22 July 2015
Hyderabad

As a director he created beautiful movies like Mee Shreyobhilashi and Manorama. But for living he sells Sea Food and says life never stops for creative people. Idlebrain throws Focus Light on the very talented director V Eshwar Reddy, who has a different approach to life when it comes to survival.
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My life in earlier days
I was born in Kurnool district- Reddy vaari Jammula dinne village. We are a family of 5 siblings. My father and brothers were into farming. My brother-in-law moved to Hyderabad and worked for agricultural university. After I finished my intermediate, my brother-in-law asked me to move to Hyderabad to help him in supervising his new house. I was not interested in studies and didn’t pursue further education. But as I had to fetch for my livelihood, I decided to move into film industry. I met up with Raju, costumer of Dasari Narayana Rao. He tried to convince me not to get into movie industry . But I was adamant and he got me a company card and thus I started my career as a junior artist. My first movie was President gari pellam. I went to a village and they made me wear lungi and asked me to hail for the hero Nagarjuna. After I finished the shoot, they asked me to get on the side of the villain. When I refused and told them I belong to the hero side, they made me understand that a junior artist has to work for all and try fit in the screen. Thus I realized that as an artist we need to wear many a hats. I bought a book and took notes of everything that happens in a movie. I used to write the intricate details of movie making. From- lights to field to artists to labs, I took notes of everything. I still have that book with me. After few days, I met up with Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy and told him that I was interested in movies. He introduced me to his son, Surya Prakash Reddy who further ​introduced me to producer Shyam Prasad Reddy. During that time, Shyam Prasad Reddy was making Ammoru movie. He put me into camera department in Anand cine services. I worked there for 3 days and told him that I wanted to be an assistant director. During which time, Padmayala studios was making Anna chellelu. I worked as apprentice for that movie and gained a lot of experience. But I always had an itch to join Suresh productions. I met up with Ramanaidu and he asked me to come after few days. In the meantime, I finished Anna chellelu and Ammoru movies as an apprentice. After these movies, I somehow managed to join in Suresh productions for Super police movie. Thus I worked as assistant director, associate director  and co-director for almost 20 movies from 1993-2003. Pelli chesukundam, Sivayya, Pavitra bandham, Hum aapke dil mein rehte hai are few of many movies that I worked for. Then I did Gemini and Vijayam . After Vijayam tanked, Ramanaidu asked me to look for other career options. I did not know what to do.

As a director
One day producer CC Reddy called me and asked me to assist him during 2004 elections campaign and make some videos for the then contesting CM, YS Raja Sekhar Reddy. Later CC Reddy wanted to do a movie and asked me to work on a project. I narrated him a story and he truly liked the story. I approached couple of heroes and they bluntly refused by saying I was a new comer or the budget was not sufficient or I don’t suit as a director. Then CC Reddy asked me if I have any other stories. I told him one more story and he asked me to take up the project. He announced the movie and thus Mee Shreyobhilashi happened. But somehow CC Reddy dropped the idea as he was in losses during that time and I approached Usha Kiron movies. They liked it and asked me to narrate it to Ramoji Rao. But due to some issues in Margadarsi, my project got postponed again. I was back to square one. Then one day CC Reddy called me back and I assured him that I will make a good movie and we would get the returns. I sold the satellite rights for the movie even before I made the movie. I met up with hero Rajendra Prasad who hugged me after listening to the story and thus we finished the movie in 6 months. The fraternity of film industry appreciated me for my work. I received many awards for my movie and it did really well. Then I made Manorama movie with Charmee as heroine. I personally feel it didn’t sync well with audience. Then I made Brahmigadi kadha.

My life after movies
In the meantime, for my livelihood, I opened a sea food store called Mee Shreyobhilashi all varieties of frozen and fresh sea food,  in OU colony community hall. I used to sell sea food on roads. Many people asked me how I could sell sea food on roads. But I always say, if my quality of work is good, then why feel shy and sad? I need to survive. I need food. I need to support my family. I can't live in the dream of being a director and do nothing.

Creativity will never fade away. We don’t have to die because we are not living a glamourous life. Our life should be in our terms. I don’t understand how people commit suicide because they are not in fame. Many assistant directors approach me saying they don’t have life. But sometimes, life has twists and turns. Why feel low? Why can’t we do something else? That’s how I sell sea food. I sold sea food in  (thermacoal) Foam box in my Maruti 800 car. I used to earn 15-20K per month and my family lived happily and never had to struggle. This is my life. We need to accept reality that our life is not the same every day. Look at hero Vikram. He struggled for 12 years and now he is a star hero. What if he got disappointed and gave up on his life? Look at Ravi Teja. He started his life from scratch, but now he is a star. I am still ready to work as assistant director if I get an opportunity. I never feel sad. I would do anything as long as I like to do that work.

My future projects
I haven’t stopped narrating stories. When I approach heroes, they refuse to meet me. They are selecting the directors. Once they team up, they select the producers. As a director, I hardly have a choice to decide who will be in my movie. Heroes always want successful directors. Producers ask me to make movies in 30 lakhs. I always ask, how can one make a movie when even the artists demand so much. I always contemplate if I should just go ahead with a senseless movie or wait for the right opportunity.

Also the theater system has to change. Earlier it was percentage based and everybody got benefitted. Now it is all rental system. It is the reason why many good movies don’t run properly. It is now difficult for a middle class family to visit the movies. If a good movie has to run , the system needs to make amends. Many movies have double meaning dialogues. Recently one producer was telling me that he wants to make a non-vegetarian movie. He says the movie has to have sex, slang and some masala.  He asked me to come up with such stuff and said, I make all vegetarian movies. I was kind of upset. But I strongly believe, there will be a day, when good movies will come back and people will care for such movies pretty soon. Earlier even the producers were very professional. But these days, even the producers are not sustainable because they make movies for their own benefits. I am waiting for the right day, right time, right movie and right audience. I have beautiful stories and I am confident that people will watch my movies with love. Good movies and producers are rare. I am looking for one such producer.

My family
My wife, Tanuja, is a housewife. We have two sons, Shankar Reddy and Rajashekar reddy. We are a small family and live with what we can. I sell sea Food and make a living and we are proud of what we do. The director in me will never die and people will see good movies from me.

By
Swathi Sriram

Other articles in 'Focus Light:
• Saandip
• Snigdha
• Anil - Bhanu
• Vijaya Bhaskar
• Vinay Varma
• Dr. Josyabhatla Sarma
• Sasikiran Narayana