Sandhya Raju turns director with the mini feature film, ‘Ekasekalu’
Dancer and actor Sandhya Raju has directed a 50-minute satirical film titled 'Ekasekalu' which critiques the film industry's obsession with 'elevation' and star culture. The project marks her transition from classical arts to comedy and screenplay-driven storytelling.
Why it matters
It highlights the creative evolution of artists and the growing trend of mini-feature films on digital streaming platforms.
A few minutes into Ekasekalu , a 50-minute film streaming on ETV Win , a character portraying a film producer approaches the vanity van of a star. He is abruptly stopped by the star’s assistant and informed that the actor will step out only if given the right “elevation”, referring to dialogues and shots in mainstream cinema that try to amp up the leading man’s aura. Soon, a bunch of people who have been idling on the sets come together and reel off punchlines that praise the actor. Never mind if the lines are as mundane as “box office baboon”! The caravan door is flung open, or rather forcefully blasted, to reveal an ageing superstar, nicknamed the “blasting star”. Prudhvi Raj plays the actor while Hriday Ranjan plays the director who looks on, bemused.
The article provides an objective overview of a film release and the director's creative process.
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