More than stories, nowadays, screenplay-based films are being patronised well, says Gopi Mohan who penned screenplay for several successful films like `Krishna’, `Dubai Seenu’ and `Ready’.Read what this young writer has to say about his passion for films and Tollywood scenario in general in an interaction with Expresso.
“For a successful a director needs to have grip over screenplay. All the directors Srinu Vaitla, SS Rajamouli, Gunasekhar, VV Vinayak and Sekhar Kammula have grip over screenplay,”he says.Screenpaly is nothing but moulding characters and designing scenes. What cloth is for a costume in the same way screenplay is for a story,”explains Gopi Mohan. He penned the story for the just released Nagarjuna’s ‘King’ and also Vishnu-Ileana’s ‘Saleem’. Now the writer is gearing up to test his fortunes as a director.
“I have written story for a Prabhas’ next flick in the direction of Dasarath for Dil Raju and Venkatesh’s upcoming film in the direction of Srinu Vaitla,”he says and adds: “ have three scripts in hand. Once these two films hit the floors, I will start my film.”Comedian Sunil is going to do one of the three films planned by Gopi. “ used to stay with Sunil, Trivikram Srinivas and RP Patnaik in my initial days. It was Trivikram Srinivas and RP Patnaik who first tasted the success,”he informs.
According to him audience are not patronising films with new concepts. “Some time ago there were some good films like `Ganga’ and ‘Grahanam’. What is their fate at the BO,” he asks.
“Going by the experience, directors in the industry have restricted themselves to five genres: Hero-heroine, hero-villain, comedy, horror and family-oriented subjects like Bhaskar’s `Bommarillu,”’ he says and adds: “Take any successful director he fits in these five genre bracket.” Though a successful writer, Gopi is an engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering and started his career as an assistant director for B Gopal’s Vamsi and Teja’s `Nuvvu Nenu’.He turned writer with Dasarath’s ‘Santhosham’.
“Films like `Happy Days’, `Pokiri’, ‘Okkadu’ and Bommarillu could succeed because of their riveting screenplay. `Homam’ is a wonderful script but lose screenplay rendered it an average flick,” he explains.When it comes to old films it is Mayabazar which is his favourite. “The film’s greatness lies in telling a story from Mahabharat without showing Pandavas,” he wonders.
“There is difference between the films we do and the films we watch. Everybody has the urge to make good films. And hence many are eager to direct films,” he signs off.
vasudevaraop@epmltd.com
