Santhana Bharathi is an actor-filmmaker who began working underneath veteran filmmaker CV Sridhar. He made his debut with Panneer Pushpangal, a coming-of-age romantic drama. He’s recognized for his affiliation with actor Kamal Haasan, with whom he labored in two movies Guna and Mahanadi, which gained the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Santhana Bharathi shares fascinating anecdotes on 4 motion pictures that had been instrumental in making him a filmmaker.
Chomana Dudi (1975)
When I used to be working as an assistant, I used to steadily attend film festivals.
That is how I ended up watching a bunch of American battle motion pictures at Safire theatre. In reality, I caught Chomana Dudi at one of the festivals. The film talks about caste discrimination in a small village in Karnataka and the narration simply sucks you in. It made me question the standard trappings of Tamil cinema. In that sense, Kannada cinema was actually pushing the envelope in the early ‘80s.
Uthiri Pookal (1979)
I nonetheless bear in mind the impression Uthiri Pookal had on me.
Sarath Babu (L) in a nonetheless from Uthiri Pookkal
| Photo Credit:
M Periasamy
Because, I grew to become insecure as an individual after watching it. The first thought that popped up in my thoughts was: ‘How can somebody create something like this?’ Everything was new about Uthiri Pookal — from filmmaking to music. We had seen nothing like this earlier than in Tamil cinema and it was a studying lesson for us. This was round the similar time when Malayalam and Kannada cinema pushed the envelope and got here up with terrific tales. As a budding filmmaker, I used to lengthy for such narratives in Tamil cinema. J Mahendran made that potential.
Moondram Pirai (1982)
There was an enormous buzz round its launch.
The elaborate climax sequence simply broke my coronary heart and it was so disturbing at that time. I couldn’t come out of that zone, so I went straight to Kamal Haasan’s home and advised him: “Kamal, Moondram Pirai has affected me deeply, particularly due to the climax act. You have given a great performance.” Kamal Haasan had an amazing scope to flex his performing prowess in Moondram Pirai, which was playfully aided by Sridevi. Even in spite of everything these years, if we’re speaking about Moondram Pirai, it’s as a result of of Balu Mahendra.
Nayakan (1987)
I’ve learn the novel, however one way or the other I missed catching The Godfather when it launched.
It goes with out saying that I’m a fan of the novel. Nobody may have ever imagined making an attempt one thing like The Godfather in Tamil. Not even of their wildest goals. And then got here Nayakan. I bear in mind being blown away by the film’s surprising climax (courtesy: Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan). It created not only a ripple, however waves in Tamil cinema. So a lot in order that Sivaji Ganesan himself was impressed by Kamal’s efficiency.
(As advised to Srivatsan S)
