More often than not, producers aren’t the ones to talk at length about their work in public, choosing to take calls behind the scenes like a puppeteer. Nor do they take pride in their creativity or a distinct personal sense of ownership in the films they make. Swapna and Priyanka Dutt, daughters of veteran producer Chalasani Aswini Dutt and visionaries in their own right, are the proverbial exception to the norm on many fronts. Breaking the stereotype (and often true) of producers as old men whose job mostly involves greenlighting scripts and approving budgets, the sister duo have created a successful brand with their films across genres, be it a biopic set in the golden age of the South Indian cinema (Mahanati), a lazy comedy with satirical undertones (Jathiratnalu) and rather, a picturesque ode to old-school love and masculine values (Sita Ram). Before the release of Annie Manchi Sakunamule, a family entertainer that, in Swapna’s words, “will make one feel warm the way one feels when visiting one’s grandmother on vacation,” the Dutts opened up on a number of questions about their upcoming film and their larger philosophy towards film production.
Working together for more than a decade must have brought their own set of interpersonal challenges to the fore. When asked what kind of conflicts they might have, Swapna laughs and says, “We had a big fight about the first film we worked on together. We then decided to divide the work between departments and check each other when in doubt. That kind of ecosystem that we built together kept us in good stead.”However Annie Manchi Sakunamule is the first collaboration between director Nandini Reddy and Vyjayanthi Films, Swapna Dutt and Nandini Reddy are way back. Swapna also mentions that Nandini has been involved with the production house, writing marketing campaigns for her Mahanati. Expanding on the ecosystem metaphor, Swapna continues, “We are also building an ecosystem by bringing together talent across all fields. We must not only work together, but also support each other. That’s how we can make good cinema.”
Swapna goes on to speak highly of Nandini’s skills as a director. “Her sensibility is somewhere between old school and new age. She’s very sure of the stories she wants to tell and doesn’t fumble around with them. But Modalaindi is a modern film, Kalyana Vaibhogame is a movie about a married couple and Oh – Honey is a conceptually oriented function. Annie Manchi Sakanamule is about two families coming together. Contrary to popular belief, her films have their own style and flavor.”
The production duo is equally enthusiastic while talking about Annie Manchi Sakanamulelead actor Santosh Shoban. Swapna credits Priyanka for championing the actor’s talent and potential for a long time. “Santosh Shoban is such a good actor, a rare find. Reminds me of Nani. This film will change things for him and people will love him once the film hits the screens,” assures Swapna.
Often known for their hands-on approach to casting, elevating a film through a series of interesting cameos is a modus operandi for Swapna and Priyanka Dutt. “We’re personally fascinated by the casting process, it’s something we all weigh together and even accept our father’s help if we want to have someone legendary on board.” Annie Manchi Sakanamule grabbed everyone’s attention with its cast which is a mix of familiar faces (Rajendra Prasad, Rao Ramesh, Vennela Kishore) and new faces (Ramya Subramanian, Ashwin Kumar Lakshmikanthan) along with a few notable comebacks (Gauthami, Sowcar Janaki). Refuting questions about casting actors from other countries to make the film more appealing to the audience in different languages, Priyanka says, “We only cast the actors based on the best requirement for that role, that’s all.”
Anni Manchi Sakanumule is set in a fictional hill station on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu called Victoriapuram and the film was shot in Coorg over a period of 80 days. Talking about the importance of setting the story in such a specific location, Swapna says, “It’s a very expensive move to take a huge crew and shoot at a faraway location. But it gives the film a certain X factor when we go the extra mile. The look and feel of the film will also be much better.” Priyanka continues, “Also, we used to spend a lot of time in Coonoor as kids, accompanying our father on shoots. We were kind of hoping to shoot a film in an idyllic hill country and thanks to Nandini, we got to live that dream.”
Priyanka and Swapna are ably supported by director Nag Ashwin, who is also Priyanka’s husband. “I didn’t believe in Jathiratnalu as much as Nagi and Priyanka did. On the other hand, I believed much more in Sita Ram. We were all unanimous in our belief about Mahanati, we actually treated this film as a responsibility,” says Swapna, who credits her sister Sravanti and their mother for their achievements. “They ensure smooth sailing on the home front, taking care of our children while we work.”
The road to their success is full of challenges. Risks that paid off in the end, but risks nonetheless. “Every step of shooting Sita Ramam was filled with doubts and hurdles. We let go Jathiratnalu in theaters during the pandemic despite a great OTT offer. Nagy rejected the deal, telling us that we are young and can always make money later, even if the film flops in theaters. But you can’t make films with such bills and questions. Where there are bills, there is no cinema. Our father also did not believe in working with such concerns. We are into filmmaking, which is primarily an aspiration,” says Swapna. “If we like the script and if we have an impulse to tell it to others, then we do it, following our intuition. This is where the buck stops,” adds Priyanka.
While they are silent about the continued development of Project K, the sci-fi adventure drama that their banner brings next, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan, the producers have revealed a little about the plans for 2024, which marks 50 years of Vyjayanthi Films. “Something exciting is brewing. All I can tell you is that it will be something filled with trivia and nostalgia that we will all enjoy,” signs off Swapna.