Sailesh Kolanu on ‘HIT 3’: I like my films to be self-explanatory

Director Sailesh Kolanu discusses the success of HIT 3, the challenges of directing stars, and plans for future projects.

HIT: The Third Case, or HIT 3, has brought cheer to the box office. Two days after the release of the Telugu film starring Nani and Srinidhi Shetty, which has also been dubbed in other languages, its director Sailesh Kolanu is relieved, happy and filled with gratitude.

“I finally caught up on sleep. I survived on an hour or two of sleep in the last two months, sometimes in the car rather than going home, when the film’s post-production was underway,” he says, settling down for an interview at the production house Wall Poster Cinema office in Hyderabad. On the day of release, he watched the film at Prasads multiplex and at Sudarshan theatre to gauge audience reaction. “It is great to see the energy in the theatres, and satisfying to see full halls.”

Excerpts from the interview:

When you work on a film for a year or more, you are too close to the material at every stage — writing, executing and post production. How critically are you able to evaluate the film?

We lose objectivity midway since we are so married to the content. We have to remind ourselves of the intent and excitement with which we began the film. That keeps us going towards the finish line. Sometimes during post-production, I take a two-week break, revisit the footage to assess it better. It is tricky. Luckily, I can spot when things go wrong and discuss with my team on what can be done.

Before we analyse the film, tell us about both the joy and challenges of directing actors of whom you have been a big fan — Venkatesh in Saindhavand Nani in HIT 3?

In the beginning, going to the sets and saying ‘action’ and ‘cut’ to the stars I greatly admire was overwhelming. Slowly I tell myself that there is a job at hand; I have been entrusted the task of making a good film. It took me a week to stop treating Nani like a star. He, too, gave me a pep talk to put me at ease.