Bala — B Studios ... and before
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Bala's candour leaves the listener stumped, says MALATHI RANGARAJAN, as she talks to the successful filmmaker about his films, marriage and his new role as producer.
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Bala ... making waves with every venture.
BALA IS a classic example of looks proving deceptive. The wiry filmmaker who has made an indelible impression with his three films, looks anything but a force to reckon with. Generally a man of few words Bala allows his films to speak for themselves. And they do — aplenty.
Named B Studios, Bala's recently floated production company has been set in motion with the Surya-Jyotika starrer, "Mayavi."
"My assistant Singapuli has a fabulous sense of humour ... he is directing this comedy," begins Bala as we settle down for a conversation at the Good Luck preview premises in Nungambakkam, Chennai.
His new avatar ...
Singapuli's dialogue in "Paerazhagan," you remember, had been enjoyable. So you are not surprised that Bala has given him the director's seat in "Mayavi," a comedy. But what had goaded Bala to enter production?
"I am able to direct only one film in two years. I come across so many young talented persons but I cannot give them all a chance. B Studios will do it because we intend producing two films a year. Ad films are also on our agenda ... in fact the creative team is almost ready," says Bala. "I have many small ideas that cannot always find a place in my films. All these will be used in our ads," he adds.
Meanwhile Bala is busy preparing for his next directorial venture with Ajit.
"Mayavi's" cast
Except for the lead pair "Mayavi" comprises new faces. "We have a solid reason for having Surya and Jyotika do the lead roles. If I tell you what it is now you will guess the story easily ... " says Bala. He doesn't visit the sets or interfere in any other way. "I expect the director and the crew to deliver the goods ... I won't hassle them when they are working ... "
The anger that comes through in his films ...
Be it "Sethu," "Nanda" or "Pithamagan" there is an underlying current of anger that runs through them — the maker's ire spills over on screen. Who is Bala angry with? He laughs. "You're right ... it is at myself. Also being the fourth among eight children, probably I craved for more attention than I actually got ... anger is one weakness ... I also have other negatives ... I trust those I shouldn't because I cannot see through hypocrisy. I am too gullible ... " Bala is matter of fact in his introspection. You notice a slight trepidation when he adds: "I'm a misfit. I don't know how I'm going to survive in this scenario."
His much-talked about differences with Vikram ...
"It's true ... now it's all been sorted out." But why such unpleasantness when each respects the other's talent so much? "I am squarely to blame. Never has Vikram done anything amiss. It's my temper ... if I close my eyes and control it for two minutes things would be all right. I've begun practising self control these days." The candour is amazing and the honesty increases your respect for the young man, as he goes on. "My temper had kept me estranged from my mentor Balu Mahendra for a decade. We had a misunderstanding during the time he made "Marupadiyum." Thankfully it's all over and the void I felt because he had not seen any of my films will vanish soon ... beginning today he is watching each of them." Bala sounds happy.
The making of "Sethu" ...
Bala was tired of narrating the story of "Sethu" to producers. They liked the story but also felt it was a risky proposition. Kandasamy proved different. "What do I know about whether a subject would click or not? I'm new to this field. But you've worked under a director like Balu Mahendra," Kandasamy said, and "Sethu" was launched. "Thus it was Balu Mahendra, who provided me with a straight ticket to direction," says a grateful Bala.
Vikram had been around for quite a while before "Sethu." But after the film he has never looked back. "I always knew Vikram's potential."
According to Bala only 50 per cent of Vikram's talent has been tapped. "When the rest of it is utilised, Vikram's performance will be one that deserves to be engraved on stone ... he's such a great actor," Bala cannot stop praising the actor. So when will the two come together again? "As soon as I find a suitable character for him," smiles Bala.
Vikram lived solely on boiled vegetables during the making of "Sethu." "We had to travel 10 km everyday to the shooting spot. Vikram would walk the entire stretch up and down. After pack up at sunset, he would reach the hotel where we stayed, only at 9 p.m. He was so famished that after a point he was hard of hearing. We would have to go near him and explain the scene and he would nod his head ... "
Bala's eyes turn moist as he recollects the physical ordeal that Vikram put himself to. Bala expected Vikram to win the national award for "Sethu."
When it didn't happen he decided he would create another award winning character for him — the sexton of "Pithamagan" did the trick.
On to "Nanda" ...
"Sethu's" runaway success led to a lot of expectation about Bala's second film, "Nanda," this time with Surya. And Bala's statements that Nanda was a projection of himself added to the hype. But commercially it was not a grosser. "It did average business ... wasn't a loss," Bala informs. How did he select Surya?
"His initiative and drive impressed me a lot ... `if I do one film with you I can gain a foothold,' he would tell me. Till then he was a soft, romantic hero. I decided to make him shine in action too. Like Vikram, Surya's commitment is incredible ... " commends Bala.
Surya would sit in the hot sun to have a tanned skin for `Nanda.' "The heat in Rameswaram (where we shot) can be horrible. The result is, even today Surya's skin reacts when he uses make-up, and shaving causes blisters ... " Surya was a natural choice for the light role he donned in "Pithamagan." Bala had noticed the otherwise quiet actor's sense of humour even while working for "Nanda." "So that's the facet I focussed on in "Pithamagan."
Repeating Laila in "Pithamagan" ...
"All of `Nanda's' histrionic credit went to Surya. Laila's portrayal received very little recognition. To compensate for it I decided to use her again in `Pithamagan.' That's all."
Targeting a particular lingo ...
"Frankly I like the Brahmin way of talking ... many of my friends are Brahmins and Muslims. When I wanted an innocent heroine for "Sethu" I felt the lingo would provide the impact, and it did ... "
But certain comments in the name of humour go beyond just that and you tell him so. "Just in fun." Bala smiles it off.
Early days ...
This recently married, happy young man has had bitter moments in the past. He is unbelievably open about them. "Drugs took me to the doors of death ... it is a miracle that I survived ... today I look back with guilt at the anxiety I had caused my parents. Once I kicked the addiction out, I decided to enter movies. At that point it was not love for cinema that brought me here, but lack of better prospects ... " Bala reminisces.
Bala is very happy with his new marital status. "The very thought that someone is waiting for you at home is soothing ... " he smiles.
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