Venky Kudumula, who worked earlier with directors like Trivikram, Teja and Yogi, is making his debut with Chalo, starring Naga Shaurya and Rashmika Mandanna. The film releases this Friday.
Hailing from Khammam, Venky started his film journey as an assistant to Teja for the film Neeku Naku Dash Dash. “I knew writer Balabhadrapatruni Ramani and met director Teja through her,” reveals Venky, who then worked as assistant to director Yogi for Jadoogadu starring Naga Shaurya.
“I met Naga Shaurya while doing this film and we became good friends. He wanted to introduce me as a director and even I wanted to make my debut with him,” says Venky, who subsequently worked with Trivikram Srinivas for the film A. Aa...
“I built a good rapport with Trivikram garu during this film and his wish was for me to become a director. But that actually meant I couldn’t work with him further,” says Venky, who got his directorial break when Naga Shaurya asked him to come up with a story.
“I wanted to do a crime comedy first, but later I decided to pitch a story which Shaurya had not done before. The Andhra Pradesh border is just two kilometres away from my native place, so I got an idea and prepared this subject,” he reveals, adding that the story of Chalo is situated at the Tamil Nadu and Andhra border.
Initially, I met a few producers with the subject, but they wanted me to do the project in a limited budget. “Naga Shaurya’s parents then felt that it was better to produce it on their own, and gave a free hand. They took up the project and didn’t think about the budget at all,” he says.
Talking about the female lead Rashmika, the director says that he liked her in Kannada film Kirik Party. “Even Shaurya sent me a link to a song from that film to consider her. We felt that she would be the best for this film, her Telugu debut,” says Venky.
As for his next project, Venky says that he has not thought of anything as yet. “I am waiting for this film’s release and will then go on to my next project,” he says.
