Words are powerful. They can make or break anything. And in the film world, these words are replaced by letters, as is the trend, and they can make or break a movie. Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor’s love for the letter “K” is a well-Known fad as a majority of their movies and tele-ventures start with the letter K. Likewise, call it superstition or a blind belief to repeat successes, many filmmakers stick to a lucky letter when it comes to naming their projects. Sandalwood too is not alien to this trend as a handful of filmmakers have time and again repeated lucky letters for the simple reason — to recreate their successes.
“It is normal human tendency to repeat or re-use certain aspects when they yield positive results. Some do it as a part of their blind beliefs or superstitions, and some do it till their luck runs out. In the Kannada film industry, producer and filmmaker AL Abbaiah Naidu is famous for such practices. He witnessed a series of successes with his production ventures that all started with the Kannada letter ‘Tha’. He has made as many as 12 films starting with the letter ‘Tha.’ His last was Thayavva which even starred Kiccha Sudeep. He is also fondly called Thayi Naidu in the industry. His sentiment and connect with the word Thayi meaning mother is also a well known fact,” says director Raghavendra.
If Abbaiah Naidu is ‘tha’lented in that sense, some directors like using rhyming words. Director Sunil Kumar Desai is known for his successful series of movies — Utkarsha, Nishkarsha, Sangarsha, and most recently Udgarsha.
Actress Harshika Poonacha, who is back in Desai’s camp for his latest film — Udgarsha, feels fortunate at the opportunity to work with Desai again. “I have grown up watching Desai’s movies, he is best when it comes to making suspense thrillers. I am hoping that the latest Udgarsha will be remembered as much as his earlier... ‘arsha’ movies,” she said.
However, the practice usually comes to an end when the letters or words fail to spin their magic at the box office as is the case with director Rajendra Singh Babu who made three back-to-back comedy movies with the letter ‘Ka,’ — the Kothi, Kathe and Kuri series.
At present, director KM Chaitanya and his love for “aa” and Chetan and his “bha” sentiment are case in point as well. Writer Ashwini points out that in the case of TN Seetharam, who is known for his love for the word ‘Ma,’ it could be for a specific reason. “In Kannada, words such as Madadi (wife), Magalu (daughter) Matru (mother) all start with mother, and that strikes a chord with family audiences,” she wraps up.
Syllabelles!
Director Abbaiah Naidu: Thayavva, Thaligaagi, Thayigobba Karna, Thayiya Aase, Thayiya Aane, Thavaru Mane, Thayiya Hone, Thayiya Kanasu, Thaliya Bhagya, Thayiya Nudi, Thayiya Madilalli.
Director Sunil Kumar Desai: Utkarsha Nishkarsha Sangarsha and now Udgarsha.
Director Chetan: Bahaddur, Bharjari, and Bharaate.
Director KM Chaitanya: Aa Dinagalu, Aatagara, Aake, Amma I Love You.
Director TN Seetharam: Meera Madhava Raghava, Mayamruga, Mukha Mukhi, Male Billu, Manvantara, Mukhta, Mukhta Muktha, Mahaparva, Magalu Janaki.
Director Rajendra Singh Babu: Kurigalu, Kathegalu and Kothigalu.
