An interview with Mr. Murali Mohan,
Telugu Film Star and Honorary President of the Telugu Movie Artists Association

Q. What do you feel about the present status of Telugu films, i.e. the quality of the movies made today and 20 years back?
A. Definitely, there has been a lot of change in the industry as a whole. The process of movie making has seen a paradigm shift. More technology is being used and more money is being pumped in. and there have been a lot of other changes as well. In the process, the look and feel of the Telugu Cinema has changed.

Q. So, do you say that the presentation of a movie has changed, but the layout of the movie still remains the same?
A. Not only the presentation, the ingredients of a movie has also changed. There have been a lot of cosmetic changes in Telugu films. I should say these changes have come keeping in pace with time and also adapting according to the changes in the society.

Q. But, don’t you think that this new look and change has given a way for elements like sex, vulgar comedy and violence into films?
A. The society has seen a lot of change in the past 20 to 30 years, considering these very terms. The vulgarity in our society was not the same 20 years back, or say the violence and so also the same case with sex. In those days if anyone kissed a girl, that was a big crime, now a days its common and we have started to accept it as a part of our day to day life. The same has been going on in other language movies and we had no choice, but to adopt it.

Q. So, are you saying that movies are a reflection of the present day society?
A.To an extent, yes. People always want to watch what they like, and what is happening around them and so are the movies made. Be it the Rayalaseema issue or the Naxalite problem in Telangana or any love story, most of the movies which are made are based on these issues and they reflect the actual present day situation and happenings in these areas.

Q. According to you, what are the ingredients of a perfect / good movie, both at the box office and for the critics?
A. The Telugu audience is entirely different from that of other states. In a single movie they look for all kinds of attributes - they want sentiment, comedy, suspense, romance, drama, fight sequence... literally everything. And in order to satisfy the audience the producers are compelled to make such movies and in the process as you said, the overall quality of the movie gets tampered. But according to me a good movie is the one, which is made according to the choice of the audience, and a one, which has a mass appeal.

Q. How do you feel after your shift to the small screen i.e. to the Television?
A. I can proudly say that, I am the first actor from the Telugu film industry who has moved from the big screen to the small screen. Television is one media which has more reach, when compared to films. One gets more audience to judge his / her performance in this media. There is not much change - it’s the same acting here as well.

Q. Do you feel that the Television is posing a threat to the film industry, does cinema face the threat of becoming extinct?
A. Not actually, but definitely the satellite television has pulled to itself a major chunk of the viewers. Television now has become more like a household source of entertainment and is useful in other aspects of life as well. But I do not foresee it to be a threat to the Cinema. The silver screen had always its own audience and will have its share. But definitely, the share may increase or decrease.

Q. You also served as the Director of the Film Development Corporation and President of Movie Actors Association. What major steps have you taken to improve the stature of Cinema in Andhra Pradesh?
A. One major factor which helped the industry here in Andhra Pradesh is the encouragement given by the government for the movies made in the state. Earlier, the Telugu film industry was in Madras (now Chennai). The industry shift to Hyderabad has given more opportunities to localites.

Q. What do you have to say about the movies being dubbed into Telugu from other languages, especially from Tamil?
A. Personally I am dead against dubbed movies and I do not encourage this concept for various reasons. A movie made in Tamil or Malayalam reflects their culture and traditions, which are totally different from ours. And when they are dubbed into other languages it reflects a totally absurd meaning and gives a wrong picture altogether. Some states like Karnataka have a policy where, dubbed movies are not allowed and I feel that even our government should have such a policy too.

Q. Getting into movies and making a career out of it... was it something which you strived for, or it just happened?
A. No, Cinema was not my goal or ambition. I used to take part in dramas in my younger days and people spotted the talent in me and slowly I moved into films. Acting is not something which came to me by birth. I improved on it in the course of my career.

Q. Do you have any plans to get into direction?
A. A director has to take care of all aspects of a Cinema. Even the smallest of the concern has to be handled by him efficiently and this calls for a lot of time and other skills. The schedule that I have leaves me no time for all these and hence I and am not even planning to get into direction.

Q. Have you set any goals for you?
A. Nothing really, all my children are grown up and they are settled in their lives. I am into the Real Estate business and other activities. I like to take things as they come.