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Originally posted on passionforcinema.com

Had an opportunity to talk to Kamal Kamaraju, the lead actor of Confessions of a Filmmaker. As promised i will be bringing in news about the movie. While the Trailers, Music videos, etc are on the way…how about having a one-on-one with the actor himself. Right, Kamal will be here to answer all your queries. You can visit passionforcinema.com
leave a comment on the article and he will be able to answer you

Having said that, i had a conversation with the man himself over the phone, and what a conversation it was. Kamal was off the hook. A pucca hyderabadi…..as Nagesh Kukunoor says in Hyderabad Blues ” once a hyderabadi always a hyderabadi”….Their a peculiar way Hyderabadis pronounce ” Cafe” and nah its not Ca-fey as is the usual norm, we pronounce it ” k-ef”….hadn’t heard that for a long time…..Kamal brought me back those memories…thanks for that Kamal.

Kamal is an Architect, Painter, Artist, Actor, Story-writer and has also worked an associate arts director for one of the leading and extremely talented director Yeleti Chandrasekhar who has made amazing movies like Aithe ( 2003), Anukokunda okka Roju ( 2005) and Okkadunnadu( 2007). Kamal has also acted in movies like Godavari ( my fav. director Sekhar Kammula), Chatrapati and is also the writer for a short film called ” I am Famous” which recently got nominated for Melbourne Film Festival. So, the first question you ask ” Why take such a risk with Confessions Of a Filmmaker”

Over to Kamal

About Confessions of a Filmmaker

Its a story about this Assistant director who has been in the Telugu film Industry for 10 years and has seen it all and been there. He is absolutely unhappy about the pathetic state it is in. The nepotism, the castism, the vulgarity, the gore, the dearth of ideas, the hero worship…he has seen it all….cant take it anymore….decides to take his life. But, before that he wants to shoot, edit and showcase his last ten days of his life with the help of his friend ( played by Anish)….The idea is to shoot in a very very amateurish way….in the process he tells about the industry what everyone talks about in private but never have the balls to come out in open and say.

Anish kuruvilla once called him to “cafe” to narrate the story of this movie which he wanted to make and Kamal thought it would be big budget project. He couldnt react when Anish narrated the script. But seeing the passion with which Anish was narrating and the zeal in his eyes to make this happen made him support and act in Confessions of a Filmmaker. The script was something which has never been touched, as original as one can get.

Where you afraid of repercussions?

Not at all, came a pat reply.

why?

Why should i be? I had not come into the industry with the backing of any big-wigs
I know that i can make the movies i want to….i know i can act in the movies i want to…i am not dependent on anyone…so why should i be scared of the backlash?

Shooting of Confessions of a Filmmaker

The cast of the movie basically is of 3 people. Kamal, Anish and the Editor Praveen Boyina. They shot the entire movie in 29 days. It was really difficult to shoot on the roads of Hyderabad, what with all the traffic and Kamal having long dialogs…Kamal had to remember the dialogs of the other person as well, because of the traffic noise he couldn’t hear what the other actor was speaking. In all it was a pleasure working for the movie and they had a blast.

When he first met Anish for the role, Kamal had been pumping iron, so when Anish saw him he was like ” Dude..you do not look like an Assistant Director…”. Kamal had to shed a lot of weight, get a scruffy look…in fact he went to the order of not taking a bath for 3 weeks…..

From an Architect to an Actor

He is still very much involved with his Architecture, Loves it and is passionate about it. In fact he has done the landscaping of a new hotel on Necklace Road, Hyderabad called ” Moksha”….He did this in between his two movie projects. Coming from a very middle class family, he had to take up menial jobs in between. Their was a time when he went on a project and asked the producer to just pay him enough money so he can cover his cell phone bills…awww….

A secret that Kamal didn’t tell me…but…hehe…he has sketched some awesome paintings after he finished working on ” Godavari”….its sort of a tribute to the movie.

What does future hold?

While working with Yeleti Chandrasekhar, Kamal came in contact with his assistant, Hunumanth….whom he has really high regards to….and believes Hanumanth will be a boon to the Film Industry….Currently he has worked with him to make a short film titled ” I am Famous” … and the movie has recently been selected for The Melbourne Film Festival. After that, he has a few very exciting projects in pipeline.

Sekhar Kammula

Ahhh…i couldn’t resist asking him this. Kamal regards Sekhar along with Yeleti as the two most prominent and talented directors in the Telugu Film Industry….they do not budge to the outside pressure…know exactly what they want…and stick to their sensibilities….

The best news is. As i had the pleasure of talking to Kamal Kamaraju, i thought i didn’t want to be the only person taking it all….so asked Kamal if all of you can have a chance to talk to him directly…and he AGREED

So, all you guys on here….you can have a one-on-one with Kamal Kamaraju, the lead actor of Confessions of a Filmmaker…right here….
pfc Kamal will read all your comments, questions, queries and answer to you exclusively….so Shoot!!!!!!