Y.Sunita Chowdhary
A character that set the right chords and grabbed eyeballs in Middle Class Melodies was that of the father to the heroine played by Prem Sagar. Prem Sagar is not a newcomer, all the movie buffs will recognize him as a yesteryear hero and character actor. He is from Kuchipudi near Nimmakuru in Vijayawada and took to acting when he was in the intermediate. He shares, “My father is a Second World War participant, got a medal. He also got a job at the Imperial Bank of India before independence. It was quite a notable aspect that we belonged to an agriculturist’s family and rose to a level of working at the bank. My brother too was in the military. After M.com, I too went but my mother wanted me back. So I returned and did law, practised at the Madras High Court. I played a hero in Kodi Ramakrishna’s film with Ashwini as my co-actor. While practising in Madras High Court, I portrayed diverse characters in at least 16 films.
Krishna, Shoban Babu and the rest of the actors encouraged me. I was a regular character in Krishna’s films but was forced to return as parents passed away. I was a government pleader during NTR, CBN and also YSR’s tenure as CM. I was using my time constructively and would write, act in dramas. I was a hero, side hero and had I continued I would have been a big artist. I quit cinema during ‘Prema Yuddham’.”How did I bag the role in MCM? “A director who is an acquaintance was working as an assistant director of Middle Class Melodies. For around six important characters, 565 people were auditioned. They were in a dilemma, they didn’t know if they had to take me as a hero’s father or the heroine’s father. I do a lot of homework and portray my character. My earlier role was in Paper Boy produced by Sampat Nandi. About my role, I was briefed by the director that father and daughter don’t talk and they don’t get along and that there is a reason for that. He sees his daughter embracing someone, also his intention is to get a good alliance for her. What is not shown in the film is the relationship that both families share. The director said some boy hugs the girl but the father doesn’t get to see the boy clearly.
So when he meets the hero, he expects money and talks to him normally as anyone would; he doesn’t know that he is the same boy who hugged his daughter which is why he isn’t angry. Sadly, the relationship between the hero’s mother and heroine’s father is also not established. Anand’s mom and I never speak. There is hardly one dialogue at the registrar office. Many those who saw the film said the particular part wasn’t established well.”About his role, he further says, “His idea wants to get a good alliance for the daughter. Avasaram ayinappudu loukyam pradarsisthadu and when not needed he is a short tempered man. My scenes were not established properly and I felt there was more scope for the character to add value and some sentimental scenes revolving my character would have worked. My next release is Ooriki Uttharaana in which I play the heroine’s father.
Ooriki Uttharaana is a graveyard, it is about honour killing. I spend my time constructively, I have my Youtube channel, I never laze around and always active.” Prem Sagar says that he saw the film with his wife and son and they all are happy. His son’s friends saw the movie first and gave him the first compliments. Apparently, another character artist Goparaju Ramana is his friend and they have known each other for a long time. It was quite easy for him to speak the Guntur dialect, as he is from Krishna district. Settled expressions Nellore artiste. He signs off, “ANR,NTR and Sobhan Babu,SVR etc are all from Krishna district. Lot of films have been shot here but K Vishwanath and Bapu took Telugu cinema on a boat to Rajahmundry. About my roles, if I like a character I don’t bother about money. Many people called after watching MCM and were questioning where I was all these years?”
