The promotions of Mahesh Babu’s Sarkaru Vaari Pata have started and we met the film’s director AS Prakash for a detailed interview. Here is the transcript.

What was the brief given to you by the director Parasuram?

I was told that the film is a proper commercial drama based on the backdrop of the banking sector. The story is quite interesting and why it has been titled Sarkaaru Vaari Pata is revealed in the first few minutes only.

How does it feel to work on a project with Mahesh Babu?

This is my seventh film with Mahesh Babu. I started with the film Dookudu and now, it is Sarkaru Vaari Pata. Mahesh Babu Garu is a very well-versed person in filmmaking and used to discuss with me the sets in detail and how his team is going to shoot the film.

Tell us about the sets laid for this film?

As Mahesh Babu is a big star it is very hard for him to shoot outdoors. That is the reason, 90% of the film has been shot indoors. We created three different bank sets in different eras and also created a Vizag street in Annapurna Studios. Due to the Covid, there were a few gaps but we braved the situations and set up some fabulous sets on screen. While watching it will be very hard to make out that it is an actual set.

What are the challenges you faced while laying sets for a film like SVP?

There is so much extensive homework that goes on before laying the sets. Coming to songs, the sets are laid based on the meaning of the lyrics mostly. In SVP, we laid two crazy sets for mass songs. When it comes to planning for a film like SVP, my degree of master’s in fine arts helps so much. Also, there is much media and technology that help us enhance our work.

Any recent film where your work was appreciated?

I did both Ala Vaikunthapuramloo and Sarileru Neekevvaru at a time. Ala Vaikunthapuramloo had some rich house visuals but not many that everything was shot on sets. That film brought me huge appreciation within the industry.

Today, technology has developed by leaps and bounds. Has an art director’s work decreased?

No, not at all. In fact, CG has given us more work. Now, apart from designing for my sets, I have to cater to the CG department and lay sketches for them as well. This has increased our work, even more, these days.

As an art director which film impressed you the most?

Baahubali series is the film that shocked me with its grandness. It is a learning experience for any director to understand how such huge sets were laid. I would love to work with the likes of Rajamouli for his future projects.