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A veteran of seven Nandi Awards

Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Proud feeling S.K. Misro with his collection of Nandi Awards

If the traditional art forms of ‘Harikatha’ and ‘Burrakatha’ had motivated him to don the grease paint, against stiff resistance from his family members, then the strict discipline imparted by the veteran cinema director K. Vi swanath had kept him going for over four decades, in an industry that forgets character artistes like passing years.

Meet Sushil Kumar Misro, the character artist from our very own city who featured in over 50 films and numerous stage plays and over 30 television serials. His acting prowess was no flash in the pan. Most of his roles were in the films directed by stalwarts like K. Viswanath, Bapu (Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana) and K. Balachander. He boasts of an enviable list of films that includes Maro Charitra, Andamina Anubhavam, Ek Dhuje ke Liye, Saagara Sangamam, Siri Vennela, Srutilayalu, Swayamkrushi, Swarna Kamalam, Swathi Kiranam and Subha Sankalpam.

His deft handling of the role of Pattabhi in Maro Charitra in1977 made him a permanent fixture in the trio’s casting list. In Andamaina Anubhavam, he was cast as the third side hero to Kamal Haasan and Rajnikant.

Reminiscing his early days with the famed filmmakers, the veteran actor says, “K. Viswanath was a hard task master. He was a perfectionist and demanded the best from his actors. He himself would enact a scene and ask us to repeat it as it is. On the other hand, Bapu was an epitome of simplicity and K. Balachander was the friendliest among the directors I have come across. Balu garu would place his hand on my shoulders and like a good friend would narrate the scene to me. Probably, that’s how he could bring the best from his actors.”

On the acting front, he regards Kamal Haasan as the ultimate actor in the industry. “He is a born actor and a complete one. Versatile is too small a word to describe him. I still remember a day during the shooting of the film Maro Charitra. Apart from acting in the film, I was also assisting Mr. Balachander as assistant director. During a particular scene, the director asked me to narrate a few lines to Kamal and reminded me that the actor does not know Telugu. I cautiously approached Kamal and asked if he would listen to the lines. He just heard them twice and faced the camera, and to my bewilderment it was a one-take shot,” he says.

Misro made his debut into the celluloid world with B.V. Prasad’s film Needa Leni Aadadhi. “I was picked up by the director during the rehearsal of a play at the Theatre Arts Department in Andhra University. I was in the fourth year of my diploma in the department and the director had come to the city to inspect a few locales and scout for new faces. Seeing my performance at the rehearsal he selected me,” he recalls.

On his dream role, he says that the portrayal of the role of a grandfather in the film Siri Vennela was his best. “I had to transform myself to an era 50 years ahead of me. It was a challenging role, as everything right from body language to dialogue delivery had to be modified to the age,” he says.

Apart from acting in films, he is a prolific playwright and is a popular face in the television. He has written five full-length plays and small plays. He has also directed a couple of them.

During a career spanning over four decades in theatre arts and in the small screen, he has received seven Nandi Awards, which included awards for best actor, best director and best comedian. Being an ‘A’ grade All India Radio artist he participated in 75 radio dramas. One was selected for an Italian festival and one received a National Award. All along his acting career, he continued to be an employee of Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

Misro was critical of the development of theatre arts in the city. He laments, “None is taking up the cause of theatre. The art is dying due to lack of proper facilities in the city. A good auditorium with a proper stage and facilities like the Rabindra Bharathi is a must for the city.”

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