In a career spanning 50 years, over 100 films and distinctions like the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Padma Bhushan and even a listing in the Guinness Book of Records, what more could a person want? For 77 year-old Ramanaidu, it’s making another movie.
With his company, Suresh Productions, completing 50 years this November 13, Ramanaidu has managed to time his latest movie to coincide with the festivities. Nenem Chinna Pillana? which is set to release on November 8, is directed by P Sunil Kumar Reddy, and the producer promises that the film will capture the hearts of his audience.
As we chat in his office at Ramanaidu Studios in the city, you can’t help but notice that the spacious den of the septuagenarian is perhaps the best reflection of his motto: “I am a simple man.”
A vintage tripod-held camera in the corner and a poster of Eega are the only two adornments of the room. His large desk is uncluttered and neatly organised, almost seeming like the man doesn’t come into work. But a self-professed workaholic, it’s being in the thick of things that keep him excited.
“I’ve been wanting to do a film for a while now and we’ve been looking at working with new artists. The company has been responsible for launching 12 heroines thus far, more than a dozen directors and four heroes. With this film as well, we've launched a new heroine while the hero is Rahul from Andala Rakshasi.”
While many may be a little hesitant about launching new faces, for Ramanaidu, working with new talent has most always worked out. “I take my job seriously and treat these people with respect. As a producer, I don’t want anybody to say that there’s a payment that has been left due. I think that has made the difference as people who come work for us are also very cooperative and come with a certain regard for the company.”
From moving to Madras (as it was known in his time) in the year 1962 and starting his career in a rented house, Ramanaidu has cemented himself as a brand in the industry with his production company and his two sons. While his elder son Suresh Babu has taken over the reigns of the production house, his younger son Venkatesh went on to become one of the top heroes of the late 90’s and early 2000’s and still continues to churn out mass entertainers. Ramanaidu’s grandson Rana Daggubati also joined the industry four years ago, debuting both in Bollywood and Tollywood.
Ask the family patriarch if his family ever had a choice when it came to joining the industry, he smiles affably. “Suresh was quite a good looking youngster, but he was clear that he would never get into acting. Venkatesh Babu was also never interested. He would come around the shooting lot on his motorbike, but was never really a part of films. Then at one point, there was a film in the works with actor Krishna and Raghavendra as the director. Things didn’t go as planned and Krishna couldn’t join the project. We decided to go for a new face and that’s how Venkatesh came into the picture, quite literally!”
With neither of his sons really knowing the language or equipped with the required skills, he recounts putting them through a six-month training programme to learn Telugu diction, acting and dancing. “It was Krishna who gave my son the break,” he re-iterates.
Coming back to the present, Ramaniadu has no plans of slowing down. “It doesn’t feel like 50 years. I keep wondering where they’ve gone.” He hopes to do at least three movies a year while at the same time work with new actors. “I have always held that the subject is important. So if the story is good, of course I’ll go ahead with it.” For now a project with Naga Chaitanya is in the pipeline. However, his dream project for the future is one including the entire family. “I’ve pitched the story to my sons and grandson. They’re all busy right now, but I am sure they will fulfill my wish and make me happy,” he ends on a sentimental note.