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As candid as her lens
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She is Asia's first woman cinematographer-turned-corporate executive. Meet B. R. Vijayalakshmi
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MULTIFACETED B. R. Vijayalakshmi
She was Asia's first woman cinematographer, who subsequently donned a corporate role as business head of the TV Software Division of Sa Re Ga Ma. Daughter of late producer-director B. R. Panthulu (of "Kapalottiya Thamizhan" and "Veera Pandiya Kattabomman" fame), B. R. Vijayalakshmi certainly has show biz in her genes. Making her entry into the film world as an assistant to cinematographer Ashok Kumar, she went on to become an independent cinematographer with K. Bhagyaraj's "Chinna Veedu". More films starring Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Prabhu and Arvind Swamy followed, including "En Purushan Than Enakku Mattum Than", "Malluvetti Minor", "Aruvadai Naal" and "Thaalatu".
Multifaceted, she scripted, directed and photographed "Paatu Pada Vaa", which made it to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI '96). "It had S. P. Balasubramaniam, playback singer, in the lead role and the songs were a "big hit." Subsequently, she made a foray into TV by producing "Vasantham Colony", a children's serial. "It was fun doing that serial. Besides, there was the joy of providing employment to people. Vasantham Colony even outdid Oliyum Oliyum, she recalls." Her marriage to sound recordist, computer graphics and non-linear editing expert, Sunil Kumar, led her to think of more productions. "Maya Machindra", another "super hit serial" for Vijay TV, followed.
Producing serials for TV is less risky than producing films for the latter involves huge sums of money," she says.
Not long after, she accepted an offer from Sa Re Ga Ma and photographed and directed "Velan", a socio mythological serial. It was while directing Velan that a vacancy arose for the post of Creative Head of Sa Re Ga Ma and she joined the company in 2002. In September 2005 she became business head of the TV Software Division.
"Since the inception of the division in 2001, we have done more than a thousand hours of TV software in all the South Indian languages. We have plans to do Bengali telefilms and Hindi serials," she says.
At present, Sa Re Ga Ma has several serials on air — "My Dear Bhootham" (Tamil ) which has crossed 500 episodes, "Raja Rajeshwari" (Tamil and Telugu ) which has crossed 2 years, "Vepillaikari" (Tamil ) and "Kaasi Majililu" (Telugu ).
The bottom line, she says, are the TRPs. If the numbers aren't good, either the channel will pull out the serial or the sponsors will pull out.
"In cinema, you may do one or two films a year. Whether it is successful or not, you can move on. Whereas, with serials, your fate is decided every week. The advantage with TV is that you can identify why things are going wrong and have a chance to salvage the programme."
Ask her about her transformation from cinematographer to corporate executive and she says, "I wasn't a true corporate type before I joined Sa Re Ga Ma. I am the kind who has been out on the sets and most of the time involved in production. But my job here is not so different from what I used to do before. Apart from the administrative work as Creative Head, I vet all the scripts that are going to be shot, I help most of my directors visualise the sequences and am available if I am needed on the sets. In a corporate set-up, there is a lot of discipline. Your budget and schedule need to be worked out in advance." Sa Re Ga Ma's other big plan is licensing animation software from Warner Bros (titles like Tom and Jerry and Superman) and dubbing it for telecast in the four regional languages. She is also excited about Sa Re Ga Ma 100, a forthcoming event, which will look back on the 100 odd years of the company's existence and honour the personalities who have helped in its growth. "People like the late Carnatic vocalist M. S.Subbulakshmi, Ilayaraja, S. P. Balasubramaniam and K.J. Yesudas have been only with Sa Re Ga Ma.
Half of all Indian music belongs to us and we have three lakh songs in all the Indian languages. Suhasini Mani Ratnam is directing the show which is not just another song and dance programme, but one which is well-researched."
Will she return to cinematography ? Having come this far she says she wants to pursue a corporate career and use her experience for the company. That must be music to the ears of those who matter.
SUDHA UMASHANKER
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