‘Gudu Gudu Gunjam' puts a question on conventional relationships

After completing a major schedule in Bangkok, the unit of Sri Chitra helmed by writer-composer-director Veeru K and producer V. Ravikumar Reddy returned to Hyderabad to film the climax part for their ambitious project, Gudu Gudu Gunjam. Rajendra Prasad, shedding his comedy hero image that he had so successfully carried for over two decades, is turning to mature roles. After giving outstanding performances in Aa Naluguru and Mee Sreyobhilashi, he is playing a middle-aged protagonist one more time in Veeru's film. The director planned the final schedule at Ramoji Film City and in a specially created set (art director: Babji) with all the lead actors — Rajendra Prasad, Sitara, Kasturi, debutant Parthu (brother of actor Navdeep) and Chahat, the Mumbai model-turned-actress making her entry into Telugu films. Also on the location are M.S. Narayana, Krishna Bhagwan, Telengana Sakunthala and a host of other actors. It is the climax portions that the director is shooting. Once the camera (cinematographer: Madhu K. Naidu) rolled, the atmosphere turned serious despite the presence of most actors known for dishing out light-hearted entertainment. The plot thickens The director explained that it is the story of a 40-plus man, living happily with his wife and son. And then the unusual happens in his life. "The climax deals with this piquant situation. His son falls in love with a girl. The doting parents go to the girl's house to seek her hand for their son. The girl has an aunt, a spinster. She is attracted by this middle-aged man and puts a condition that her niece would marry the boy provided his father agrees to marry her." All the characters give a stunned look for the camera. Some like M.S. evoke laughter even in their surprised look, naturally. Sitara plays the wife and Kasturi the girl's aunt who is demanding that the boy's father marry her first. Parthu who plays the son of Rajendra Prasad and Sitara and Chahat his lady love are baffled by this turn of events. While the man (Rajendra Prasad) looks helpless and perplexed, it is left for his wife (Sitara) to take a decision, whether to agree to invite another woman into her husband's life so that her son can marry his lover or to simply refuse. In that case her son will not get the girl he wants." The director left the scene at that point for the day and called 'pack up' while you wonder what decision Sitara will take. "We will shoot the climax portions for a week starting today," Veeru says. "It is a first-of-its-kind story," adds his associate Venkat. By the way, Suman plays a key role too. Fifty per cent of the story takes place in Bangkok. "The scenes involving Brahmanandam and Parthu shot in various locations in the Thai capital are rib ticklers." The director, who also composed the music, shot three of the nine songs in the Thai capital. "It is a musical family entertainer with loads of fun. Rajendra Prasad besides enacting the role of a loyal husband contributes to humour at his best," opines Veeru K before concluding the conversation. The producers are planning the audio release on December 25 and the film is slated for Sankranti release.