Bhagyaraj is not a new name for Telugu movie buffs. Several films, such as Moodu Mullu, Radha Kalyanam, Satyabhama, Abbaayi Gaaru, Sundarakanda , and Adirindi Alludu!, were all remakes of Bhagyaraja's films. Several of his films were also dubbed and some even ran for over 50 days in many centers, or even over 100 days sometimes (such as Chinna Illu and Darling, Darling, Darling!)! This multi-talented writer-turned-hero-and-
director is hard to get in touch, as he lived in Chennai. I could finally reach him with the help of producer-director E.V.V. Satyanarayana gaaru. It was the election time - he was working for DMK - and he was also directing his son Shantan in a new film and so it took a while before we could finally set up an interview over the phone. The excerpts of a late Sunday night telephonic interview with Bhagyaraja are published exclusively for TeluguCinema.Com readers:
Sri: Firstly, do you know Telugu?
Bhagyaraj: (Laughs) My ancestors are from Andhra Pradesh region, but I was born and brought up in Coimbatore. Thus, I grew up speaking Telugu at home but with a Tamil flavor because of my upbrining in Coimbatore and Chennai. Still, I think my Telugu is okay...
Sri: So, how did the long journey from Coimbatore to Chennai happen?
Bhagyaraj: I was quite interested in films since my childhood and I used to do a lot of plays in the school. When a sixth grade teacher asked the class as to what each one of us wanted to achieve in life, everyone said things like IAS officer, police officer, etc. and I was the only one who said I wanted to become a hero like MGR or NTR, who I idolize! While everyone laughted at me, my sir encouraged me saying that I was honest and that there was nothing wrong in wishing so. I continued to keep my passion alive, and even used to improvise several film dialogues when I was in my seventh grade. An incident in my eighth class was an unforgettable turning point, I should say! I was rehearsing for a play after the regular school hours, and another play was also being rehearsed in the same area. One of my seniors was doing a character in that other play. We used to have a school uniform, of course, and a badge above the shirt pocket on the left side.
This senior student was clutching the badge occasionally due to nervousness, and when I saw that, I pointed it to my teachers and said something is not right about it and asked them to correct it. Even after a few rehearsals by him, they didn't notice what the issue was and asked me what I found wrong. I pointed that his mannerism with the badge would be embarrassing on the stage because he's playing the role of a lady! The teachers were surprised when they had to acknowledge that I was right! That's when I realized that I had qualities of becoming a director, and later helped me start directing plays.
Sri: How did you get into films? It's not easy to get an entry pass and then a break, particularly if you don't have a film background...
Bhagyaraj: Surely, it wasn't easy! I did everything before coming to films! I roamed without any goal for a while. You may not believe it when I say, but I ran away from home and came to Hyderabad. And, you know what I did in Hyderabad? I pulled a cycle rickshaw for a while, worked as a waiter in a hotel, as a clown in a circus, and more such mean and petty jobs, before I realized that I should settle into something and not wander like that! I realized that my passion for movies was still alive and burning and I went to Chennai for a chance to try my luck. I neither had the physique nor the looks necessary for being a hero. I thus chose the story department, as I was good at telling stories. I used to go to producer Thooyavan's house daily, until he agreed to take me in as an assistant and put me with Ramakrishnan's sir, with whom I worked for the film Ezhai Panakkaaran along with Balaguru. Ramakrishnan sir introduced me to Bharathiraja sir, who was then doing his first film Padunaaru Vayadinile (Tamil original for Padaharella Vayasu) and I joined the team...
Sri: By the way, what was your first remuneration?
Bhagyaraj: I didn't get anything for Ezhai Panakkaaran but for Padunaaru Vayadinile, I got Rs. 150 as my first salary from Sree S.A. Rajakanavu. It might seem like a very little money now, but at that time, it was after long that I was seeing so much! I repaid the Rs. 100 that I borrowed from my roommates for party as hand loans and also repaid their debts. A month-long shooting schedule was to start and we had to leave to Mysore the next day. Food and accommodation would be taken care of during shooting and thus I didn't need a lot of money. After reaching Mysore, I spent Rs. 18 to buy chappals for myself. After reaching the hotel, I was informed that the schedule got postponed and we had to vacate the hotel and go back to Madras on our own. Imagine my plight! ...I landed in Madras again, with just two rupees at hand! I cannot even go back to the production house and ask for money as I just took the money a day before. Thus, I had to face many a hardship for the next one month as the next schedule did not start until then! ...
Sri: Tell me about the film Padunaaru Vayadinile.
Bhagyaraj: Like many already know, it is Bharathiraja's first film. I joined as his assistant to him as Ramanathan gaaru recommended me saying that I have good handwriting. I had to coach Rajinikant as he was [then] not fluent in Tamil and he could not even read Tamil. I thus used to read to him and help with voice modulation. He used to listen and repeat it over and over until he mastered the right modulation - he's really hardworking! You may remember that the film starts with a flashback - that was my idea. Bharathiraja sir wanted a linear narration. After the film completed its shoot, we screened at least twenty times for the distributors and the narration switched everytime between linear and non-linear (with flashback) versions. After the whole exercise, the producer himself released the film (with the flashback narration).
