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Interviewer & Text: Daya Kingston | Camera:
Hemananth.B & P. Ganesh Babu
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Director
K. Bhagyaraj with his original brand
of naughty humor has managed to hold
Tamil audiences in his sway for over
three decades. The multi-talented
director, writer and hero brings an
earthy flavor to his work and plays
with the web of human emotions to
create films that have made a big
impact. The director is still going
strong and is currently working on
Pudiya Varpugal which features his
son . We catch up with him on his
latest film, the experience of directing
his children, his take on films inspired
by Hollywood, glamour and much more... |
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BW: Tell us something
about your latest film Pudhiya
Varpugal?
Bhagyaraj:
Pudhiya Vaarpugal was the film
where I made my debut as a hero
and I thought the title was
apt but many people thought
that I was remaking that film.
However, that was suitable for
me, a village set-up but my
son Shantanu is young and needed
a youth-centric script and that’s
how I have made the script.
However, since the misconception
that it’s a remake exists,
we are planning to change the
title soon. The film will have
elements like youth, humor,
love, a bit of sentiment and
masala. My films are usually
full of humor with a serious
touch in just one place. For
my son, I have some places where
his performance will have a
touch of my acting. However,
my son had felt that people
would not approve of him doing
that but I pointed out that
he was only copying me, his
father and not anyone else.
The subject is suitable for
today and the first half takes
place in the city and the second
in the village but this is not
a village subject though it
does have a village backdrop.
I am introducing a new villain,
you have everything mixed and
not just love.
Lots of films these days are
reusing old titles. Isn’t
this a lack of originality
In my case, it has caused a
lot of confusion. In the case
of Billa, for instance the new
one is a remake of the old so
it was suitable. I think when
one remakes an old film, there’s
nothing wrong is using the same
title.
What do you feel about your
son Shanthanoo’s performance?
He is a young but a good performer.
When I watched his debut film,
I had hope, he dances well,
performs well. He only had the
opportunity to act as a student
in Sakkarakatti and could only
show romance but here in my
film there are different moods
and his output is better and
he has acted well in the different
situations.
Humor has always been a strong
point in your films? What is
your take on it?
You can’t separate humor
from me, but I can’t do
the same for my son’s
films or there won’t be
any difference. In this film,
there will be touches of humor.
You were one of the first director-turned
actors. Today there are many,
what do you think of this trend.
What was the reason for you
to turn director?
I was not among the first. There
were S.Balachander who was director
and hero and B.R.Bandulu who
directed and played cameos in
his films. The situation was
such that I became the hero
for my first film and for the
second too. Those days there
were certain qualifications
for becoming a hero, a certain
kind of features and very handsome
looks but I broke that myth
and proved that someone with
ordinary looks like the boy-next-door
could make it. It does not take
typical hero looks to succeed
but someone who can act with
realism and I proved this in
my films and others after me
got the same confidence. My
assistants like Parthiban, Pandiarajan
proved it. Maybe I gave them
the courage. There’s nothing
wrong in playing the hero if
the role suits one.
|
"I
will act
if
I get a rare role
like
Sivaji in
Mudhal
Mariyathai" |
You have stopped acting
these days. If you get
a role like Sivaji in
Mudhal Mariyathai will
you take it up?
The characters I had done
when I was younger were
different, now when my
son is playing romantic
hero I can’t act
in the same roles. I will
act if I get a rare role
like Sivaji in Mudhal
Mariyathai, it is fine.
Currently, I am acting
but in roles that suit
my age. Also for my son
I plan to make some films
of my kind.
Do you enjoy being a director
or actor better?
I can’t say I don’t
like acting. However,
I prefer directing. If
a role in my film suits
me well, I act. I don’t
have a fire to act, direction
is more comfortable.
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They
say that directors make
heroes. However in today’s
star-driven industry the
trend has changed. The
result is a lot of star
films flopped last year.
What do you think? |
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Directors don’t
create heroes, after heroes
are made, they act well,
establish themselves and
have an image. Then directors
tell them a story and
bring out their talent.
Then as they grow bigger
many of them don’t
work with new directors
as they want their own
security and don’t
want to take a risk. However,
some would give an opportunity
to newcomers if they liked
the script and felt they
worked as an assistant
to someone. They should
give this opportunity.
I tell my son, if you
get 2 or 3 films, choose
at least one with a new
director which will help
him establish his talent
and shine.
Will only big budget films
like Dasavatharam work?
No this is wrong idea.
Such films will run, they
have their own style and
making but it does not
mean only such films will
make it. Take Slumdog
Millionaire which got
awards, the film is not
grand, it speaks about
the struggle of a boy
in the slums to rise up.
They have taken it well,
like if it’s a railway
station, the reality |
"After
heroes
are
made,
they
act well,
establish
themselves
and have an image"
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of it is depicted. There is
realism especially when they
show the riots. Many such films
with no big sets have made it
like Subramniapuram which was
never had rich sets but still
made it. The latest Vennila
Kabaddi Kuzhu has been well-made
I heard and such films are appearing
regularly. There are those who
work with extravagant budgets,
those who are into action or
sentiment, it’s each person’s
taste. There are people like
me who want to mix comedy in
their films. There is nothing
wrong, it’s only each
person’s choice.
You have been in the industry
for 3 decades. What is the major
change you see?
When
I started Tamil cinema was something
everyone watched but today the
technicians have gained recognition
the world over. This is a very
healthy trend that we should
be proud of. Tamil cinema has
advanced a lot. Today, if you
look at Hindi films, there are
technicians like cameramen and
editors. AR Rahman has worked
for an English film. Today’
s cinema has lot of technical
advances too in terms of new
cameras and this makes me very
happy. Earlier, we used to watch
English films with a lot of
awe but today we can be confident
that we can make films of equal
quality.
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"We
should always
remain a student.
Once you think
you
are the master,
you stop growing
and
retire" |
Many
directors deliver hits
during a particular period
but after that they are
unable to gauge the pulse
of the audience. How do
you stay updated?
It depends on our observations
and experiences. It’s
difficult to answer. When
I came from the village
to Chennai , in the beginning
I never had stories like
Idhu Namma Aazhu. Later,
I developed. We need to
keep learning, observe
a lot and experience good
films. If you just learn
a thing or two and stop
with that, then success
will be elusive, you should
have the desire to keep
learning.
Some directors are one
film wonders. Why?
We
should always remain a
student. Once you think
you are the master, you
stop growing and retire.
If we have the mindset
that we have to learn
its good.
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Most of Bharathiraja’s
students have made a mark
in the industry. Do you
think there is a reason
for this?
You
can’t say anything
specific. Those days it
was tough to get a chance
as an assistant. To become
a director, you had to
work in about 10 films
and have about 7 years
experience. So the number
was less, and getting
the opportunity was tough.
Today it’s easier
to get a break. After
my third film, I was on
my own. I worked for 16
Vayathinilay as assistant
director, Kizhakkey Pogum
Rail as assistant dialogue
writer and assistant director
and in Sigappu Rojakkal,
I acted in a small role
and assisted. With Pudiya
Varpugal, I became the
hero and director. I tell
everyone who comes to
work with me that after
the 3rd film, they have
to learn everything and
after 4 films, it won’t
be good for me and for
you too. Straightway,
all my assistants have
to do all the jobs. All
those who do work hard
will come up. I came up
fast and expect them to
do the same. Many have
proved themselves also.
Whom do you like amongst
the young directors?
Each of them has their
own strength, Murugadoss
has gone to Bollywood,
Mysskin has his own style,
Cheran has a family kind
of style. Vennila Kabaddi
Kuzhu I heard is good,
then I liked Subramaniapuram
Sasi and Poo Sasi, lots
of them. |
"I
tell everyone
who
comes to
work
with me
that
after the 3rd film,
they
have to learn
everything
and
after
4 films,
it
won’t be
good
for me
and
for you too"
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What do you think of using Hollywood
CDs as inspiration?
I never used CDs as my inspiration
neither do I ask my assistants
to draw inspiration from them.
I mostly watch action films and
many people tell my wife that
the kind of films that your husband
watches and the ones he makes
are a complete contrast. When
I watch films, I am an ordinary
cine-goer and fan but when I make
one, I think differently. If you
watch a CD and make a film, you
can make one or two but after
that you can’t manage. Even
if you adapt a good film, its
likely to go wrong. Or if 2 or
3 people have chosen to remake
the same film, then whoever releases
the film first will be considered
the maker and the rest considered
copiers. You need original stuff
to stay in the industry for long,
its okay for inspiration but not
a shot by shot copy.
Some heroes ask the director to
include certain scenes to suit
their image. What do you think
of this?
If one chooses an artiste with
a particular image, then this
will have to be included in the
script as the audience will expect
that. If the artiste is a new
face, one can do what one wants
with the script. If its an established
hero, you have to think of the
image, say for Bhagyaraj its comedy
and if its not there the audience
will be disappointed and similarly
for every hero. The story has
to be made for the hero. Or if
we have an existing script certain
changes should be made to suit
the needs of the hero’s
image, abroad they have Casting
Directors, who will find the right
artistes suitable for each film.
During the last elections you
were very active?
Its not me who did a lot, the
DMK did a lot and I was one of
them. Many of them were leaving
the party and at this time I entered
so lots of people were watching
me. I felt the DMK would win and
maybe it was luck that’s
all.
What do you do in politics now?
I go for important meetings when
invited or make speeches on schemes.
Being in cinema and running a
magazine, I think this is essential.
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"If
people imitate me
and those watching
laugh, it means
that
I am in the
hearts
of the
people" |
How do you react to those
who make fun of you? How
are you able to take it
so cool?
In
Tamil, there is a proverb
that says only the tree
with ripe fruits gets
stones thrown at it. If
people imitate me and
those watching laugh,
it means that I am in
the hearts of the people.
And when people think
that the audience will
watch such shows it means
that I am popular, only
if I am ignored it means
that I am not in the industry.
In weddings they carry
out mimicry performances
of my acts and I take
this as a healthy thing.
In Naan Sigappu Manithan
your character was compared
to Rajini. How did he
react?
Rajini himself knew it.
In fact, I had first refused
to do the role because
it was a Hindi remake.
The character I was to
be doing was powerful
and when I essayed it,
this would be in my style
with my dialogue touches
and become even more powerful.
Rajini and his fans would
feel that I would dominate
and tried to
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avoid it. However Rajini and
his circle felt that if any
other artiste acted there would
be comparisons to Rajini and
say that he performed better.
However, the producer told me
that since you are a writer-director
people will not make that comparison
and conveyed that both Rajini
and his wife felt that way and
insisted I act. So I thought
when I acted it would be taken
sportingly and that’s
how it was taken.
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Do you feel a film can
manage without glamour?
Tell
me what is there in this
world without glamour.
Fashion shows have it,
there is a channel dedicated
to it, Miss Universe and
so on has it. Glamour
is something that engages
you at an age and after
that it takes a different
turn. Everyone has to
cross teenage and face
infatuation. We all experience
it at an age, then later
avoid it. I think there’s
nothing wrong.
So you don’t feel
you are corrupting society?
No, not at all. When there
is sex education and all,
what is glamour. Sex is
something natural. For
children to not misunderstand
it, we have sex education.
Glamour is not a sin. |
"Tell
me
what
is there
in
this world
without
glamour"
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"My
films are
not
like that,
they
revolve around
human relationships,
a
husband-wife
relationship
problem" |
In your films, heroines
are well-sketched characters
but in many of today’s
films they are reduced
to glamour girls with
a few song numbers. What
do you think?
You
can’t blame the
heroines, it depends on
the person who writes
the script and characters.
When you are making a
film entirely for the
hero involving action,
chase etc., the heroine
is just needed for glamour.
My films are not like
that, they revolve around
human relationships, a
husband-wife relationship
problem and so on and
my characterization of
the heroine is very important
and sometimes they even
dominate. However when
it’s an action film,
we can’t expect
the same and there’s
nothing wrong.
How was it different directing
your daughter compared
to directing others?
While directing my daughter,
there was a restriction.
While directing other
heroines, I never felt
anything about the glamour
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bit. However, when it came to
her , I thought that would be
tough. However, luckily the
script I selected did not call
for glamour and did not require
a lot of closeness between the
hero and heroine.
Will she act again?
She is now in London doing a
course in fashion designing
and when she returns she might
take up some films.
Shanthanu being your son, a
director’s son, people
think its very easy for him
to make it big as you will push
him.
No, not at all. I don’t
push him, even if I do that,
this will not last long. I will
guide him to take up good scripts
and films for the first few
films. After that he has to
decide. I will not carry him
on my shoulders.
Both plus and minuses are there
in the film industry. Will he
cope?
Yes, let him know both sides.
Nothing wrong. He’s young
and has to learn a lot. |
Can you give us an outline
of Pudiya Varpugal?
It’s
a love story, I don’t
talk much about my films
before they are out as
people will lose interest,
Two characters who meet
in the city for the first
time and both are new,
how they cope is the story.
In Mundanai Mudichu, the
Murungakkai dialogue was
much spoken about.. Was
it a deliberate attempt
and will your new film
have any such.
That was a dialogue that
was apt to the situation
where the husband and
wife were separated and
they had no sexual relations.
The heroine wanted to
win him over and the story
demanded it. It was not
a forced one for commercial
considerations. |
"Two
characters
who
meet in the city
for
the first time
and
both are new,
how
they cope
is
the story"
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