From IIT to the film industry

What makes an IIT Bombay alumnus change tracks and turn to films? For Ram Vamsi Krishna, it was the search for freedom. Ram debuts as a story, screenplay and dialogue writer in the multi-lingual Bhairava Geetha, which is slated to release next week. While he has written the Telugu dialogues, Maasthi has written the Kannada ones. “I always wanted to break free and thought that academics was the way to do that. When I was in IIT, I interacted with a lot of creative people, and with time, I realised that it was writing that set me free,” says Ram. But his entry into the film industry wasn’t all that smooth. Owing to some financial issues, Ram, who lives in Hyderabad, moved to Bengaluru for three years, to work at an MNC. But he continued writing. “I followed Kannada cinema during my time in Bengaluru, which is why it was easy for me to connect with Dhananjaya (the lead actor of the film). I eventually got to meet Ram Gopal Varma. Bhairava Geetha is based on a true story, which RGV narrated to me, telling me that it is a great line to develop into a screenplay. And that’s how we started off. RGV and I developed the script and screenplay together,” says Ram.Considering that the film is set against a rural backdrop, will urban audiences be able to relate to the film? “It has a universal subject; it is about the struggle between the powerful and the powerless. When I worked in an MNC, most of my colleagues were powerless when it came to their bosses. Some wanted to rebel, but couldn’t due to the circumstances they were in. So, there is power struggle everywhere. People in urban areas will be able to connect with the story, because everyone is suppressed at some point in their lives. Also, Bhairava Geetha is a love story, and love is a universal emotion. The movie is intense and gripping, and connects to core human emotions,” Ram signs off.