Suri talks about his eagerly awaited film Doddmane Hudga slated for release this week, and tells City Express that he likes to stay original with his films.
BENGALURU: Though he has released just eight films in a career spanning ten years, director Suri’s creations have always stood out. People consider him a good filmmaker, starting with his debut Duniya.
With his forthcoming Doddmane Hudga, City Express asks him what brings audience to his movies. “If I start digging into it, I may have to stop directing movies... I can only say it is magical,” says Suri, who adds that perhaps they like his presentation of a subject.
“Also, I have always been straight forward with my films, with no gimmicks. Maybe people appreciate that,” says the director. “I stick to the subject, instead of building a grand structure or a mansion over it, and I like to stay original.”
Gimmicks don’t work, he says. “In my decades-long experience in art and film industry, and as a person, I can say that truth lasts forever and the best examples are a few sculptures and paintings that outlive all the troubles that visit them. We have to move towards truth,” says Suri. “There are times when fame goes to our head and that’s when we start making mistakes. I try my best not to get a scolding from the audience after they watch the film. Whenever I make mistakes in any of my films, I try not to repeat them in my next. They may still creep in, but that is human error. Today, people come asking to learn from me, but each time I find a teacher in them.”
Doddmane Hudga is Suri’s first attempt at a family drama. Interestingly, while working on a big canvas like Doddmane… he was helming Kendasampige, a film with newcomers. “As an artist, I have written the sign boards for a bank and even a general store. I understand the product I am working on and try to blend into it. I experiment with different ideas and try not to repeat them in my next film. For example, my next film Tagaru will not see any resemblance with Doddmane.... and the same treatment goes with the artistes too,” he says.
The promos of the film are drawing attention and the buzz is only growing towards the release date, according to Suri. “Doddmane is a brand because there is a legend like ‘Rajkumar’ behind it... Abhimanigale Nammane Devru is his line. Vachanas are literary works, they are someone’s experiences and thoughts and therefore they will be around for decades. The respect for Annavaru or Doddmane has always existed. It is a small tribute to his achievements,” says Suri, who had thought about the title during the making of Jackie. “Surappa Babu owned the title Doddmane Hudga and I took it from him,” he says.
Suri springs a surprise saying Ambareesh has an underwater scene in the film which also reveals that Doddmane will see another side of Puneeth Rajkumar. “Appu will be liked for many scenes in the film because of the way he has performed in them. I am confident that this film will entertain the audience,” he says.
Unlike other directors, Suri does not interfere into the business side of filmmaking if it is not made by his production house. “My work ends when I deliver a good quality product,” he says, “and then I look at the Friday morning results.”
‘I Aimed for a 6-pack, Now Can Wear Even Display Clothes’
During the making of Doddmane, the director Suri decided to hit the gym and is now building a six pack. He says, “This effort was for personal reasons and has nothing to do with films. I realised that I was drinking too much and that I was going wrong somewhere. I have a family and a son and I felt that I should change my habits. I lost my father when I was just nine years old and I miss his affection, and I don’t want my son to experience this loss. So exercise is helping and keeping me healthy. I have thrown out my badly sized clothes and, when I walk into a store, I fit into the clothes mannequins wear.”