Manjula Declines to Grade Nandi Award Jury as Qualified

The summit or peak of any mountain accommodates only one. Similar is the rule for the top position holders in any walk of life. However, the support and cheer extended by the delta below the summit is what counts for the persons who reached the height.

A strange thing will be noticed in those personalities who reach the peak or ace position in any arena. That is, they pronounce something or the other to throw light on the dark sides of the profession that goes sensational. Here is one celebrity who had reached a height that cannot be scaled so easily by any common woman of the society, in which we are living in. She produced many serials for the small screen of Doordarshan, the government run television organisation. Her effort was rewarded with Nandi Awards from the state government. In addition to that, she also calls the current trend in the tele-serials as too dangerous.

Now, a time has come when Manjula Naidu, renowned producer and director of tele-films declines to grade the Nandi Award Jury members as qualified to sit there. She of course has her own reason to state so. After being awarded with the Nandi Award for some of the popular television serials, why does she say so? What went wrong and where?

Let us take a first opinion from the Lioness’s mouth through this interview HamaraShehar.com did with Manjula Naidu.

Q: What pulled your strings of inclination towards entering into television and tele-serials arena?

A: During my studentship days itself I was interested in performing arts, especially acting. I shared the stage in college. Later, I was married to Pallamala Sudhakar. As he was associated with Doordarshan, I synchronised my ideologies with that of him and joined the tele-films field after the marriage.

Q: When did you take the charge of director’s chair?

A: I directly took off with production and direction in 1990. A 26-episode serial titled “Aagamanam” was made as the first attempt. That serial clicked and it was my maiden attempt’s victory.

Q: What followed Aagamanam?

A: Right from the beginning I was doing with own banners Srikanth Productions and Shashanka U-Matics. After Aagamanam (26 episodes), I have produced and directed Vande Matharam (39 episodes), Swathi Chinukulu (13 episodes), Kasthuri (345 episodes), and Ruthu Raagaalu (585 episodes). My banners Srikanth Productions and Shashanka U-Matics were received well by audiences at large through Doordarshan. Aatmeeyulu and Kaala Chairman are on hand currently. Both are serials that are being aired.

Q: How about the awards and rewards to your serials?

A: Swathi Chinukulu (1994) was adjudged as the Best Serial, Wildlife of India (1993) received Best Children’s Award, and Aagamanam (1990) was given Golden Nandi Award by the Andhra Pradesh Government. Best performances Awards were given to the roles of heroine, character actress, dialogue writer of Aagamanam. Sarathbabu, who played a vital character in Aagamanam, was given the Special Jury Award in the Nandi Awards criterion.

Q: What opinion do you carry on the current trend of tele-serials those are being aired?

A: I personally feel that the current tend in the tele-serials is going too dangerous. I am in fact scared about the spoiling system. There are no values existing anymore in the field. Even technical values too, for that matter. I carry a feeling that the field is marching towards a fatal turn.

The current generation directors are unable to move the viewers. It is established that the television medium has a great impact on the audiences. However, I am sorry to state that the quality of life presented in the present serials is taking a big “U” turn. No ethics and no morality.

Q: Youth and small budget films for the big screen are being received well these days. What is your comment on this?

A: Speaking frankly, these youth and small budget films are giving a big relief to the spectators. If we take a look at the heavy budgeted stardom filled movies, what is there in it? Violence, vendetta, and nothing more. That is the reason why these are being received. Of course, this is a sudden change in the viewers’ psychology.

Q: What is the foundation for your successive success as a woman director-producer?

A: Simple. I do with total commitment, whatever I take up. Above this I will not take up any job until unless I am totally convinced about.

Q: The storyline of your serials will always be unique from one to another. How do you select a plot and plan the story?

A: Before getting onto the storyline, first I will look at the basic plot of the story. I prefer the sequences to be laced around the routine happenings around us in the society. At the same time a care is taken about checking the repetition of the subject. I never present any woman character in my serial that is in sobs all through the length of the serial. All my serials will have more tint of heroine-oriented ness. Eventually, all the heroines in my serials will project or claim solution to one problem every time.

Q: What are your near future plans?

A: There are many, many. First will be to bring out more and more serials through our own banners; producing a movie for the big screen is also on the cards.

Q: The roles and their characters of your serial are taken by the audiences to be too close to reality. How do you go about them?

A: First things to count are all the roles in the serial will be taken from the characters in the society. Secondly, as they are selected from the natural behaviour of the society, they definitely look more close to reality.

Q: Srikanth Productions is having its own record of reputation in the industry. Industry talks that your employees move as one family. What is behind the success of the banner?

A: There is no distinction primarily among us that one is a boss and others are employees. Everyone contributes his or her best to lead the banner to success. We all are good friends united under the banner. This is the only foundation for our success.

Q: The present serial on the air, Aathmeeyulu is gluing more and more viewers to the idiot box. How did you select the plot for the serial?

A: As I told you earlier, I take both the plot and the storyline from the happenings around us. Well, the foundation point for Aathmeeyulu is one among them. Once I noticed a woman taking care of four or five orphans dwelling on the footpaths around a Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in the city. This suddenly stuck me to be a great point to project to live in harmony though they are hailing from different and varied locations.

Q: Why are the state tele-serials unable to match to the national level standards? What is the shortfall?

A: Yes! I do agree! We cannot expect to meet the national standards in the near future. This is due to the dangerous trend prevailing in the industry, and as such the overall scenario is also bad. A serial should portray at least some basic humanitarian values. The producers and directors should keep this in mind and bring out as many as possible.

There is a bad tradition prevailing since long in the industry. A woman character is presented in only three slots (roles). First as a Goddess, second as a slave and third as a loose natured one. With these characters they are framing women roles to ever sob flowing characters. There is no change in the scenario. May be, those men in the producer, writer and director’s chairs cannot think beyond this or feel a woman should be like that.

Q: Viewers express a view that recently presented Nandi Awards were against the spectators’ response to the tele-serials. Even the long awaited Ruthu Raagalu and Kasthuri did not figure in the list. What is your reaction over this?

A: First I could not comprehend what was going on. Later, I regretted for applying to the awards on behalf of my serials. I am not interested in knowing who were on the panel or jury. Even today I digest the fact that a serial that stretches to 540 episodes was judged unfit for the award on viewing just 13 episodes.

The judgement should have been done by those people who can understands what the production was about, what is the story line and what is the popularity of the serial in the audiences? Who are the members in the jury this time? Do they really know basics about tele-serials? If they knew these things, none needs to tell them about my work. If they do not know, are they qualified to sit in the panel? Oh!…God!…

There is no meaning in expecting a right verdict from the people, who do not have any knowledge about the industry and its products. This is all nonsense. Even a rickshaw puller can explain my narration style, popularity of my serials.

There is no fault with the beauty of the flower that blossom, if it is not recognised. The fault lies with the eyes that cannot identify and praise the beauty. The recent schedule of selecting serials and presenting the Nandi Awards had given me a feeling that it would not suffice if millions of viewers appreciate my production. If a team of 10 unknown people appreciate it is easy to qualify for the Award. I strongly believed that there are no members in the jury, who can give out a correct judgement.

From now onwards, I have decided sternly not to apply or nominate my serial for the Nandi Awards. It all seems like a stage drama or a parse.

Q: Do you wish to extend any advice or guidance to direction enthusiasts?

A: Society is more influenced by media. Therefore, all those who wish to enter this industry should behave with more and more moral responsibility. Before making our roles speak something, they should think several times what are we conveying through those words. This is needed, as every dialogue of each role is having its own impact on the viewer. There is a threat that one or some of the spectators may or might behave in a similar fashion. Direction enthusiasts should first make their minds intact, taking note of the medium’s effect on the society and only if they believe that they can fulfil the responsibility for the general welfare, they should enter.

Manjula Naidu’s Profile

Name: Manjula Naidu
Educational qualifications: B.Com., I.C.W.A. (Inter), P.G.D.C.A.
Age: 39 years
Languages known: English, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam
Family:
Husband: Sudhakar Pallamala
Sons: Shashank and Srikanth
Professional:
Position held: Managing Director from 1989 to 1999 for Srikanth Productions P Ltd and Shashank U-Matics
Others: Produced and directed a series of tele serials like Ruthu Raagalu, Kasthuri, Aathmeeyulu, Kaala Chakram, Swathi Chinukulu, Vande Maatharam, Aagamanam and so on…
Awards and Rewards: 1990 – Golden Nandi – Aagamanam
1991 – Golden Nandi – Vande Maatharam
1992 - Golden Nandi – Aagamanam (Extension Episodes)
1992 - Golden Nandi - Thimiraantham
1993 – Golden Nandi – Aagamanam (Extension Episodes)
1993 – Golden Nandi – Wildlife of India
1994 – Nandi Award – Swathi Chinukulu

In addition to the Government of Andhra Pradesh Nandi Awards many awards and rewards showered on Manjula for her excellence in production and direction. Among them are, Kinnera Green City Award, Vamshi-Barkeley Award, Small Screen Award, Yuva Kala Vaahini Award, and Peerless Award.

Contact Info

Manjula Naidu
8-3-224/11/C/2,
Yousufguda, HYDERABAD – 500 038.