‘I learnt my lesson, when will they?’

Like her firebrand father and actor Mohan Babu, actor-producer Lakshmi Manchu does not mince her words. “We need a system to streamline the working patterns of distributors since they are unable to judge between good and bad films and blindly chase big names,” says the producer who finds distributors’ fascination for stardriven movies amusing.

“Even after burning their hands by procuring star films for unheard-of prices, few distributors would prefer to wait and lose money on another big film than investing in a sensible film,” she says, adding that, like in Hollywood or Bollywood, T-town distributors should bet on story-driven films.

“It’s the content that determines the success of both big and small films. So-called star films are falling like nine pins at the box office due to poor content while content-driven films are working wonders. But distributors are still not mending their ways and are ignoring the ground realities,” she observes.

Lakshmi has spent more than `12 crore on her film revolving around the 1986 flood. “It’s true that we went over-budget a bit since it’s a Telugu-Tamil bilingual. While making the film, I learnt the lesson that I should strike a balance between ‘creativity and business’ and not be consumed by passion alone.”

But isn’t her film a bit off-beat? “Are you kidding?” she shoots back, “It’s a perfect commercial entertainer. I want to reach out to lakhs of viewers and not just a niche group. Actually I hate making off-beat and boring films.”

About pushing back her film Gundelo Godari’s release a few times, she says, “I was waiting for the perfect timing. After taking into account the exam timings, cooler climate and a good set of theatres, I found March 8 to be perfect. Many advised me to release the film ASAP since the interest on the investment was soaring, but if one loses the investment itself because of releasing the film in a hurry after toiling for 18 months, it would be more foolish.”

After Oo Kodathara…, Lakshmi is once again testing K-town waters with the film. “A big production will handle its release in Tamil Nadu on March 23 and I hope to strike a chord this time,” she adds.