The Seed of Direction

The year was 1990 (I was in my 04th grade). My dad, who was into shipping, returned from Singapore, and got a Stereo System (Aiwa) and VCR (Mitsubishi). Hailing from middle class, nobody has ever seen or heard about such things before. The local guys around treated me like a prince, and I even started walking approx. one inch above the ground. My cousin was then in his 10+2, and my father gave him few empty audio cassettes to get some nice songs recorded. He returned after a few days with some collections and the first Telugu songs that were played on the system were Shiva & Gharshana. My mom, dad and uncles who used to listen to English, and Hindi Songs mostly Ennio Morricone, Boney M, MJ etc amazed me all of a sudden when they switched to TELUGU, and repeatedly only two movies. Slowly listening to them, I was thrown to face some old man’s music, who composed Maharshi, Kokila, Kondaveeti Donga – none other than Maestro Ilayaraja. The rest till date is always “HIS”tory.

So after listening to the same songs repeatedly, I was encountered to watch Gharshana first. Video Rentals were popular then and my cousin got Gharshana one Friday evening (Gharshana was the first telugu film played on our VCR). We were kind of a joint family, and some 10-20 members watched the film on friday night. Then again on Saturday afternoon, the same movie was played. Except to Nirosha’s swim suit song (I was 04th grade) and some action sequences, I liked nothing then. All my family members looked to me like maniacs for watching this film twice within a gap of 8 hours.

We stayed at Coromandel Gate (some 4 km) from Gajuwaka. There was a C-Class Theater (Ajanta) where only two kinds of movies used to be played; either R-Rated English Movies, or extra ordinary classics. I am bewildered that I got exposed to classics like Shiva, Gaayam, Antham, Dalapathi, Mahanadi, Kshatriya Putrudu and lot more flicks only in that theater. I am still amazed why only these two kinds of movies were played. This theater was closed for a while and opened a couple of years before rechristened as “Likhita”.

Coming back, a few weeks later after running for some hundreds of days at big theaters like Jagadamba etc, Shiva was released at Ajanta. There was a rage of madness about the film. I never saw this theater running in full for days (or say weeks), and then the day came. We went to the theater. The posters themselves pulled my complete attention. I doubted if the movie consisted of no actors other than Nagarjuna; because all the posters contained only his photo. In those days, the posters generally contained photos of major cast in the film. My dad got tickets, and I overheard my mom scolding him for purchasing tickets in black. We went inside and the film started. Hold It!!! I am not gonna tell about the film. So Chill!

During the interval, and after movie, while coming out of the theater, I heard multiple frequencies of opinions. Some said this movie is all dark. Some others didn’t just stop telling that the movie is excellent. They split the film into departments and praised all the departments. Photography, Editing, Music, Action Choreography, and on and on and on…the list never ended. Every department was ended with a single word “Superb”. Being a tender kid then, I couldn’t understand much, but all I remember was, the time the VHS was released I don’t remember how many number of times I watched that film, and I don’t even remember in how many houses I watched the film (some were total strangers!).

It could be the terrific influence of my family members who used to watch movies like hell. One of my uncles was an advocate and seldom watched films. The only few movies that I watched with him were Maharshi, Nayakudu, and some other art films (readers may not know flicks like Vaishali, Daaham Daaham, Maa Badi) etc. I remember him watching particular films frequently like “Artharaathri Swaatantryam” and “Maharshi” My other uncle was a freak, he was this youngster, and got me introduced to all kinds of Hollywood flicks like Terminator, Ghost Busters, Indiana Jones, Robocop, Rambo and lots of movies. My dad was another weirdo. He got me introduced to the soundtracks of films like Rambo, Walker, some Client Eastwood flicks etc. Both my mom and dad were fans of Viswanath garu, so much that my father once travelled for some 14 km all the way from my home to a theater (Sangam Sarat); bought the tickets for “Swathi Muthyam”, came back and took us again, just not to mess up my family members with the rush. That was the craze.

All kinds of similar incidents, made me to watch those movies, which are often watched by critics (I believe), and I used to even criticize the common super duper hit telugu flicks, which lacked sense and logic. Thanks to Ram Gopal Varma (Dronacharya), for he never came out of his boundaries and I got interested in every flick of his. There was a regular talk about him in my family members. Mostly my second uncle, he used to tell me a lot of his films. I starting getting addicted to Ram Gopal Varma so much that I should not forget to even say, that I watched films like Ardh Satya (in my 06th grade) only because I heard the film’s name from him on some TV. This severe was his impact on me.

Let me tell you an interesting incident. I was in my 10+2 and after successfully failing in 04/06 subjects in my 10+1, I was sent to a boarding school (1997-1999). By then I was a big big fan of Ram Gopal Varma, he was in my blood. “Satya” got released then, and I did not get permission to go and watch that movie. I gave one of my friend (a day scholar) 50 Rs/- only to watch Satya and got him to tell me the story. That was my madness. In the leisure time, I used to explain my friends why I didn’t like the normal telugu movies and what lacked in them compared to Ram Gopal Varma Movies. Ironically, they didn’t consider me a genius or accepted my opinion, but named me as a maniac. I was called Junior Ramu.

I watched films like Mrugam, and Gulabi only because the directors were students of Ram Gopal Varma. Gulabi (looked like another Ram Gopal Varma film with amateur taking, the songs were excellent though). But Sindhooram played a huge impact on me. I liked the movie like hell and I still consider this film to be Krishna Vamsi’s best print. But why all of a sudden Krishna Vamsi??? Well! I am still on the track and let me pull you there.I can clearly recollect Ninne Pelladatha, pulled out the creative side of me. Our family liked the film so much that there are only two films I have watched for 10 times in a theater- Ninne Pelladatha and Aithe.

In my 10+2, being in a hostel, we were closed to all kinds of entertainment but only open to Botany, Zoology etc. During the free time, I used to lie on the bed, close my eyes and start watching Ninne Pelladatha. Right from the beginning till the song “Inkaa Yedo” (I didn’t like the film after that song). So, the days passed by and every Sunday I used to watch this film. Gradually, the film faded out of my mind, and I became vexed, that I no longer remembered any scenes and then a brilliant idea struck my brain. Why the hell don’t I direct a film on my style? So, I started visualizing scenes with limited music which I liked like hell; If it was a violent scene (Satya Theme), a romantic scene (Geethanjali Title Theme), a duet (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin & Kannulonee Roopame). It is obvious that I was the Hero, and a girl “Ushasree” (You can also call her MIND-BLOWING) was the heroine in all my shots.

I started conceiving scenes and created so well, that my friends used me in the wrong way. They used to ask me to come up with porn stories (Hold It! They were the heroes there) with several plots of all kinds of genres: thrillers, comedy what not. All of them were hit, and were retold in our circles. That is when I ended up thinking….I wish I were a Film Director (obviously not Porn!).

The Dark Room

Behind The Story: When I was in my Post Graduation, we used to have frequent discussions about Ram Gopal Varma, and I was the only person on the supportive side. One of my friends stated "RGV is a Smart Idiot. He took a Movie KAUN with only three characters in a single house and made money.". This gave me an idea that when Dronacharya could make it in a single house, why not Ekalayva try for the same in a single room with three characters. With the same thought in my mind, I started off home, after college. We used to take a Bus (Number 400) to reach Gajuwaka from R.T.C Complex at Vizag, and midway was the Railway Station. As usual, the bus stopped there and a man with sweat face rushed into the bus worried with a Black Bag in his Hands. Then came the "The Dark Room". Digest the Picture below first for an understanding of the Story. Do Care To Comment as well. Thanks In Advance.

The Doors of the room open and Murali enters into the room and immediately closes the door. Carrying a Black Bag in his hands out of the common habit, he switches on the light. The bag in his hands alarm him of the biggest mistake he has done and Murali regretting the Blunder committed turns off the light and switches on the bed lamp. He immediately rushes towards his bed and places the Black Bag beneath it. He lies down on the bed and looks at the clock.

The time is 2:00 am and the whole room is quiet except for the creek from the window. He gets up steadily and peeps out of the window for any uncommon happening on the streets. He closes it off and lies back on the bed. (Something is disturbing him). He goes to the Wash Basin to wash his face.

The Basin has a mirror attached. Murali is able to see his faded reflection of his face in the Mirror due to the dull light of the bed lamp. But his untidy face with sweat all over is crystal clear. He opens the tap and cleans his face and hands off. Blood stains on his hands and face get washed away in the water like a wild smoke in the autumn forest. Picking a water bottle from the Dining Table he rests on the Bed. He drinks some Water and looks at the Telephone.

He grabs the phone and makes a call to Sudha who is his college mate staying at a Hostel nearby and tells her that there is something he has to talk to her and pleads her to come to his room the next day morning without failure. (Phone Hangs Up)

Murali gets up and moves to the window again; He opens the window and tries to notice what is happening outside. After gazing wildly from the partially open window for a while, he closes and returns to his bed staring at the clock. It is 2:30 a.m. He picks up the telephone and makes a call to Chandu, his best friend who is a locale but studying in the nearby town and requests him to come to his room the first thing the next morning without failure. (Phone Hangs Up)

The whole night Murali will not be able to sleep. Gazing at the Black Bag under the bed, peeping out of the window and looking at the lazy clock which hardly moves any time, he finds it the most difficult to get over that night. Seconds, Minutes, Hours pass by and Murali doesn’t even if he slept or not.

Murali regains his senses and combating the hangover of the last night he opens his eyes to see the clock showing 8:00 am and jumps on to the floor to confirm if everything was a nightmare or not. The Black Bag under the bed worries him more. Repenting for what has happened last night, he searches for a suitable place in the room to hide this bag. He finds that the Cupboard will be a better hiding place and opens the Cupboard.
(The Cupboard consists of 3 Shelves with the bottom rack and the top rack being empty and the middle rack arranged with books.) He places the Black Bag in the bottom rack of the cupboard and then opens the window to see what is happening outside and then closes it again. He then goes to have a bath.

Hearing a knock on the door, Murali rushes to the door with a towel covering his wet masculine body with hair all over his chest surrounded by pumping muscles all over. He opens the door to find a girl wearing Jeans and a Shirt staring at him. (Sudha arrives). She comes in and sits on the bed asking him for something to eat. Murali goes in to get something for her when Sudha observes that the window is closed, she tries to open the window a refrains after hearing Murali’s scary shout not to open the window; Just before Sudha demands an explanation Murali pushes her on to the bed and starts kissing her all over. Sudha pushes him away and asks what has happened and why did Murali call her the last night.

Murali’s facial expressions change all of a sudden and then he gets up out of the bed and opens the cupboard to take the Black Bag out of that. Sudha mysteriously looks at the bag and opens it. (And a few hours pass away)

Sudha opens the door after hearing several knocks on the door to find a guy standing there with a college bag (Chandu Enters). Sudha welcomes him and introduces herself and tells that Murali has gone outside to file a complaint against the Telephone as it is not working properly and will be right back. Chandu enters inside the room.

The only window in the room which is closed and hiding all the light away from the room catches the attention of Chandu and he moves forward to open it. He senses Sudha staring at him and just then the Telephone rings. With a confused look Chandu looks at the ringing Telephone and stares at Sudha. She comforts him stating that the defect might have been rectified and Murali should start off soon. With a smile on his face, Chandu approaches the Cupboard to find any book to kill some time.

Chandu opens the door of the Cupboard and almost faints after he shockingly finds the dead body of Murali in the Last Shelf of the Cupboard. Before he could believe it to his eyes, he gets a big blow on his head by some metallic objects and Chandu faints for real now.

After some time, Chandu regains his senses to find himself tied to one of the chairs and a tape stuck to his mouth. He sees Sudha sitting on the Floor weeping. Scared Sudha starts explaining that druken Murali steals somebody’s money the last night and then calls Sudha to his room; and then while explaining the whole scene Sudha gets horrified at this and pleads Murali to go to the Police Station. But Murali doesn't listen to her and argues. Sudha hits Murali with an Iron Box and Murali falls to the ground dead; exactly at that moment Chandu knocks on the door. So confused Sudha has nothing to do but worriedly hides Murali’s Body in the Shelf.

After hearding her story, Chandu feels sorry for her and then he promises Sudha that he would not create trouble but help her. Sudha then comes and unties him. Chandu then asks her about the bag. Sudha takes out the bag she has hidden it under the bed and shows it to him. He then asks Sudha to wash her face, while he picks up the Telephone to call the Police. Chandu dials a 3 digit number and starts talking. Satisifed Sudha goes to the wash basin to wash her face. She opens the Tap, bends down to water her face. She rises back to find in the mirror, Chandu standing behind her with the same Iron Box which Sudha used earlier to attack Murali. But before Sudha could realize the situation and pick up any strength Chandu strangles her to death with the wire of the Iron Box.

After sending her to death, Chandu reaches to the Telephone to confirm that he dialed 199 instead of 100. After hearing an invalid number message over the Telephone, he sighs with a relief and now picks up a cigarette lying on the table and starts picking the books at a random pace and putting them back. (The Cupboard now has Books in the top rack, The body of Sudha in the middle rack and Murali in the bottom rack). Once done, he goes to the window to throw away the finished Cigarette when something strange outside the window catches his attention. With a horrifying look on his face, he hurriedly takes the Black Bag and comes out of the room; closes the Doors and goes off.

After crossing a few streets he enters into a House with a few people observing silence. He takes few steps ahead to find his weeping Mother at the corner of a room in the house. Chandu seeks for an explanation when his mother points him to a room inside. Chandu in a confused state goes in and with fear only to see the corpse of his Father lying inside.

His Mother comes and tells “Your Uncle has newly shifted to this place and has been to outstation. Your Aunt was not feeling well and she asked for me and your Father to come here. Some thief broke last night, robbed us killing your Father”. Chandu with fear in his eyes slowly comes out and opens the Black Bag he left outside. His Mother who follows him outside to see what was in the Black Bag and gets faints after identifying the same Jewelry in the Black Bag that was stolen the previous night.

Chandu in a horrified state of mind slowly drags his feet and forcibly looks up at the sky into nowhere. The Dark Room with the windows open is staring at him lonely.


The Dark Room by Raaj K Modi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.