Sterling performance
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Prakash Raj has put up an outstanding performance in Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, doing every Kannadiga proud
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LONG WAY Prakash Raj is an integral part of Telugu and Tamil cinema
The Kannadiga currently doing us proud is Prakash Raj. He's come a long way since the days he'd stand outside a friend's garage smoking away and staring into space with stars in his eyes. Today there are very few Telugu or Tamil films without him and the applause his appearance receives could make heroes envious. The good thing about him is that there's no trace of an accent when he speaks these two languages unlike Rajnikant or Arjun Sarja. A Prakash Raj like character is included in every story narration to heroes. He's repetitive with some irritating idiosyncrasies, a la Nana Patekar but give him a good director and he's outstanding like in Iruvar and now in Vetaiyadu Vilayadu. Few Kannada producers can afford him though. Prakash also believes in encouraging talented young directors. He ploughs his hard-earned money back into turning these youngsters dreams into celluloid. He persuaded his mentor K. Balachander to direct a film for his banner.
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"It was in April that I last faced the camera," says Puneet with a mixture of grief and relief. We're sitting on a pavement in Shivajinagar, a lane away from where his father lived. Arasu has started rolling and as usual the initial shots canned are the easy ones. Technology has improved so much. Cameras are just fixed to the door to shoot scenes of the interiors of a vehicle. The composition is done with the help of a small external monitor. The shots being canned are of Puneet driving a Land Cruiser and chatting with a pal.
Mahesh Babu, the director who hasn't done anything since the super success of Aakash is relaxed. "We shoot here till the end of the month and then travel to Australia where we'll be shooting a couple of songs and some scenes," says Mahesh. Ramya and Meera Jasmine along with Puneet form the triangle. After this Puneet is looking forward to working with his cousin Prakash who made Rishi. "It's about a revolution and is interesting," says Puneet.
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The film Poi though was languishing in the cans till a sympathetic `Oscar' Ravichandran decided to take over the project. Prakash has suffered personal setbacks like the death of his young son but then glamour does not guard you from grief. It's only egged the actor on to work harder.
Kalaipuli Dhanu the Tamil producer known for loosening his purse strings where publicity is concerned was in town. Remember Aazhavandan? Well, Dhanu would like to forget, but you live and you learn. "The last time I was here was to seek the blessings of Dr. Raj Kumar," says Dhanu. He wanted to produce a film with Puneet as hero. "It didn't work at that time but I'm still keen on doing a Kannada film with Puneet. I was floored by Raj Kumar's humility and if I enter the industry here it will be with Puneet." Dhanu was here because his youngest son has turned director and has wrapped up a schedule in Bangalore. "Rockline Venkatesh, my friend was a great help. Another friend, Muni Ratna had his Mercedes at my sons disposal," says a touched Dhanu.
Watch out for a big budget extravaganza starring Puneet Raj Kumar in the near future.
S. SHIVA KUMAR
sshivu@yahoo.com
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