Character artiste turns director for a short film

Actress Padmajaa Lanka, who has played supporting roles in several hit films like Pelli Choopulu, Arjun Reddy, Yevade Subrahmanyam, Hushaaru and Rangasthalam, is turning a new page in her life. She has written, directed and acted in a short-film titled Vala, based on a hard-hitting social issue. The film, shot a few months ago, revolves around a series of incidents in the life of a girl.

“Vala is based on a serious issue that cautions everyone in society to be wary before they make drastic decisions. The story was born out of an incident I’ve seen from close quarters and yet not many know about such happenings. Several artistes and technicians in the industry have gone through the script and shared good feedback about it. It gave me the confidence to direct it,” Padmajaa shares.

Besides Padmajaa, the short film features actors Varsha Sagar, Indu Kusuma, Bhaskar, Raghunath Akasam in key roles. Vala was shot within three days under a tight budget and with a very limited crew. “It was challenging to take care of the entire unit besides having to act. The making was a learning experience in many ways and this wouldn’t have been possible without a team that went out of the way to help me,” the actress adds. The short film is going through the final stages of post-production.