Films don't happen overnight, it's a huge process, says Nandini Reddy

Anni Manchi Sakunamule (all good signs) is an upcoming family drama by Nandini Reddy. But contrary to the title, the director has been facing issues at every level ever since she began writing it five year ago.

When she first pitched the idea to producer Swapna Dutt she instantly liked it and asked the director to develop it. “At the same time I got another film offer Oh! Baby, starring Samantha. Since it was a time-bound project and had to be made on priority, I had requested Swapna that I complete that first. She too agreed and encouraged me to go ahead,” recalls Nandini.

After Oh! Baby was a super hit, Nandini Reddy came back to the writing table to resume work on Anni Manchi Sakunamule. “This time unfortunately the pandemic played the spoilsport,” she laments, adding that work came to a complete standstill.

However, she adds that the lockdown time was helpful to tighten the loose ends of the script. “It was at that time I had also shifted my house to the city outskirts. I was at more peace and there was a sense of calmness and purpose to what I do,” she said, adding that relocation of the house had a calming effect.

While every industry was slowly opening up post lockdown, unfortunately for the film industry nothing kicked off. “We were supposed to shoot in Kunnur (Coonoor) but those places hadn’t opened up back then,” Nandini says, adding that they were also supposed to shoot in Europe as well. “But we had problems in obtaining visas for the crew and later getting permissions.”

The issues she’s experienced so far are quite contradictory to the title, isn’t it? “She smiles and says, “But I will have the last laugh,” referring to the film being a success at the box office.

Anni Manchi Sakunamule is about the drama that unfolds between two families who have been rivals since generations. The film is set in a fictional city Victoriapuram because the coffee from the city went to Queen Victoria’s notice.

“Coffee is not just the story backdrop but a character in the film,” she says.

For someone who never drank coffee, it’s really an unusual proposition to write a story with coffee as a central character. Likewise, she is still single, but manages to write beautiful romantic films.

Put that to her and she replies, “It’s just the ideas; I just go with the flow.”

Nandini made her directorial debut with Ala Modalaindi (2011). In her 12 years of journey, she only made five films. She says that she should have put more effort into finding writers who she can collaborate with. “I couldn’t find writers who match my wavelength. Just like how director Sukumar sir was able to find writers and nurture them. I think somewhere I felt I did not have the skillet to find writers and employ them,” she smiles, saying that she partly blames herself.
In her eventful journey, the one question Nandini hates being asked is, ‘What next’?

“People need to understand that I am either making films or trying to make one. Films don’t happen overnight, there’s a huge process that involves multiple people, and it takes a lot of time and effort,” she shares.