Director KV Anudeep interview: Humour is my constant source of dopamine

In Funky, Vishwak Sen plays a director and the promos hint at one-liners reflecting the ways of the Telugu film industry. Anudeep says some jokes are inspired by the industry and hastens to add that even those who are not attuned to the film industry happenings will be entertained. 

Developing the script with his co-writer Mohan Sato, Anudeep says once there was a blueprint, they improvised the dialogues on set. “I spent just a few weeks on pre-production. Cinematographer Suresh Sarangam took on the responsibility of location recce and visual aesthetics. I also delegated administrative tasks to one of my second unit co-directors so that I could finetune the scenes till the last minute.”

He looks at writing as a collaborative process and is open to feedback to gauge if the comedy is on point. 

So far, Anudeep’s writing has drawn from real-life observations. “Growing up in a small town (Narayankhed in Telangana), I would observe people’s mannerisms and body language and it helped my writing. I regret not being able to move easily in crowds nowadays. One of the stories I have in the works is set against the backdrop of a wedding in a middle class family. I would love to spend a week at one such wedding and study people closely.”

A chunk of the humour in Jathi Ratnalu was an extension of his small-town sensibilities. “The comedy might have been absurd, but I set it in a realistic zone. That helped the audience relate to the characters and stay invested in their journeys.”

While he loves to be among people and observe them for his writing, Anudeep reveals that on the personal front, he prefers his own company. “I enjoy my own company. I have ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and either lose track of what people say or respond quickly with one-liners. This made me realise that it might be tough to be in a long-term relationship and have decided not to get married.”

Kayadu Lohar and Vishwak Sen
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Comedy, he says, became his outlet. “Humour is my constant source of dopamine.”

The decision to remain single also helped Anudeep weather the decade-long uncertainty between his hit short film, Missed Call, and feature film debut, Jathi Ratnalu.

As a struggler in Krishna Nagar, the hub for film aspirants in Hyderabad, Anudeep says he did not worry about survival. “If not a director, I would have worked as a lightman or a junior artiste to make ends meet. Being on my own also helps my art.”

Recently, Anudeep has been watching YouTube videos pertaining to neuro science and says it helps him understand the human psyche. As an afterthought, he adds that he is writing a book pertaining to mental health. “The book should be out in a few months in both English and Telugu. It will be free for anyone to read online.” 

As a parting shot, he says, “From my next film, I hope to narrate stories that will leave the audience with an uplifting thought. I cannot randomly write a story to suit a hero. I liked what Taslima Nasrin once said about not writing because we want to, but writing because we have to. A story has to be compelling enough.”