In one of the conversations hosted by Kamal Haasan’s production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, more than a year ago to celebrate the genius of filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, when Suhasini Mani Ratnam asked the director “why a silent film?” while discussing Pushpak, the director responded, “why not?” That moment encapsulates the courage with which he and his several collaborators took unprecedented leaps of faith in his nearly 70-year career in cinema. At 94, his new Telugu film Sing Geetham, a musical fantasy in which the story will unfold through songs, rather than conversations, will arrive in theatres on June 12.Produced by writer-director Nag Ashwin for Vyjayanthi Films, Sing Geetham is powered by Devi Sri Prasad’s music and a young team led by executive director Sankalp Gora. Singeetham, who began his career as an assistant director to KV Reddy for the 1957 magnum opus Maya Bazar, has been a mentor for Nag Ashwin’s Savitri biopic Mahanati, and Kalki 2898AD. Several Telugu and Tamil filmmakers have, over the years, mentioned how the veteran director has been a guiding force and an inspiration, encouraging them to explore diverse genres.
Kamal Haasan, Nag Ashwin and Devi Sri Prasad during the pre-release event of ‘Sing Geetham’ in Hyderabad.
