Nose for talent, eye for detail
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Prakashraj is all excited about his latest production, `Kanda Naal Mudhal,' that hit the screens yesterday.
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... it's a different journey, a search to identify myself with good cinema. Prakashraj
`KANDA NAAL MUTHAL:' Film for youth
On the day you settle down for a chat with actor-producer Prakashraj, his `Kanda Naal Mudhal' is on its censorship round.
The actor talks cheerily about his tryst with quality fare and his constant urge to carve a niche for himself as a producer associated with astute thinkers in cinema.
The exchanges, punctuated with the characteristic Prakashraj guffaws, reveal the man's passion for the celluloid medium.
"But my passion doesn't make me reckless. I'm no stupid gambler. It's just that when I spot talent I can't let it go. And that's what made me turn to production. Five years down the line I shouldn't regret having let worthy technicians slip through," says Prakashraj.
He does not see himself as a benefactor. "They are deserving hands who need the right break and I happen to give it to them. It's rewarding for both," he says simply.
`Kanda Naal Mudhal,' the latest Prakashraj production, marks Priya V's foray into cinema as director. Starring Laila, Prasanna and Karthik Kumar " `Kanda Naal ... ' is a breezy film, I can vouch for it," promises Prakash.
Surprisingly the popular screen villain, versatile character actor and inimitable linguist (his fluency in more than half dozen languages is only too well-known), is not part of the cast! "I'm not desperate to invest myself as an actor." His typical high-pitched laughter accompanies the words as he goes on: "But we have that lovely actor called Prasanna! The best thing about this young man is that he waits for good scripts. You would have seen his spontaneity in `Azhagiya Theeyae' and `Kasturi Maan.' He's once again brilliant in `Kanda Naal ... ' These boys should not be put in unrealistic films. They are genuine performers."
Karthik's first film didn't make waves. Yet Prakashraj has chosen him for `Kanda Naal ... ' "Neither was Prasanna a very happening actor when he did my `Azhagiya Theeyae.' But they are competent and have delivered the goods," he states. No interaction with Prakashraj is complete without the actor mentioning K. Balachander. "If KB had not given me a break where would I be today? I'm doing my bit now," he says.
Prakashraj has known Priya from his `Iruvar' days, when he worked for Mani Ratnam. She had apprenticed under both Ratnam and Suhasini. So Prakashraj himself called her up and quipped, "Didn't you know that I'm a producer too?" What more can an aspiring filmmaker ask for? He listened to her line and gave her the green signal. "You can choose your technicians yourself," he told her. Laila, you hear, loved the script and so did everyone else. "This is how a good film happens," commends the producer. When Yuvan expressed his wish to work in `Kanda Naal ... ' Prakash asked Priya to meet him and things fell in place. "It's a film for youth and Yuvan rocks," he laughs.
His eulogy about the new director goes thus:Priya has showcased myriad emotions from a woman's perspective. The striking factor is its simplicity."
Viability
Prakashraj's productions, be it `Daya,' `Naam' or `Azhagiya Theeyae,' have been worthy ventures. But were projects such as `Naam' viable? "The very fact that you remember `Naam,' says Prakash, "shows that the subject cannot be faulted. It was just that we timed the release wrong and didn't work too much on publicity." His Duet Movies is also into `Poi' directed by K. Balachander. Radha Mohan, the maker of `Azhagiya Theeyae,' will be doing his next film for Prakash.
The man has his agenda chalked out. But the pressures of production could be tough. "That's part of growing up. I don't see it as pressure, which is mostly monetary, but just as work. For me it's a different journey, a personal search to identify myself with good cinema — producing films is in celebration of it," he smiles.
Every time the crew wraps up a project, the members settle down for a drink and Prakashraj tells them, "You've all enjoyed making the film. That's the real earning, after the release whatever comes your way is bonus." If `Kanda Naal Mudhal' lives up to the expectation the bonus should increase manifold!
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