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My Encounter with Trivikram Srinivas

Posted by Ashok Varma on Sunday, June 1st, 2008

Index of all posts on Trivikram

My Encounter with Guruji: This happened over an year ago. At that time, as far as I know it was only in two occasions that Trivikram faced the media. One was an article in Eenadu where in he explained his feelings on Father-Daughter and Mother-Son affection siting their own live examples. The other one was in a function where Trivikram responded to the audience saying that next time he would give much bigger hit than ‘Athadu’ with Mahesh Babu. This function was like a success tour in some theatre. I read about this news but even after searching rigorously could not get the glimpse of his “Chilaka palukulu”. Apart from this I could not find any direct news of him and all the news that covered on him were either rumours or second hand information. I admire him like anything and was very curious to speak to such a prolific writer with great sense of humour.The day I met Trivikram by chance is one of the sweetest memories of my entire life. Through a friend, I came to know about the location of the house which Trivikram uses for his creative works. It was around 7 PM when we both reached Trivikram’s once bachelor time house and now his office. We were not sure whether Trivikram was inside the house or not and we were chatting, standing outside of it. Trivikram’s work location is in first floor. Atlast I decided to dare a bit and gave direct attack. Then I took the steps to the first floor and was thinking of asking someone to reach Trivikram. To my astonishment Trivikram himself was sitting infront of the door and was casually chatting with someone. I was shocked to see him and he too was shocked to see a stranger directly reaching their door. He was in cool look with Gillette Sata sat shave and was in a T-shirt and short. He gave the expressions like, “yenti ???” I could not believe my eyes. Even before he spoke a word I told him that I came to meet him. The very next moment he standed up and started walking inside with frustration in his face and told his assistant to look after my matter. I was a bit disappointed with this reaction but understood that he might be facing guys like me regularly. Then the assistant rushed towards me and was very much shocked to see me there and enquired me. I told him that I was an aspiring writer and have some doubts in story writing. I told him that one of my stories was okayed by a producer but I’m finding it hard to finish the story line and was blocked in between. So I wanted to seek the help of Guruji. Assistant understood my reasoning and received it well but told me convincingly that there would be a way to do anything. Rushing in a house directly without any prior intimation or appointment troubles any celebrity. He told me politely that first people should approach the assistants and if the big wig okays our wish then an appoinment can happen. Saying this he told me to come the next day evening at around 7 PM so that I would get a chance to meet Guruji. I was on cloud nine. I told him that I would come by 6 PM itself and took leave from him. Though I could not meet Guruji I was thrilled to see Guruji live and was in euphoria. After getting out of their compund, I thanked the guy who made all this happen to me and was jumping like anything with joy. Then the twist in the story happened and the assistant came running from the first floor and was calling me. I could not believe this, when I reached him he was about to talk but he got a phone call, mean while to my surprise Trivikram came out of this office and signalled me to come on to the first floor. I was speechless. The moment I entered his office, “Anand bhaspaalu” started their marathon. Usually in film functions I used to wonder on why do people over act and touch the feet of elders on stages but this time I was so much moved by the situation that I wanted to touch Guruji’s feet and get his blessings. But Trivikram restricted me and didn’t allow me to do it. He held my hands firmly, though I continued saying that I wanted his blessings. He told me that he doesn’t believe in such things. After that I gave up. He asked me to sit down. He was silent and was waiting for my words. I opened up and told him that I was an aspiring writer and have lot of confusions in story writing like I can start a story very well but unable to maintain the tempo…etc Trivikram guided me very well after he came to know that one of my stories was okayed by a producer and I had to complete the script. Frankly speaking this was only the reason that I could search of to start a conversation and get a chance to meet Trivikram. My story was not completely okayed by the producer. I used this opportunity to ask Guruji various questions that I had…like:

AV: Where does he get inspiration for penning the stories, characterizations, dialogues
Trivikram: It depends on each individual. Everyone has their own style of writing.
(He didn’t answer this question completely)AV: Even for writing a small essay it needs bundles and bundles of papers and using an editor like MS Word in system helps a lot in editing the things that we write. Manually writing on papers is a tedious papers if we need to include, remove…anyting. How do you manage to write so many scenes for a complete film ? Do you narrate it to some assistants and do they write it ?
Trivikram: No, I write it on my own on papers.

AV: What to do if we are struck in between a story and trying hard to improve it ?
Trivikram: Speak to another person and share your thoughts with him. For some people thinking in single might not work and it would be like throwing a ball in air. If you can speak to other person who can fire back with his criticism then it would be like hitting the ball to a wall and you would get the review immediately. (As his trademark examples he jumped into this analogy and explained it very well)

AV: I admire you a lot. It seems you have struggled a lot for this success ?
Trivikram: (He nodded his head with great sigh of accomplishment. I could see the spark of the relief that he got after getting succeeded through sheer determination)

AV: I like all of your works. I don’t have words to mention how good “Nuvve Nuvve” film is.
Trivikram: (Smiled…)

AV: You are great inspiration for youngsters like us and in Orkut we have communities on your name and we are attempting to write own dialogues in your style.
Trivikram: (Again Smiled…)

I was falling short of filling sentences and was in trance that though I had manythings that I dream of discussing with Trivikram, I was blank by then. Regarding story writing he suggested me not to take/waste more time and as you already have a producer and to act fastly.After this I could not search anything that I could talk upon. I had many doubts in the stories of Nuvve Nuvve and Athadu and regarding his struggling days but these areas didn’t strike me then. He was still waiting for my next questions but it was already like taking lunch and dinner at break fast time, so thought of taking leave from him and stood up and he wished me all the best by smiling once again and I took leave. I was in such ayomayam that I didn’t get the thought of taking autograph too. Ofcourse at later point of time I felt that as I can’t forget this incident for life time, Autograph is not needed. I didn’t intentionally ask the chances of getting a chance as assistant under him as it is obvious that there would be numerous people aiming the same and approaching him. Anywayz after getting out of their office, I hugged my friend who was waiting outside and he realized on how overwhelmed I was.

This was my first interaction with Guruji. The concern that he showed to a stranger like me really moved me. Till that time I kept hearing from many of his friends like Sunil, Abburi Ravi on how great friend he was but it was a live experience for me. I was completely bowled by his character.

Kudos to Guruji…
Though he is getting huge remuneration now, he has so much attachment and belief in luck factor that he is stilling using the same 2 room house as his office. It was only after marriage that he shifted to Yousufguda-Yellareddyguda area and using this lucky mascot as office.In the movie “Chirunavvutho” there are scenes regarding throwing bike keys from first floor siting laziness as the reason. On seeing Trivikram’s office I sense that this was a real life inspiration as their house setting is also similar one.
There are rumours that Trivikram narrated some scenes from his script “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” to MS Raju who was supposed to produce it. But MS Raju used some of these scenes in the movie “Aata”. This irked Trivikram and from then he started maintaining distance from MS Raju.