Mamata Bhukya has been in New York for several appearances connected with  her film Vanaja.   She and director Rajnesh Domalpalli have been at the red carpet premiere and  at several screenings  to introduce the film and to do Q&A sessions afterward.   I caught up with both of them recently as they grabbed a meal in between screenings.   Rajnesh was kind enough to serve as interpreter for Mamata, who speaks Telugu, Hindi, and quite a bit of English.

Q: What is your  favorite scene in Vanaja?

My favorite scene is the one in which Vanaja cries for her baby.     I’m very frightened by that scene.   I thought I never would be able to get that much emotion in me but before that you (Rajnesh) made me do dhanam, which is concentration, then after that I felt I got the confidence that I would be able to do it.   When I was doing it all the people around me began to cry.   I saw that and I was surprised.   After the shot was over you told me “You did very well” and I was very happy and that’s the most difficult scene, now I like it the most.

Q: And what about your favorite  dance scene?

I like the tillana a lot.   I like all of them.   In the tillana there’s a kind of rhythm in it that’s why I like it a lot.

Q: Do you practice dance now when you’re  in NY, in your  room?

No.   (Laughs)

Q: What do you  like to do when you’re  not in school, in your  free time?

I’m fond of writing a diary, very fond of drawing, and I like songs.

Q: What kind of songs?   Popular music?

Any, but melodious.  

Q: Would you ever  do a mainstream Tollywood movie?

I will, but the story should be good.   A woman should be shown with respect but in many movies they show women with short dresses; I don’t like that.   When the woman is in distress the boy comes and rescues her; I don’t like that.   If you show both, you should show them equally.   If they’re nice roles, so long as women are not being shown like a doll, those kinds of roles, then I will do it.

Q: Has you  seen any mainstream Telugu movies that  you liked?

Yes, I’ve seen one when I was a little girl.   The film was Osey Ramulamma, the actress was Vijayshanti.    She is my favorite actress because  she  takes roles where she confronts men, so I like her.

Q:   What have you  been doing in New York all this time, when not at screenings?

You (she says to Rajnesh) took me to 42nd street and Central Park, Washington Square Park.  

Q: Are you missing home?   And food?

I want to go there but I also want to stay here.   Food, a little bit.   (Rajnesh adds he suspects it’s more than that.)