Nagarjuna Akini: My father imagined Annapurna Studio as a space where dreams turn into reality

Inside the expansion Annapurna Studios and its annexe in Hyderabad, film units are busy shooting feature films, television shows and web series in their 12 floors and backlots. Somewhere else, teams are working in post-production, shaping the material for final release. Meanwhile, students of Annapurna College of Film and Media are learning the basic principles of filmmaking. The energy is infallantly dynamic.

Actor-producer Nagarjuna Akini said with a hot smile, “My father had tears in his eyes if he had heard so,” says actor-producer Nagarjuna Akineni.

Nominated in the name of the studio and his wife established by veteran actor-producer Akini Nejseva Rao, he is a symbol of his 50th year. It played an important role in transferring the Telugu film industry from Chennai (then Madras) to Hyderabad. Today, Annapurna Studio has India’s first Dolby Atomos Premier Sound Mixing Facility and a virtual production phase.

Considering his origin, Nagarjuna recalls, “I wonder how my father had imagined all this. It was a rocky area, filled with bushes and snakes. The road ended near KBR Park.” As a teenager, he saw a conversation between his father and elder brother Venkat Akinni as Foundation Stone was held in 1975. The studio opened in 1976 next year.

beginning

SecretaryThe first film was made at Annapurna Studio, produced by D Ramandu and starring Najswar Rao and Vanessi. Nejwara Rao was firm in his belief – the producers who wanted to work with him were to do a film in Hyderabad. Recalling Nagarjuna, he said, “Dad lost many films.”

But gradually, projects started taking shape. “Like movies PremabhishekamWho was shot here, became the major hit. That Bhavna worked in favor of the studio, and helped Cement Hyderabad as a basis for Telugu cinema. ,

In the next decade, D Ramanadu founded the Ramnadu Studio and the late superstar Krishna launched Padmalaya Studio, making a step in Hyderabad of the Telugu film industry.

When Nagarjuna started in the mid -1980s as an actor, many of his early films were still shot in Chennai. ShivaHer first film, produced by Annapurna Studios and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was completely shot in Hyderabad.

Sarpriya Yarlagadda, Executive Director and niece of Nagarjuna, believes that the strength of the studio lies in its “actor-interested approach”. Nejwara Rao was its first recognizable face, followed by Nagarjuna. “A few decades ago, there were studios cultural hubs in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, where actors, writers and producers cooperated. The atmosphere nurtured creativity-this corporate was opposite to today’s corporate, business-first model.”

While many old studios in other cities were closed, Annapurna adapted, in-house became a comprehensive film production destination with post-production features.

Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya Akinni | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Basic facilities were available for dubbing, editing and sound mixing in the early years of the studio. However, advanced post-production capabilities, including digital intermediate (DI) color and mastery, were introduced in 2011 under the supervision of CV Rao, Chief Technology Officer.

Nagarjuna also accepted the precursor labs and Ramnadu studios for post-production infrastructure in Hyderabad, which first needed filmmakers to visit Chennai.

A film school needs

When he saw the development of the studio, Nejseva Rao was eager to address another zero – a lack of formal training for filmmaking candidates. “Dad realized that our films lack quality due to lack of trained professionals,” called Nagarjuna. “Most education was informal, passed by directors or department heads. A proper film school became necessary.”

Nagarjuna played an active role in the establishment of the film school, which was inaugurated in 2011. Many challenges were presented in the early days. “We first approached JNAFAU (Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University), but there was no current course for a film school. So we reached a former dean of Woods International and Faculty from film schools in Los Angeles. I was rejecting to nominate their children.”

Today, the school provides both short and long -term programs. “Students get experience on hands in the studio and quickly feel that the film is much more than only than glamor,” says Nagarjuna.

Supriya Yarlagadda and Amala Akini | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Amla Akini took over the reins of the film school after the death of Nejwara Rao. “We realized that we had very large shoes to fill. My father-in-law had left such zero that we all had to bear different responsibilities to continue our vision,” called Amala.

After joining the film school for eight years, she says, “I think my father -in -law is proud of what we have achieved.” Students, students and alumni of film school made by films, documentaries and web series are displayed at recognized international film festivals that gives an additional credibility to the campus.

Amala revealed that in 600 alumni, more than 200 students have been actively rented in filmmaking and in turn. “Others are employed by major corporate homes to create visual -visual materials for social media platforms.”

The syllabus, she says, is ever developing, for changes in technology and storytelling techniques. “There is a wonderful synergy between the campus and the studio,” says Amala, as she sees cooperation between students, industry and digital platforms.

Increased focus on state-of-the-art audio-visual technology is something for the next generation, especially in actor Naga Chaitanya, eagerly included. He cherishes childhood memories with his grandfather, on a golf cart as Nejasara Rao, he surveyed above the studio floor. Chaitanya also remembers playing cricket on the streets of the studio with his cousins.

Audio-visible precision

Talking about the ANR Sound and Vision Wing in the studio, he says, “What we have in the studio is a dolby atomos premiere feature, not only a dolby-prohibition feature. I am especially about the quality of sound and picture. Earlier, Labs in Mumbai and Chennai were benchmarks for post-production.” We wanted to do better. “

In his formal years, Naga Chaitanya will visit his father’s sets during a hit filming like a hit. Manmadhudu, Mass And Very goodIt was only when he went to Los Angeles to train as an actor that the uniqueness of Annapurna Studio actually killed him. “I felt proud of our studio; today, anyone can walk with a script and get out with a ready film,” he reflects.

Nagarjuna, Amala and Chaitanya agree that further challenge lies in keeping pace with rapidly developing technology. “I think films will be shot fast on the studio floor, as the filmmakers now make the whole world for their stories,” said Chaitanya.

Father and son are aligned at the next step for Annapurna Studios: to be a service provider beyond being a service provider and start producing more materials in various forms. “We are currently interacting with a digital platform to create a series of 100 episodes, each one and a half minutes long, vertically shot,” Nagarjuna revealed.

In farewell, he remembers a moment with his father. “When we were facing failures during the establishment of the film school, Amala asked my father why he took such an initiative and expected to achieve what he was expected to.