Sai Pallavi: Rana Daggubati’s gesture comes from a place of security

Sai Pallavi holds forth on her Telugu film ‘Virata Parvam’, signing a film produced by Kamal Haasan and the need for more good scripts for women in Indian cinema

A few days ago, during the pre-release event of the Telugu film Virata Parvam, produced by and starring Rana Daggubati, the sudden downpour did not dither the crowds that had gathered in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. They chanted lead actor Sai Pallavi’s name and stayed put till she addressed them, as Rana held an umbrella to shield her from the rain. This outpouring of love is not new to Pallavi. It has steadily increased with every film since Premam (Malayalam, 2015) and Fidaa (Telugu, 2016). Early this year when she was a chief guest for the pre-release event of the Telugu film Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu in Hyderabad, the rousing welcome she received prompted director Sukumar to call her ‘lady Power Star’ (Pawan Kalyan). A few industry colleagues reckon that she is “everyone’s favourite”.

Sai Pallavi takes in all this admiration with gratitude. During this interview in Hyderabad days before the release of Virata Parvam on June 17, she says, “When people express their love, I am overwhelmed and grateful. There are times when women who are my mother’s age come and hold my hands at the airport and tell me how much they like my work. It moves me to tears. But I don’t let that feeling linger. I get back home and lead a normal life.”

The Coimbatore-bred Pallavi did not envision all this when she entered the cinema. Neither did she choose her projects — in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam — with the spotlight in mind: “I chose projects instinctively and with a sense of individuality. I genuinely need to like the script to put forth my best. When people like my work, it becomes a validation.” 

Indie film vibe

She came aboard Virata Parvam, a drama based on true events in Telangana of the 1990s during the Naxalite movement, when it was presented to her by writer-director Venu Udugula as a raw, realistic film: “I have enjoyed watching a few indie films and this project had that vibe. The film grew bigger when Rana stepped in.”

One of the film’s promotional posters features her hugging a faceless writer (Rana). In the film, her title card will precede that of Rana. It is a rare gesture in the male-centric film industry. Pallavi credits it to Rana. “His gesture comes from a place of security. In the early stages, when Venu garu told him that no one had been signed to play the writer, Ravanna, and that heroes hesitate to take up such a part, Rana came forward to do it. On the first day I met him, he told me that chivalry was not dead. He has lived up to it. I will never forget how he held the umbrella as I addressed the audience in Kurnool. I have met a lot of people but there are very few like him. Alongside Virata Parvam, he has also been promoting the Kannada film 777 Charlie, which he is presenting in Telugu. He just wants to be part of good cinema.”

Pallavi plays Vennela, a girl who is besotted with the writings of Ravanna (Rana), whom she has not yet met. She embarks on an adventurous journey. “I used to wonder if Vennela is crazy. I am not a social person and do not interact with many people. It is through films that I understand and enact varied characters. Venu garu’s writing fascinated me and I realised that had I been in Vennela’s shoes, I might have done what she did.”