Women seem to be constantly making inroads in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men. The latest in the list is Lakshmi Sowjanya, who is set to make her directorial debut with Varudu Kavalenu. Sowjanya, who hails from Guntur District, has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. “My father wanted me to become an athlete, but my interests lie in politics and films, and of the two, I preferred the latter,” says Sowjanya.
Contributing to showbiz
Incidentally, Sowjanya started her film journey as assistant director with the 2005-film Dhairyam under director Teja. Later, she went on to work with renowned filmmakers like Krishna Vamsi, Sekhar Kammula, Krish, and Prakash Kovelamudi.
“It was in 2011 that I started my direction trials, and I narrated the story of Varudu Kavalenu in 2017 to producer Chinna Babu garu. Sarath Chandra gave the screenplay; it has been a collaborative effort,” she says, adding that the film tries to bring a novel perspective on the aspect of self-respect of two individuals, a man and woman, in their journey of life.
“The film’s not preachy but it’s a story that played out in my friend’s life. I tried to weave a fictional script from there, ensuring that I was honest in my storytelling.”
Varudu Kavalenu will see Naga Shaurya and Ritu Varma in leading roles. “They make for an ideal cast and are a natural fit into their respective characters. I couldn’t have asked for better fits,” Sowjanya shares.
Lessons from her dad
Through the several years it took for her to make her directorial debut, Sowjanya faced several challenges, too. “Convincing people with the script has been the biggest challenge,” she undeterred. “But that’s what it’s all about. Any field has challenges. It’s a matter of convincing people and getting through. The film industry is no different.”
However, despite the challenges through her 17 years in showbiz, Sowjanya never lost her conviction about wanting to become a director. “I always remember my father’s words; he used to say, ‘Experience and enjoy the journey.’ That’s exactly what I did, which is why I was able to sustain,” she reveals.
