Former IAS officer Papa Rao turns filmmaker with 'Music School'

How often do you see an IAS officer turning filmmaker? Paparao Biyyala, a civil servant from the 1982 batch, was always passionate about writing and films, but did not have the time to indulge his penchant for drama and music while working as a bureaucrat. The turning point came when he was introduced to filmmaker Jahnu Barua in 1996.

“I always wanted to explore the visual medium. After I met Barua I got the required exposure to filmmaking and learnt a lot from him,” Paparao recalls, adding that it was the seed for him turning filmmaker.

While Paparao got insights into filmmaking from Barua, he wanted to learn the basics of the craft formally. So he did a three-month diploma course in filmmaking from the New York Film Academy in 1996.

“After my return, I began writing scripts during my ‘down time’. Balancing work and writing was very tough but I managed,” says Paparao.

He directed a documentary, Willing to Sacrifice, in 1998, working on the weekends in Delhi. It won the National Award for the Best Environmental/Conservation Film in 2000, doing his confidence a world of good!

Paparao joined the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as Civil Affairs Officer in 1999 to pursue peace building in post-conflict areas. He was elevated as Principal International Officer in 2000 and set up and headed the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports there, as part of the Security Council’s mandate to develop Self- Governing institutions in Kosovo after the war.

Meanwhile, his interest in writing and films grew, and in 2006, with around 10 years of service left, Paparao decided to opt for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). And he found his true calling in films.

“I wanted to make films and needed more time for that, so I opted for VRS,” he explains, adding that he was also actively participating in the Telangana movement demanding separate statehood back then.

His commitment to the cause led to his appointment as Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister (equivalent to Cabinet Minister Rank) after Telangana State was formed in 2014. He served for five years till 2019 before resigning to pursue a full-time career as a filmmaker.

“During those five years I was also writing scripts. But I never had the time to execute and transform them into films,” he says, explaining why he quit the Government post.

In 2021 November, Paparao announced his debut feature film Music School.  It highlights the stress a child goes through because of parental pressure. According to him, the film’s story was inspired by an incident involving his friend’s son. “My friend insisted that his son sit for EAMCET and other competitive exams. But the boy wanted to do MS in the US. He was under so much stress. His parents finally allowed him to pursue his dream, and he became successful,” he reveals, adding that he realised that some children even resort to extreme steps because of such pressure.

However, Paparao didn’t want to make the film preachy. He wanted to convey the message in an entertaining way. He got the idea of making a musical, to reach a wide audience. The film, which will release on May 12, has 12 songs composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

“Life as a filmmaker has been very exciting. As a bureaucrat, I did various things, but in cinema, the focus is only on one thing. This job is highly focused and intense,” he comments.

Paparao says his administrative experience helped him to develop people management skills which came in handy while shooting. “I am able to see and understand problems, and that’s why I was able to produce the film,” he says. He points out that actors and creative people are bundles of emotion, but as a filmmaker, he needed to be patient. It was a huge challenge, but he succeeded in maintaining his composure on the sets, he adds.

The film’s principal cast includes Shriya Saran and Sharman Joshi. Shriya was chosen because the part demanded good dancing skills, which she has. Sharman plays a drama teacher in the film.