The New York-based cardiologist by profession, she is also a successful actor in Telugu films like the sensational ‘C/O Kancharapalem’ and ‘Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya’, and is now all set to make another movie.
Hyderabad: Praveena Paruchuri born in New York to Telugu parents from Hyderabad adroitly balances two very different and challenging professions in India and the US, a report in the Deccan Chronicle, says
The New York-based cardiologist by profession, she is also a successful actor in Telugu films like the sensational ‘C/O Kancharapalem’ and ‘Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya’, and is now all set to make another movie.
Praveena, says, “I was good at academics, so I studied medicine. But the thought of becoming a filmmaker was always there.”
She says her next film is a rustic drama like the earlier two set in a small village. The film has a new director on board and shooting will commence in a couple of months.
She says her Father a movie buff who liked to watch old Telugu movies, was a strong childhood influence
Instead of cartoons she grew up watching Telugu classics and her inclination towards arts and cinema grew as she read about Indian arts and culture.
“I pursued a filmmaking course in New York Film Academy (NYFA), and eventually sneaked into the Telugu industry through my friend,” she says.
“As a child, I been visiting Hyderabad with my parents on and off”. Currently she only visits the city when she has to shoot a film
“Initially I thought about making a home in Hyderabad, but I don’t want contemporary filmmakers in India to influence me. They have their own viewpoint.
“I can’t compete with them. I want to have my own perspective and be unique,” reveals Praveena, insisting that she wants to reflect Telugu culture in films for Telugu Diaspora across the world.
Like many American born Indians, she too struggled with identity issues.
“Being in the US, I feel we are losing out on telling stories about our roots and our own backyards. At this point, reaching out to our roots and being true to it is our way of demonstrating nationalism and patriotism,” Praveena says.
She also talks about the challenge of striking a balance between the diverse fields of films and medicine.
For someone who is an outsider, making a mark in the film industry is itself a huge achievement. She considers herself very lucky, although being on film sets in India is tough. “I never lived in India, so the work culture is different for me. I encountered challenges on cultural issues because I’m a woman, in the film world, so it took some time to adapt,” she reveals, (Rewrite David Solomon)
*********************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com