Swathimuthyam actor Ganesh Bellamkonda: I believe a good story is the only criterion to make a good film

Ganesh, son of producer Bellamkonda Suresh, is making his silver-screen debut with Swathimuthyam. The family entertainer, slated for release on October 5, has him paired alongside Varsha Bollamma. Written and directed by Lakshman K Krishna, the film is produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments in association with Fortune Four Cinemas.

Ahead of the film’s worldwide release tomorrow, he mentions that he’d always wanted to be an actor since childhood, took his ambition seriously in 2016 and went for an acting course in Mumbai a year later. He took acting lessons briefly in the US and began listening to scripts from 2019. When the production of his first film with Pavan Sadineni was halted, he’d signed Swathimuthyam.

Director Lakshman Krishna approach Ganesh through common friends, and he narrated Swathimuthyam. He and his dad had a ball during the narration and later approached Sithara Entertainments to produce it. Naga Vamsi took a liking to the script and the film took off. “I believe that content is the king and story drives the film. I don’t believe in other criteria to make a good film,” he says.

Balamuralikrishna from Swathimuthyam is by no means similar to his real-life personality and he’d apparently played the part spontaneously. When Ganesh expressed his interest to be an actor, there were surprisingly no suggestions from his actor-brother Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas. The latter trusted his brother to make it big on his own.

Film sets, cameras and huge crews are not new to the youngster and that ensured him a pleasant experience with Swathimuthyam. Ganesh feels the tastes of audiences have changed post Covid-19 and they’re all the more demanding now. When Lakshman told him about the key concept behind Swathimuthyam, he trusted it and didn’t think twice. “You have to watch the film to experience it.”

He brushes off the rumours surrounding the film’s similarity to Vicky Donor. Ganesh clarifies that there’s nothing common to both films except for the sperm donation angle. “Even the sperm donation angle to the story lasts only for 10 minutes and the entire plot is different. There’s no need to draw any parallels.” Swathimuthyam, he shares, is full of situational humour and will appeal to audiences across all age groups.

Ganesh was particular that he wanted to be launched in a different banner and not his father’s. He’d known Sithara’s Naga Vamsi for a long time and given their reputation for making quality family entertainers, Ganesh considers it a privilege to be associated with them for Swathimuthyam. The actor is equally well trained in dance and martial arts and says he’s preserved his skills for his upcoming films.

Swathimuthyam, meanwhile, he says, is a film filled with relatable, real-life sequences. He plays an innocent guy who learns social skills as he prepares for marriage. Ganesh calls Varsha Bollamma a grounded co-star and told that the shoot was a smooth experience. Trivikram had reportedly suggested some changes in the climax.

Contrary to popular belief, Ganesh says he wasn’t born with a silver spoon and lived the life of a middle-class kid for many years. Bellamkonda Suresh had to work at several levels - as an assistant cameraman, production manager - before he turned a producer. “My mother also brought me in such a way that we value everything in life,” he signs off.