| |
| Please
wake up Mr.Prakash Raj before it’s too late! |
|
Iyyakunar
Sigaram Balachander has the unique record of creating
the niche for Superstar, Padmashree Kamal Hassan
and Vivek. In this lucky line up came the multi-faceted
performer Prakash Raj, who is called Prakash Rai
in Kannada and Prakash Rajj in Telugu. |
|
| |
He started out as a theatre artiste, and has worked
in several roles showcasing his awesome versatility
like Kala Bairavan (Little John), or a eunuch
(Appu) or as the witty villain Muthupandi in (Gilli)
or the comic medical dean (Vasoolraja).
With the present dearth of talented baddies like
Raghuvaran in Tamil filmdom, Prakash Raj appears
to have no competitors. Almost every other movie
we see Prakash Raj, the Chellam of Tamilnadu doing
nasty things on the silver screen. Not only as
the uncouth villain, even in a character role,
he is the one who flashes into any director’s
mind. Now a days, even in the scheduling stage
a key role is reserved for him. This is obvious
from the releases for Pongal besides six films
set off to release including Shivaji.
|
|
Besides
being a performer he is also a sensitive
producer and launched his own production
outfit called Duet Films with quality releases
like ‘Azhagiya Theeye’, ‘Naam’
and Kanda Naal Mudhal. He staunchly believes
in encouraging young directors and is presently
working in Aaval which will mark his debut
as hero with the elfin beauty Manisha Koirala
as the heroine. Besides, he is also producing
a film directed by his mentor, KB titled
Poi.
During the pooja of Poi, Rajini is said
to have been overwhelmed by the occasion
and thanked Prakashraj by saying, ”It
is so thoughtful of you. All of us owe a
lot to KB sir. But, none of us launched
a movie directed by him under our banner”.
|
|
|
|
|
Poi
is a delightful tale of youth and KB is as
active as a bee belying his 70-plus age. He
plays an important cameo in the film. The
film’s audio would be released on February
12 at the University Centenary Auditorium.
An excited Prakashraj is planning to bring
together all the heroes introduced by KB on
to the stage that day. Rajini and Kamal have
readily agreed to attend. Poi has a fresh
lead pair in Uday Kiran and Vimala Raman.
KB plays Uday’s father who eggs him
on to achieve his goal. Music is by Vidyasagar
and the songs are expected to be a hit with
the youth. KB has said that Poi could be his
swansong and he would like to take a bow after
the film. Prakasharaj is also keen on promoting
the film in a grand fashion just as his other
recent film, Kanda Naal mudhal. |
|
|
But,
things are not all that rosy for the man who has
had the good fortune to work with titans like
Mohanlal, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan in
such a short career because of discipline issues
like coming late to the sets. These are the blots
in an otherwise colourful canvas. Have you become
complacent, Mr. Prakashraj; please wake up before
it’s too late! |
|
|
|
|
|
