Getting Suni'timental!

Doodling or scribbling was not what Sunil Kumar did when he was a child. Instead, he wrote poems. Sunil Fondly called Simple Suni, ever since Simple Agi Ondh Love Story’s success, has produced one of the finest films in recent times — Ulidavaru Kandanthe, and then experimented with Bahuparak. At the peak of his career, he speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle on coming back with yet another simple journey and much more.

“I had actually written the script for Simpallag Innondh Love Story (SILS) prior to Simple Agi Ondh Love Story (SOLS). However, I realised that it required a bigger budget as it needed to be shot in various real locations, I took up SOLS. After SOLS, I directed Bahuparak as an experiment with a message but the audience in turn, taught me a lesson with a clear message — to get back to what I am actually good at —  simple romantic stories with good comedy, catchy dialogues with soothing music. This time, the plot changes with a journey,” says Suni.

Suni explains that though he had a fixed budget in mind, it was producer Ashu Bedra, who helped him capture scenes in good locations that made the visual quality an added feature. “We chose a different cast this time as the story remains simple with similar characterisation, and hence Praveen, who has a good theatre connect and work experience on TV came on board. On Meghana Gaonkar, I had actually approached her for SOLS, Rakshit Shetty and I had given her the script but due to some date clashes, she could not do the first venture,” he says.

Prior to college, Suni had barely watched any movies and his dream was to become a lyricist and that is what brought him into the film industry. “No one from my family has any film connection, infact, they would scold me about my love for films. However, I would simply write poems on any paper I got, notebooks included! When I finally came to know that it is the director who holds command over a film. I waited for an opportunity to gain experience and started working as an associate and assistant director to veteran cinematographer and director Dinesh Baboo Sir. I still fear him as he is such a disciplined person who knows everything about film making and is also a legendary cinematographer. I was also known to be a bit lazy, which is why Baboo Sir, who saw my first film, was amazed at my work,” Suni recollects.

But getting back to the “simple” series, Suni explains, “To be frank, we had titled the film Khush Khushi but then we decided on SOLS. Insofar as SILS is concerned, it starts with a simple story for 20 minutes and then takes on a nice journey. We want to take the audience along this journey.”

The talented writer recalls that the idea came to him during one of his travels, and also the romantic element was an emotion which he could never let the ‘other’ person know, made for a simple story. “It was a memorable journey for the entire team. We would stop on highways for chai, and irrespective of work, everyone would chip in, be it carrying huge equipments or other filming accessories. I was so excited shooting on beaches,” smiles Suni.
He has another huge film lined up — Manamohaka starring Century Star Shivarajkumar in the lead. SILS releases this Friday.