Director Mahadev Interview

I met Mahadev when he was working for the film Vikramarkudu as an assistant to the film's director Rajamouli. I called him when he started the film Mithrudu but later he changed his phone number and I was not able to get to him while he was busy with the film. As the film now gears up for theatrical release, I caught up with him for a brief chitchat, exclusively presented to TeluguCinema.Com visitors:

Sri: How did Mithrudu shape up? What's the censor report like? How do you feel, now that your debut film is completed?
Mahadev: Mithrudu is given U/A certificate with no cuts. The censor report is good too. And, I don't consider that a film is complete until it has reached the audience.

Sri: Following Vikramarkudu, you started going around meeting people for the right break. And, I do know that a couple of projects were almost finalized but were called off for different reasons each time. How did you take it all?
Mahadev: True, it happened a couple of times, but I didn’t let that frustrate me. I always used to think that God might have something else in store for me and not the opportunity that I missed. Frustration is not always good. "Think positive" is my motto...

Sri: What differences do you find in the job of a director now and an assistant director in the past?
Mahadev: Being an assistant to Rajamouli is quite a lucky thing to happen to me. He is one director who treats his assistants as his own brothers! If I ask him "why not like this?" while executing a scene, he always patiently explained why it cannot be done that way with all the reasons, or he'd even take the suggestion if it'd be a better alternative. I learnt a lot in his tutelage. And as a director, I can execute the way I want and the whole responsibility of the movie lies on my shoulders. The main difference is thus in the responsibility that lies on me.

Sri: So, do you give the same importance to your assistants like Rajamouli gave to you in the past?
Mahadev: Absolutely! They discuss everything with me at the time of the shooting and after the shooting too...

Sri: You worked with the later generation of heroes before now, such as Jr. NTR, Raviteja, etc. as an assistant director, but you directed Balakrishna for your debut movie. What was the difference you observed in either case?
Mahadev: To be honest, Balakrishna gaaru is just awesome as an individual! Yeah, working with Raviteja was different from working with Balakrishna gaaru definitely, but he was really a better person than many others I went to. I had only one day to get along with him really. I was very nervous the first day that I had to direct a big star, but there he was, just listening to what I wanted and doing just anything I asked for! That made me very comfortable and I could do my job like I wanted it; later too, he never interfered with my work!