DIRECTOR GNANA RAJASEKARAN INTERVIEW

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“I DO NOT WANT MY FILMS TO BE CALLED 'AWARD WINNING MOVIE'” – GNANA RAJASEKARAN

Interview Team : Sudharshan

Biopic specialist, director Gnana Rajasekaran is back with his next project, Ramanujan. Sudharshan Giridhar catches up with the IAS officer turned director to know about his new biography and why he doesn’t want his projects to be called ‘Award Winning Movies’.




 

From being an IAS officer to a film maker…

It was a gradual change… I took up IAS because it was my Father’s death wish. But the passion for cinema has always been there. I have been an IAS officer for the past 27 years. Fortunately, I was posted in Kerala, a place where arts and culture is given a lot of importance. There, I got to keep my interest and passion alive. People there noticed my interest and appointed me as the MD of Kerala Film Development Corporation. I was also the district collector of Thrissur, which was the center of arts and culture of Kerala. I’ve been a part of lot of cultural and youth activities in my 27 year long career, which helped me stay around a variety of creative businesses.
 

I started making movies when I believed the time was right. My first film was in 1995. But then, I didn’t quit my job to make movies. I took leave of 3 months to make Mogamul. I am probably the first district collector to take 3 month long leave to make a movie.
 

Once I got National Award for my first films, my higher authorities in Kerala appreciated me and granted me leave, whenever I wanted to make movies. I did four films while I was in service. 

I took up IAS because it was my Father’s death wish.

 

Your fascination for Biopics…

I wouldn’t say that… My first two movies weren’t biographies. I have tried my hands with various genres. But the third time, I stumbled upon a biography. Bharathi’s life inspired my big time that I wanted it to be translated into a film. There’s a belief in Tamil cinema that biopics don’t work in the box-office. Bharati shattered that belief and producers started approaching me for biographies. That is the major reason, why I made more biopics.

While, I attended few felicitation functions for Bharati, audiences asked me to make a film on Periyar. In fact, at the moment I have 8 offers, all for biopics. But, I’m a bit choosy about it. 

Bharathi’s life inspired my big time that I wanted it to be translated into a film.

 

Why did you choose Ramanujan?

When you do a biopic, I believe, it should have a relevance to the time. Ramanujan, for instance, is a right movie to make now.
 

Take today’s parents, they do not seem to bother about their children’s dreams. They impose their ambitions and desires on the children. Some parents choose what a child has to became, the moment the kid is born. They don’t seem to be interested about the talents the kid possesses, while their duty is to nurture their kid’s inherent talents.
 

When a genius is born in our country, people brand him/her crazy or abnormal. We do not know how to handle a genius. We take all the efforts in making him/her ordinary. We settle with average people. ‘New’ or ‘extraordinary’ don’t go with our society. That is why all our brilliant people go to NASA and other foreign organizations.
 

Ramanujan is about a genius, who faced a similar trouble. This film will be an eye opener for both the student community and the parents. 

Take today’s parents, they do not seem to bother about their children’s dreams

 

Challenges involved in making a biopic….

Picking a biography is not a big deal. Everyone has a biography of their own. But when you decide to show it to the people, it must have content that inspires the audience. Unless it has something to say to the people, there is no purpose in making a biography. To find the right purpose in a biography is the biggest challenge. It involves a lot of research.
 

Then there are facts. Take Ramanujan for example, there hasn’t been any biography on him. In that case, to find those minute details about- how Ramanujan responds to situations, how his mind works, his reactions and other unknown factors is a near impossible task.
 

That’s when the director’s imagination plays a part. At the same time, creativity must also not adulterate the facts. Striking a balance is very important.
 

This involves deep research about the person. When I make Ramanujan, I become Ramanujan. Same is the case with Bharati and Periyar. 

When I make Ramanujan, I become Ramanujan

 

How does such extensive research about individuals influence your personal self?

Actually it doesn’t… Each personality is like a high tension wire. I hold on to the character (or wire) only for the duration of the biopic. When I’m done, I let the wire go and look for another set of wires.

 

Does it irk you when people brand you as a biography specialist?

Not really… I am in fact proud of it. But what bothers me is that a good director must be a specialist of all genres. I haven’t been able to achieve that reputation yet. All the offers I’m getting are for biopics. I’d also like to explore various other genres.  

All the offers I’m getting are for biopics. I’d also like to explore various other genres.  

 

Criticisms and praises…

Being a biopic specialist, criticisms are part of my career. Once MT Vasudevan Nair, when he came to know that I was working on Bharati, he asked me if I have showed Bharati’s dark side, like the (alleged) psychoactive drug habits. He told me that if I hadn’t shown the dark side, the film wouldn’t be an honest biopic. On the other hand, if I portray Bharati taking drugs, it wouldn’t send a right message.
 

I told him that I have highlighted the best parts of Bharati’s life, but made a passing mention of the habit through a dialogue (There’s a dialogue of Bharati in the movie that goes – “A new habit of mine is making me dizzy”). That’s how you strike a balance. Neither should the film be a eulogy nor should it highlight the wrong side of the person.
 

As far as praises, most people were amazed at my capability to handle extreme characters back to back. While Periyar was an atheist, Ramanujan was a very orthodox man.     

Most people were amazed at my capability to handle extreme characters back to back. While Periyar was an atheist, Ramanujan was a very orthodox man.

 

Abhinay Vaddi…

Once I’m done with my script, I turn a mad man. Whereever I go, I look for a person who’d suit the title character. I start looking for the right eyes, nose and the attitude.
 

I came across Abhinay in a Telugu movie and I though his features matched Ramanujan’s. I called him for an audition and he cracked it with ease. Only later I came to know that he is the grandson of late Gemini Ganesan.
 

He is an extraordinary performer. His subtle acting goes with the character of Ramanujan very well. He is one actor who can grasp any character quickly and become the character easily.  

Once I’m done with my script, I turn a mad man.

 

The advantage of having a very strong cast…

The film has got three important characters, apart from Ramanujan – the parents and Professor GH Hardy. Suhasini plays mother and the character has a lot of scope in the movie. A genius that she is, Suhasini has done a brilliant job and if you ask me, I’d say she is the female lead of the movie. Kevin McGowen plays Professor GH Hardy, Ramanujan’s mentor. He is a true professional.    
 

I must also thank all the leading actors, who have worked on my movie – Sarath Babu, Mano Bala, Y Gee Mahendran, Radha Ravi, TP Gajendran, Abbas and the rest. Most of them didn’t have a full length role, yet they agreed for the parts. 

 

The Cambridge experience…

I think we were the first people to shoot a movie in the Cambridge University. It wasn’t easy to get the permissions. We showed them the script to convince them. They finally agreed, but with a lot of conditions. 

 

The foreign actors…

I have to say, I was stunned by the sincerity of the British junior artists. They memorized their Tamil dialogues before showing up for the shoot. Once they agree to do a project, they make sure, they are 100% available. They are also very process-oriented. They allocate few days for rehearsals before coming to the shoot. That is something, I think our industry must learn. 

I was stunned by the sincerity of the British junior artists

 

 You don’t like your movies to be called Award movies…

Yes… That’s because, here in Tamil Nadu, Award movies are wrongly interpreted as slow and boring movies. I do not want my movies to belong to that category. 


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