AVM to produce Telugu films

AVM, one of the oldest and famous production houses in the South, known for its family entertainers is now back into producing Telugu films after a gap of few years.

It is now coming back with Evaraina Epudaina... with a tagline Premalo Padochhu. This is their Production No 172 and it's directed by debutant Marthand K Shankar, the brother of well-known editor Marthand K. Venkatesh who edits a number of Telugu films.

AVM has another untitled film (production no 173) lined up which is being directed by Sekhar Kammula. It marks the debut of Rana, the grandson of Rama Naidu, [who is a Guinness Book Record holder for producing the maximum number of films], the son of Suresh Babu and nephew of Telugu superstar Venkatesh.

"From the time (my father's Mr Meiyappa Chettiar's time) of Jeevitham which introduced Vyjayanthimala, AVM has been frequently making film in Telugu. In the recent past (last two decades) there were films like Samsaram Oka Chadurangam [Telugu remake of Samsaram athu Minsaram] and Aa Okkati Adakku [starring Rajendra Prasad], Gemini [with Venkatesh in 2003]. Later on our Tamil productions Sivaji and Ayan were dubbed into Telugu which did very well. We are happy that both are huge grossers. That prompted us to enter again," said M Saravanan of AVM at the audio release function of Evaraina Epudaina recently.

"Marthand Venkatesh proposed this idea and three generations of the family -- me, my son Guhan and my grand-daughters Aparna Guhan and Aruna Guhan -- heard the story narrated by Venkatesh's brother Marthand Shankar. We were impressed with the story narration and took it up. It's a comedy with light entertainment. Whatever was narrated is there on celluloid. We have seen the picture after the re-recording too and it is impressive. Evaraina Epudaina is slated for release later in June. Actually the film is ready to be taken to the Censor Board. But the director and the unit decided to add a scene at the end and therefore that is pending," said Mr Saravanan.

AVM's next Telugu film will be Sekhar Kammula's untitled venture which will probably hit the theatres in August.

"More proposals for Telugu films are pouring in but we want to take them up after the release of these two films," added Mr Saravanan.

So, in the months and years to come, we can look forward to some wholesome family entertainment from the house of AVM as far as Telugu films are concerned.