Never wanted to be an actor, direction's what comes to me passionately: Kamal Hassan
Mumbai: Kamal Haasan is back to Bollywood after a gap of five years, since the release of ‘Vishwaroop’, with the sequel of the film, which he stars in and has directed, co-produced and co-written.
The multi-talented veteran opened up about the film in an interview.
Excerpts :
As for the past few years, sequels have been the ‘in thing’, was ‘Vishwaroopam’ 2 already in Kamal Haasan’s head?
Absolutely, we started doing this kind of practice from the past couple of years if I may say so. ‘Vishwaroopam 2’, this was planned six to seven years back. I always wanted my story to be completed. Sometimes we scrimp it short for screen timing. The audience’s attention span is, I would say, it comes to 100 minutes now, but we make films of about 140 minutes. It sort of impedes my story. To tell my story with mandatory songs, situations, and action and more, we thought it was good to narrate it further and thus V-2.
All your films showcase patriotism in a different (alag andaz) way, what does patriotism mean to you?
I like the term ‘Alag andaz.’ The meaning of patriotism for me is towards the world. For me, it does not shrink to my village, my country alone. I respect and understand so far, what actually Mohandas Karamchand Gandhiji spoke about the Khilafat movement. He is truly an international citizen, and that’s what I truly wish to be. I am a modern world citizen. So for me, patriotism, deshbhakti, totally means ‘bhugol bhakti.'
Kamal the actor versus Kamal the director, which role comes easier to you?
What comes passionately to me is direction. My guru Balachander once told me, he has discovered me and told me that I have that talent to become a star. However people say he discovered me, but I feel he has invented me. I never wanted to become an actor. I thought this was not the best thing to do. There was much more to do than acting. Then he said, being a star you will make much more money. Nobody will tell that to an 18-year-old boy. I am glad I believed in him. Thus I am sitting here talking to you all about all those achievements only because of that strong belief that Balachander had in me. I feel honored about it.
What kind of rapport does Kamal Hassan share with his co-actors?
It is different. I wish I had a rapport like K. Balachander had with his actors. He was like a father figure to all of us. I am like an encouraging company manager. So it’s difficult to learn the final art of directing actors. Actors are very sensitive and emotional beings. Their memories owing to insult or appreciation are short-lived like children and horses. We need to do both in a measured fashion. I am still learning the technique, it’s in the process. However, there is not enough time for this learning for me now.
What is your USP and success mantra?
My success mantra is very simple. I just refused to stand down as a film buff and an audience. Have never thought myself as above the audiences. I consider myself as a connoisseur of cinema. I never ever let go of that primarily. That is why they allowed me to sit with them.
When will he and his daughters collaborate? Have they spoken about you directing Shruti ?
Subash Kondo is the film in Hindi we plan to do. The Tamil Version is Subash Naidu.
How does he see the Shruti’s growth?
I would consider the kind of growth K Balachander ji had facilitated for me, I hope he was still alive in a younger version of his today. He could possibly substitute by being her right mentor. When I came to do 'Ek Duje Ke Liye “ I already had 100 films under my belt., ‘Ej Duje …’ was 101th film for me. It was like a doctorate to me.
What does he think regarding competition between him and Rajinikanth ?
We don’t think about any sort of competition when we are in public service. Everybody is trying to do their bit, if he is able to do better, good luck to him!
