Kuchipudi dancer Sandhya Raju discusses her feature film debut as an actor-producer with ‘Natyam’
For Telugu film buffs, the gold standard for mainstream films involving classical dance or music will be director K Viswanath. shankarbharanam (1979), Sagar Sangma (1983) and golden lotus (1988). Hyderabad-based Kuchipudi dancer Sandhya Raju, who is making her feature film debut as a producer and actor Natyam, releasing on October 22, is aware of the inevitable comparisons.
After taking blessings of non aging filmmaker Natyam Director Revanth Korukonda, Sandhya says, “Our film is driven by hard work, passion and creativity. But we are nowhere close to matching the great director’s films.”
Sandhya is calm and composed, even as the Nishrunkala Dance Academy, which she founded, is filled with pre-release promotional activities. In one corner of the room, a whiteboard lists the tasks to be done each day. For Sandhya and Revanth, Natyam is almost like a five-year dream come true.
Sandhya recalls the events that inspired her to star in a short film directed by Revanth in 2016: “I wanted to expand my horizons and take up occasional modeling, theater or short film opportunities. Was looking too. Around the same time, Revanth was looking for a Kuchipudi dancer who could act and reached out to me. “
short film, also titled NatyamIn , Sandhya played a housewife who rekindles her lost passion for dance. “I was not into acting and didn’t pay attention to the story when Revanth narrated it. Lastly the five-minute dance was the first to grab my attention,” laughs Sandhya.
Once the short film went online, Sandhya was shocked by the response. There was a time when young women would see him at the mall and talk to him about how the film inspired him to start dancing again.
She and Revanth also witnessed how short filmmakers are making a mark in Telugu cinema with feature films. When Revanth decided to work on a full-fledged dance-based feature film, Sandhya acted and produced the project. Intermittently, he acted in a Malayalam film titled Attention (2017).
fantasy dance village
feature film NatyamSandhya says she has nothing to do with the short film and the similarities end with the title. The story is based on a fictional village named Natyam inspired by Kuchipudi village in Andhra Pradesh. The village attracts artists from all over and everything happens around a temple which is home to a mighty goddess. Sandhya plays a dancer who seeks to dispel superstitions by performing Kadambari’s story: “The historical events on which Kadambari’s story is based are true, but the character and story are fictional,” says Sandhya. “The film goes beyond exploring the physicality of dance and uses it as a means to tell a story.”
Natyam It was filmed near Bengaluru, Hampi, Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh and Shamshabad in Hyderabad.
Growing up in Chennai, Sandhya sought the help of Telugu tutors to prepare for the film: “I wanted to learn to speak Telugu well so that my mannerisms and facial muscle movements would be appropriate. Not knowing Malayalam was a drawback during filming Attention. When you can speak the language, only then can acting appear spontaneously.”
Sandhya also took over the responsibility of choreography and costume design. Natyam. Given her skills in Kuchipudi, she could choreograph complex moves, but she chose to keep it simple: “We didn’t want it to look the same. color pravesam of classical dances. ”
Ironically, in the film, she plays a dancer who has to prove herself while Kamal Kamaraju plays a more experienced dancer.
Executing the project was challenging, she admitted, but the business decisions she had to make during the pandemic were tough. The team did a test screening and the audience included people from different socio-economic strata and age groups; Many of them seemed to be enjoying the big screen experience. Some film industry people also weighed in and suggested he wait until theaters reopen: “Production has been tough; There are many stories to be heard about the hardships women face in this industry. I am blessed that I got the support of established personalities to campaign, be it Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Ram Charan or NTR,” says Sandhya.
While classical dance will continue to be her mainstay, Sandhya is up for acting opportunities.
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