then he thought for some time and asked how he could contact my father. So I gave my father’s number to him. All this the orchestra people were watching. When I went back to them, they started warning me “I think he has a marriage proposal for you” and I was like “I know, but lets see what happens”. Later I felt that I should not be teasing an older man, so I went to him and asked as to why he enquired about me. He said “why will ask about you ma? My son saw you and he likes you, so I wanted to talk to your father regarding that”. I asked him to show me his son (laughs), it was a huge episode. Then I told him that he should be actually asking for my husband not my father and further more, that I had two kids. He said “I can bear it if you say that you are married. But don’t tell me that you have two kids” (laughing out).
After coming back here all the orchestra people started telling on me to Kiran “don’t let your wife go out alone. This is what she is doing”. But likewise Kiran also got quite a few marriage proposals after our marriage (smiling). We both sit at home and tell each other such experiences and enjoy ourselves. That is the best part. Sweet memories.
