The secret behind the most famed cine heroes and heroines, this make-up artist has been busy for the past four decades. From Chomana Dudi till Allama, he has worked in more than 500 films, which include at least 100 art films. Veteran MK Ramakrishna speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle revealing that he had almost lost hope of winning a national award, and he was pleasantly surprised with the recognition for his work in Allama directed by TS Nagabharana. He shares about his journey, from making characters look real and beautiful onscreen, and how cosmetics and brushes shaped his life.
“Soon after studies, I was struggling with no job. Initially, it was tough. Since I came from a theatre background, with the help of legends like BV Karanth, I secured a place in films. With their encouragement, I started my career and the first film Chomana Dudi won the Swarna Kamal Award, which earned a lot of appreciation. This was when I realised that I had to continue my journey here, instead of working elsewhere,” says the veteran MK Ramakrishna.
Continuing his journey, the artiste says that many producers and directors in those days would find it difficult to afford a makeup artist from Madras, and hence he had a lot of opportunities to work in films. “There was no competition either. It was when Kannada film activities were slowly getting shifted to Mysuru. In fact, I joined films as an actor too. Whenever an actor doing a supporting role was absent, I was offered a role. I started working as both make-up and character artist for a long time,” the veteran smiles.
About learning the art of make-up, he says that when Nataka Academy came up with a course, I enrolled myself as we were even paid Rs 1.25 per day towards training. “It was just a 40 day course. With lots of films being made and a boom in both commercial and art films, I had the opportunity to work in most of them,” he says.
Films like Chomana Dudi, Ghata Shraddha are one of the finest in his career. “Though I was paid very less, I was content with my work. I never tired of working, and I am thankful to the industry which has given me work, and recognition over the years. Buying a makeup kit in those days was very expensive, we used just a few cosmetics, and even buying them was a major task. I once bought a kit for Rs 12,000 then. Now, technology and the range of brands is so much more. Though unlike in Hollywood where a lot of research takes place in every aspect of make-up, Kannada films are still growing,” adds.
He has worked as personal makeup artist to several superstars from yesteryears and continues to work with the same zeal. “I stopped expecting awards when most of my juniors who learnt from me won awards. However, I feel humbled that my work has finally been appreciated, and would like to thank all those who gave me the opportunity to work, and my journey will continue,” he ‘brushes’ off!
