Interview: Neelima Talks About Gender Bias In Tollywood
News
oi-IANS
By Ians English
It
has
been
a
tough
journey
for
techie-turned-producer
Neelima
Tirumalasetti,
whose
latest
production
Alias
Janaki
released
on
July
26,
admits
facing
gender
discrimination
on
a
daily
basis
in
the
male-dominated
film
industry.
She
is
one
the
few
women
producers
in
the
industry
and
she
well
about
why
there
are
less
women
in
this
field.
"Gender
biasness
is
something
that
is
inbuilt
into
the
human
genes
and
mind.
In
a
male-dominated
industry,
it
is
omnipresent.
I
face
it
every
single
day.
Even
during
the
making
of
Panja,
I
was
acutely
aware
of
this
inequality," Neelima
told
IANS.
"It's
a
male
dominated
industry
and
there
is
a
certain
stigma
associated
with
it.
I
think
it
will
slowly
change
as
it's
an
evolution
process,"
she
added
In
a
span
of
two
years,
Neelima
has
learned
to
survive.
She
also
feels
that
more
than
a
creative
person,
producers
are
usually
seen
as
moneybags.
She
said,
"Don't
believe
in
anyone!
There
are
a
lot
of
empty
promises
being
made
here.
Believe
in
yourself."
Continue
to
read
Neelima's
interview
in
the
slideshow.
What
Keeps
You
Going?
"I
think
it's
because
I
feel
discriminated,
I'm
still
in
the
industry
trying
my
bit
to
change
it.
Like
in
every
field,
women
have
to
prove
their
mettle
before
they
are
accepted
into
the
main
fold.
I
haven't
given
up
and
people
are
respecting
me
for
that,"
she
said.
Producers'
Image
Talking
about
the
producers'
image,
she
said:
"The
producer,
unfortunately,
for
time
immemorial
has
been
relegated
to
the
role
of
a
cheque
writer.
In
my
current
role
as
a
producer,
I
did
everything
that
was
required
to
bring
the
movie
to
its
release
-
from
story
to
auditions
to
locations
to
marketing
to
business."
Lessons
Learnt
From
Panja
Neelima
turned
producer
with
Pawan
Kalyan-starrer
2011
Telugu
action-drama
Panja,
which
received
lukewarm
response
at
the
box-office.
That
didn't
discourage
her
from
continuing
her
journey
as
a
producer.
"A
producer
in
my
view
needs
to
understand
every
facet
of
cinema
and
my
experience
with
Panja
taught
me
lot
of
things,"
she
added.
Pawan
Kalyan's
Advice
Post
Panja,
which
she
co-produced
with
three
others,
Neelima
has
single-handedly
produced
two
Telugu
films
Alias
Janaki
and
Areyrey.
"I
needed
to
prove
to
myself
that
I
could
be
successful
against
all
odds.
I
also
remembered
what
Pawan
Kalyan
once
told
me
-
never
worry
about
winning
or
losing.
Continue
to
battle...
Moreover,
it
was
my
first
step
into
production,"
she
said.
What
Inspired
Her
To
Become
One?
Neelima
never
dreamt
to
be
a
producer.
Talking
about
her
debut,
she
said,
"My
foray
into
film
production
was
very
fortuitous.
I
think
it
was
destiny
that
made
me
a
producer.
That
destiny
has
another
name
-
Pawan
Kalyan.
It
was
during
his
stint
with
politics;
I
had
a
chance
meeting
him
and
that
changed
my
life
180
degrees
for
good.
Post
that
meeting,
I
joined
his
youth
wing
and
worked
closely
with
him,"
she
said.
God-Sent
Opportunity
"When
he
moved
away
from
politics
and
returned
to
films,
I
followed
suit
and
landed
an
opportunity
to
produce
a
film
with
him.
It
was
an
opportunity
that
was
truly
god
sent
and
went
head
long
into
that
line
of
work,"
said
Neelima,
who
holds
a
degree
in
computer
science.
Torchbearer
For
Creative
Films
She
would
like
to
be
the
torchbearer
for
creative
films.
"People
can't
be
watching
the
same
kind
of
cinema
day
in
and
day
out.
Hindi
cinema
has
changed.
There
is
a
market
for
films
such
as
A
Wednesday
and
Gangs
of
Wasseypur.
I
believe
the
time
has
come
for
Telugu
cinema
to
change,"
she
said.