HYDERABAD: While most people are busy celebrating Mother’s Day, here is Anish Kuruvilla who decided to do something different. Celebrate single fathers! “Janrise ad agency approached me for this short film on Mother’s day about single fathers. I liked the concept of fathers raising their kids as single dads. So, I played the role of a father in this small video, which reflects on the importance of men as single dads. You will also see me in Pelli Choopulu movie very soon. Though mine is a small role, I can confidently say, it is a significant role. I play way above my age, but that’s what I liked about it”.
With his movies incomparable to the regular commercial genres, Anish feels that audience is also experimenting with new age cinema. “Soon, there will be movies with good concepts and stories and tollywood will see a new age cinema. I understand that I need to live with the movie I make, for the rest of my life. So, I am being very careful about my story and taking my own sweet time before I craft it. I am working with Shekhar in his next projects. I have my own scripts ready. One is based on a novel written by a Telugu boy and another one, I co-wrote with Shaktikanth Karthik”
He is fondly called as George Clooney of tollywood. His movies are experimental and his concepts are honest. From socially relevant short film to new age cinema, Anish Kuruvilla has always been two steps ahead from Tollywood’s dream of filmmaking.
A quintessential filmmaker, writer, actor and storyteller, this Hyderabadi man opens up about his life, struggles and future projects and his love affair with cinema.
“I have the coolest parents who made me watch all kinds of movies ranging from classic Malayalam to Bollywood to Tollywood. This was our family weekend routine from Friday to Sunday; ever since my childhood. I am a Mallu by birth, but was raised in Hyderabad. So, I consider myself to be a pakka Hyderabadi. My school, HPS Ramanthapur, gave me the room to unleash my talents. I was this cool kid who was part of debates, quiz competitions, theater and many more. But of all, theatre is something that fascinated me. Ever since my debut in Class IV, theatre and dramas have engulfed me. Am still passionate about it and that’s what I breathe and live for, of course it is now renewed into movies”, he says.
“During my college days, I would walk to and fro to the college and use my daily allowances to watch movies. More than in classes, I was spotted in the nearby movie theaters. I watched each and every movie. It was during 90s, where Hyderabad revolutionized in international films. I watched German films in Max Mueller Bhavan, French movies in Alliance Francaise and Award winning movies in Hyderabad film club. I somehow managed to sneak into these places and watched every possible film. During this time, my father put me under the wraps of a photographer which changed the course of my life,” adds Anish who then worked for the likes of Lucky Ali for a music video and other productions.
After his debut as a director for a corporate film, Anish chanced upon Nagesh Kukunoor and worked as casting in-charge for his award winning movie, Rockford.
“After Rockford, as destiny had it, I met Shekhar Kammula and that’s how Dollar Dreams happened. Our bonding is still strong and we love to work together. But life hit a low after Dollar Dreams. Despite of winning national Awards, my career took a deep plunge. For a year, I had nothing to do and I joined a corporate and went to UK on job. I was low as nothing was happening to me on movie front and I almost called it quits. My passion took a back seat but I was scaling in my job. I used this downtime to reflect about my life. Then, one day, Shekhar called me and asked me to come back for Anand movie. I just locked my desk, said bye to everyone and walked out. It was like a liberation for me. I always knew movies was my passion and this is where my life is. Then Anand happened and the rest is history”, he adds.
“All my movies are genuine in story and narration. My movies are ahead of time and they show my passion and love towards cinema. But with time, I am also evolving and understanding the needs and wants of audience,” he adds.