Bunny’s I-Day gift

It’s a rarity to see top stars featuring in short films, but trust Allu Arjun to be different. Having delivered the biggest hit in the form of ‘Race Gurram’ this year, the actor has not just featured in a short film, ‘I Am That Change’, but also funded it. He says that despite being the son of an ace producer with good infrastructure around him, he found it difficult to make a short movie. “With a camera in hand and out-of-the-box ideas in their head, short filmmakers are making quality films. I bow down to their talent,” says Bunny. “I’ve now connected to the work they put in to make a short film. My respect towards them has increased. If they have passion to make feature films, they should,” he adds.

Quiz him on why a short film, he responds, “I’ve seen many government and social awareness ads not reaching everyone though their themes are praise worthy. May be a production house or a good director will make a technically better product for it to reach every section of the society.”

Continues the actor who had done ‘Vedam’, a film on national integrity four years back: “Everybody is doing something for the society and this short film is my way of giving back to the society.”

A story which asks the denizens of the two states to follow the righteous path, ‘I Am That Change’, has been attached to the trailers of ‘Sikindar’ and ‘Lovers’, both films, scheduled to release on Friday. “It’s a public holiday and I want it to reach more people, so what better occasion than Independence Day to release it,” says Bunny. He adds in a choked voice, “Many freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives for the country. My effort – seven days and some money – is a drop in the ocean compared to what they’ve done.”

The suave actor is thankful to the technicians and artistes who toiled hard for the film. “Many people worked on the film not charging a penny. It took a mere phone call for cameraman Amol Rathod and composer Sai Karthik to come on board.”
Bunny has special praise in store for his friend Sukumar, who directed the film; he says he wouldn’t have finished the film if not for the technically sound director’s expertise. “I told him I-Day is around the corner and I need him to direct a film for me. Without any second thought he dropped by my office and developed the concept in two days flat.

He can take home Rs 25 lakh if he directs an ad, but money has never been an issue with him.”