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Indian cinema owes a lot to famous director K Balachander, who would have turned 102 today. The veteran director is one of the reasons we have two Oscar winners in India. It was Balachander who launched AR Rahman in Tamil with his production venture Roja. He was also the one who launched MM Keeravaani in Tamil, who later became a popular composer in both Kollywood and Telugu cinema. It doesn’t end there. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, superstars of Tamil cinema, are now referred to as ‘KB Products’. Not only did Balachander introduce them, he was also a mentor figure who influenced both of them in their formative years. He was the last director who could address both stars without “sir” or other suffixes of respect.
Rajinikanth and Balachander’s equation was on full display at an event in 2010. “Sari da!” He tells the director Rajinikanth before asking him a series of questions on stage at a special event held by the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Initially, Balachander told Rajinikanth that he would treat him as his apprentice like old times and would not expect the respect the new directors would give him. He then goes on to ask Ragini some tough questions, which were not possible for anyone else interviewed. Sample this: KB asks, “How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?” Rajinikanth, looking embarrassed, says, “I cut it.” “Please stop completely. I used to smoke as well. You’ve seen me with her on the sets, too. But I stopped. You do too,” KB replies.
In one instance, Balachander asks can you tell me a major embarrassment you have faced in your entire life. Says Rajinikanth, “No comments. I don’t want to talk about it.” In another instance, Rajinikanth gets emotional when he asks his guru about the time he introduced his then-fiancée Latha.
The interview also had some hilarious moments like when KB asked Rajini if ​​he was getting frustrated while working on his films. Ragini, without missing a beat, said, “Many times.” The whole stadium erupted in laughter.
The conversation also led to K Balachander confessing one of his regrets. Rajinikanth asks if he remembers the time he slammed him on the sets of Avargal (1977) and walked away. The star replied, “Very well.” KB then adds, “I was so hard on you that day. I said so many things I shouldn’t have done. Then I walked away from the sets. Now, I still remember that day whenever I see you grow. I tell myself, I yelled at him then. See.” to his place now.”
The interview is also a reminder of how things have changed. Such an equation between director and actor cannot exist now, because the respect that filmmakers commanded back in the day was different from the present. Mentorship is now being replaced by camaraderie. This makes this conversation even more special because it is a reminder of a bygone era.
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