Swathi - The Soul of Anjali Teacher, Golconda High School

Swathi, the highly acclaimed Telugu film actor, Nandi award winner and Filmfare award winner for Best Actress for her role in Ashta Chamma, plays Anjali, the English teacher in Golconda High School, the romantic interest of Sampath the taciturn cricket coach. The English Teacher not only brings much needed energy, humour and good sense to an environment filed with doubt, friction, animosity and uncertainty, but she also provides great relief from the testosterone charged cricket fields, Irani cafes and dressing rooms. Having seen Swathi's previous performances, I would be inclined to guess that she would have breezed through her scenes in her inimitable style - she is so much like that in real life too.

Swathi at Landmark, Banjara Hills

Energy and good humour is taken for granted when Swathi is around but I add good sense to her personality trait. Good sense as a mix of intelligence, awareness and understanding. She is intelligent, extremely sharp with her wit and repartee on one hand and deep in her quest to add knowledge be it through reading or discussion on the other. I also see intelligence as a trait that gives you the power of discretion, apart from the judicious use of knowledge, and this is something she displays in good measure. Swathi is constantly aware of the demands of the situation and brings an understanding to it that works out best for all concerned. This I state by my observations during our interactions in the past few years.

I watched her anchor a hugely popular television show and found her refreshingly different, irreverent. She pulled off the most audacious capers with ease and that too with some of the stiff big wigs of the industry - one plagued with sycophancy and star struck anchors. But where she scored for me was that she was never offensive, despite poking fun, always tongue in cheek, and carried the subject along with her as she did the rest of the audience. Many far lesser talented anchors lacking the sensitivity, sensibility and intelligence thrived for long on national television on the USP of mistaking spontaneity and wit for being insultingly offensive - Mohan Whatever of Snakes and Ladders and Sajid Khan come to mind instantly. It is a rare feature that someone in India could pull of such a show - and I would have loved to see her on the national stage in the same role, dealing with slippery politicians, big headed celebrities for years to come. She'd have been bigger than some of the current anchors easily with her amazing talent to carry everyone including the subject. It sounds delicious to even think of what she could have done on the CWG!

But television's loss is the film industry's gain as they say and Swathi seems firmly entrenched here now. And true to her potential Swathi stamped her presence authoritatively in almost every single project she has associated with. Recognition followed naturally, in terms of awards, the Filmfare award, the Nandi award, and the young actor is only 5 films old! The mind boggles at what she can do, given the right sort of roles and one can only hope that she gets roles that do justice to her histrionic talent. And that she is not limited to Telugu audiences only and goes far beyond.

Swathi, Sumanth, Ganga Raju and Mohana Krishna at the book launch

I first met Swathi at the audio launch of Ashta Chamma and then at the screening of Ashta Chamma and was so pleased to find her absolutely normal and down-to-earth as she went about checking out our reactions to the movie. Actually we were too dazed to react by the interval, the movie moving at a rapid pace and in an unconventional mode, so we saved our reactions to the end. Ever since, I have always found her very easy to talk to since she can talk about a great many topics easily and is very comfortable being herself. Sometime later, when she read 'The Men Within', she was gracious enough to call me and congratulate me on writing it, a social courtesy that I find very endearing and rapidly disappearing these days - and I was glad she liked the book. So when Art Beat decided to make a movie out of the book, Swathi, to me, was the logical Anjali teacher. She looks the part, adds verve and class to it, and mostly had read the book and approved of it. I never really pictured anyone else doing that role and it was almost a given that she did it.

For someone so young, Swathi displays an amazing amount of maturity. I think she balances her private and public life well, keeps her feet firmly grounded, genuinely cares for people and enjoys whatever she is doing. She has the rare gift of being able to elevate ordinary circumstances to new heights with her presence, especially in front of the camera, and that is an incredible asset that many directors, co actors and producers will discover, as she works on more movies, more diverse scripts. She reminds me of Kajol in her younger days, with her ease of walking through difficult roles and scenes. And she is one of the few actors that one waits for, hoping to see roles that bring out her best, an anticipation that is delicious. Imagine her in 'Come September' or a 'My Fair Lady' or a 'When Harry Met Sally' kind of a role! That would be something. But I am sure there will be better roles coming her way.

Swathi reading from the book

Ganga Raju Gunnam as Chief Guest, Indraganti Mohana Krishna as Guest of Honour, Sumanth and Swathi as Special Guests, were kind enough to grace the occasion of the Hyderabad launch of my second novel 'If You Love Someone...' at Landmark, Banjara Hills. Mohan introduced the book and Sumanth and Swathi generously agreed to read passages of the book and I think they actually did read the passages much better than I did. In fact I think Swathi would  make a terrific Meghna as well, sure of her mind, sharp of wit, of positive action and above all a capacity to understand. And again, like I feel with Sumanth, I am so glad that such a talented and clear headed group of individuals have come together to make movies - from Ram who brings good sensibility and responsibility to the projects, to Mohan, Senthil, Sumanth, Swathi, Nani and all the rest - that one can only anticipate exotic fare in years to come.

I am waiting to see Swathi in 'Golconda High School' of course but I am also in the ringside to watch all her future projects. I do hope she has planned for a long haul here because it is clearly where her talent lies, where she can reach the most people and benefit them through expressing herself fully. It is a responsibility she has to bear, and bear well. Having said that it will be interesting to see all the other ways in which her multi faceted persona chooses to express herself in future, with the passage of time. Here's wishing you a great journey Swathi, one that you enjoy thoroughly, one where you find people and ideas and projects that you love working with. That is one way to get the best of you - success, fame etc will flash by as initial milestones in your journey - not at the end.

Australia - Movie, I Will Sing You To Me

I watched Australia starring Hugh Jackson and Nicole Kidman on television yesterday and rued missing the chance to see it on the big screen. It was long but it was nice and old worldly. Set in the times of the World War II, the movie deals with the regulations of the Australian law of those times, which enabled law enforcers to wean away children of mixed breeding i.e. children born to whites and the native aborigines who were black, and put them in mission camps in an effort to 'cleanse the black out of them'. The end credits mention that this law was changed subsequently sometime in recent years and in 2006 or so, the Australian Prime Minister  issued an apology to the children of the stolen generations.

The story is the endearing love story between a white woman, an English woman Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who comes to Australia to find out what her cattle breeding husband is upto, and the young mixed blooded Nullah. Of course it is also the story of the love between Drover (Hugh Jackson) and Lady Ashley. Lady Ashley arrives in dramatic circumstances in the company of the drover who drives her for two days from the harbour to the farm, Faraway Downs, only to find her husband dead. Speared by a glass tipped collector's item. She is in no mood to stay and is in a hurry to sell the property and return to England when little Nullah tells her that he had seen the farm Manager drive their unbranded cattle across the river. When asked, Fletcher denies it, is proven wrong and is sacked. (Nullah is the son of Fltecher's liason with the native help.) And then all hell breaks loose. The police come to take away Nullah who hides in the water tank with his mother and she drowns, the Drover agrees to herd the cattle across the river to the harbour for the army's beef requirements (something that has been catered exclusively by Carmen Farms who is interested in taking over this property). How they herd the cattle across, survive Fletcher's treachery, lose good men and women in the process and make it to the harbour is one part of the story. How Lady Asley tries to adopt the boy Nullah and is almost ostracised for that and for communing with a known aboriginal friendly man like the Drover, how she plans a future with the Drover and Nullah in Faraway Downs, how the boy is taken away thanks to the interfering Fletcher who now owns Carmen Farms through intrigue and murder and how it all comes to a happy ending is the saga of Australia.

Breathtaking locales, a good look at the desert country in Australia, the aborigines and their ways, cattle breeding, Australia looks very good. To me the scene when Nullah stops the rampaging cattle from plunging over the cliff by standing up to the frightening sight of fifteen hundred crazed cattle will remain in my mind forever. His grandfather King George and his belief that his gulapa magic will always save him, his mannerisms, make Nullah completely adorable. Just as his wonderful line which stuck a chord in me 'I will sing you to me'.

'I will sing you to me,' then is my line to the ones I love.

Bharat Simha a.k.a. Kaleem - Wiry, Athletic And Competitive, Golconda High School

Meet 16 year old Bharat Simha who plays the role of Kaleem in Golconda High School. Kaleem's lean frame completely belies his age; he hardly looks like the 1st year CEC student of St. Mary's Secunderabad. His frail and fluid frame makes you think he is much younger than he looks and Bharat has no qualms with that as he takes all the ribbing from the others with a shrug and a smile. He is again one of those who operates in his own world and does not seek to compete needlessly. I discovered during nets that he was one of the better cricketers in the team who can bat, bowl and field extremely well which was rather a pity since his role as Kaleem did not require him to display any of those skills.

Bharat Simha a.k.a. Kaleem at Don Bosco

Bharat has already appeared in three movies 'Munna', 'Jagadam' and 'Kanti'. He has also appeared in the ICL ad which he points out proudly. So it was that a child artiste coordinator that he knew suggested his name and that is how he came to be part of the Golconda High school. But the most surprising aspect of Bharat is that he is the only one among the lot (with the exception of Sriraj (Nissar, who has a dual ambition of making it in cricket and in movies)) who wants to make a career as a cricketer. He has played cricket for his school, St. John's and has been to the Kamlesh Parikh coaching camp. He bowls medium pace and bats well too.

'I will do my B.Com and then pursue my MBA,' he says clearly. 'But I'd like to play cricket for the country.' His conviction is amazing and when I tell him how to approach his goal, he listens with great interest. Apart from playing cricket in his gully with friends, Bharat loves watching tv and says he loves watching Tom and Jerry cartoons, and movies. His favourite films are 3 Idiots and Robot and his favourite stars are Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone and Rambha. Rambha? I ask and he says he likes her voice unflinchingly. He is pretty clear about what he likes and is unapologetic about it which is very nice.

'I like teen maar music,' he says continuing in the same vein despite the collective shake of heads from his freinds who are used to giving politically correct answers. 'After that, comes Akon, Jutsin Bieber and Shakira.' Get it? That's Bharat for you. Bharat nods and says he has had a good experience on the shoot. He has made several new friends chiefly Sriraj and Suraj (who appear to figure as everyone's good friends) and Vasu and Nikhil as well. 'I enjoyed playing at nets and spending time with my friends here on the shoot,' he says.

I have always been impressed with this lithe and lissome cricketer and the way he plays the game. He is a hard working, sincere kid who knows and speaks his mind. I told him that his path of being a test cricketer is hard and he must work very hard, and he says he is prepared for it. Though he is not outspoken as the rest, he holds his own space when he gets the opportunity. A highly likeable guy, I am really interested to see what he makes of his future - he is the sort who takes big challenges and who can make anything happen. Good luck Bharat and may you play the highest grade of cricket and achieve all that you set your eyes upon.

Nikhil Saketh a.k.a Karthik - Affectionate And Easily Likeable, Golconda High School

Meet Nikhil Saketh who plays the role of Karthik in Golconda High School. The shy, affectionate 13 year old studying in his 8th class in Johnson Grammar School, Habsiguda brings a great amount of acting experience behind him. There is something about him and his demeanour of course that gives him away as one inclined towards the artistic, as one who is disposed to a dreamy, gentle and soft approach to life.

Nikhil a.k.a. Karthik

Nikhil has acted in two movies 'Chukkallo Chandrudu' (a Sddharth starrrer) and 'Bommalata' (a movie made for the film festival which got a national award). 'I have been dancing since I was 3 years old,' he says earnestly, his face all concentration. 'I participated in television shows such as Dum Dum Diga Diga pretty early on which gave me great exposure. And then I did some ads - Shriram Chits, Yashoda Hospitals, Margadarsi Chits to name a few'.In dancing he prefers and has trained in the western genre. 'However I have not been practising for a while now,' he says smiling.

'I landed the role in Golconda High School because of a happy circumstance my mother,' he says. 'My mother works with Rainbow FM and met director Mohana Krishna some time ago when he came to the studio for a show. She might have mentioned me and it all worked out and I auditioned for Ashish and Karthik and here I am playing Karthik.'

Nikhil loves playing cricket with his friends but has no great ambitions in the game. He is more interested in choreography as a career option. 'I will study computer engineering,' he says, 'as my discipline, but I would eventually like to do something in choreography'. You can see it in his eyes that he will do a good job in that area if he takes himself seriously and that it is something that he enjoys and loves doing. I hope in my heart that he does have the wisdom to choose what he loves doing and am assured when I look at the lad - despite his delicate and gentle looks, he seems every bit the sort who will go through the grind but stick to his belief. Nikhil has an interesting hobby apart from playing cricket and dancing which is building and taking apart stuff like cardboard models. 'I really like doing that,' he says. Hmm, the makings of an engineer and an architect as well.

'I love watching movies of course,' he says, 'I mainly watch Telugu movies. My favourite movie is Gharshana and I watch all types of movies. I like Hritik Roshan.' In music he listens to anything with a nice beat and loves the song Jam by MJ. 'I have had a good experience here while on this shoot,' he says. 'Friends, cricket, jokes and time pass. Very nice.'

One look at Karthik and you know he is not a trained cricketer. But when he had to make that extra effort, he never baulked away from the task. For all the training schedules, he was made to do drills and practice certain strokes while knocking, and he did that with great seriousness. As an actor I have not seen him perform yet but I hear from Sagar who is absolutely convinced that he is a very 'intense actor'. I am looking out for him when the movie hits the screens.

As a person, Nikhil is very much the 13 year old with his growing up angst. He is very affectionate in a different way - not effusive or articulate like some of the others - but shy and reticent. He will wait for the others to finish their greetings and then come to meet you. While speaking to him I realised that he was not vague or dreamy as one would expect someone his age to be; he had pretty precise and clear answers that he had thought out well. It was a common thing for me to correct his body language whenever he would come to me - stick out your chest and stand erect like a sportsman I'd say - and he'd immediately do that with a smile.

An intriguing character and someone who appears to have figured things out in his mind pretty clearly, Nikhil is one of the most likeable chaps on the set. He is highly unobtrusive and prefers to operate in his own world instead of competing in the crowd. Not for him the push and shove style, he will make a mark in his own time, his own style. Good luck to you Nikhil and I am keen to watch your performance in Golconda High School just as much as I'd like to see your future endeavours turn successful.

Vasudev Sastry a.k.a. Ramesh - Your Perfect 13 year Old, Golconda High School

Meet Vasudev Sastry who plays the role of the cinema crazy medium pacer Ramesh  in Golconda High School. First look at him and you know that here is a typical 13 year old living a 13 year old's life - school, games, movies, television, food and fun. Currently studying in the 8th class in HPS Ramanthapur, the tall, well built and handsome young man is one of the few trained cricketers in the bunch. And typical to Vasu, he is hardly ever found with the crew. He is quite happy playing and chatting with his friends and just living the moment.

Vasu a.k.a Ramesh at the shooting of GHS

The first time when we assessed the boys at the nets we spotted that here was a boy who had all his basics right. He has a good action for a fast bowler and all his basics are in place whether it is batting, bowling or fielding. Surprisingly he has not yet played for his school but he says that he would be going for selections this year. He has trained at the Sarojini Cricket Club run by my friend Kiran Redy, who is the older brother of my good pal and MCC team mate in years gone by, Praveen Reddy. And Kiran has done a good job and deserves all credit for putting all the basics for Ramesh in place. In fact Ramesh says he was picked up by the casting crew of Golconda High School when they  went to  Sarojini Coaching Camp at RTC X Roads. Satyam who is popularly known as ASN, the chief AD, spotted Vasu and so began his story. Vasu auditioned for Mikey, Varun and Vikas and finally settled for the role of Ramesh which I think fits him well.

Vasu lived his childhood in Pune where his father worked before relocating back to Hyderabad to set up his own business of dealing in construction equipment. He has an older brother Mahadev, who studies in the tenth class in HPS, Ramanthapur as well (and is very keen on direction and story writing already!). Though Ramesh has not acted before in commercials or movies as most of the other boys have, he avers that he was always interested in acting and has participated in school dramas and plays. But facing the camera for the first time was something that made him 'nervous, but then after a while I was okay...'

His friends keep popping up beside us as we talk. 'Sir, he loves eating,' says one. 'Eating is his main hobby sir,' says another and he shoos them away. Since there is so much talk of food I ask him what he likes and he says without batting an eyelid - Chinese sir. He also gave a go ahead for the food on the location and said it was good!

Ramesh does have his favourite actors in Hritik, Mahesh Babu, Katrina Kaif and Kajal Agarwal. Pokiri, Athadu and Magadheera head the list of movies he likes. He does have vague ideas of pursuing acting at some stage. Maybe get into FTII he says which is so similar to the character he plays. 'I'd train to become a better cricketer certainly,' he says, 'but I have no ambition in cricket though.' He admires Sachin, Sehwag in cricket and David Villa in soccer which is another game he plays.

When we had made the sides play a small cricket match in real time, just to check if we could shoot it that way, Vasu was elected with Mikey to play the fearsome fast bowling of Srikant Raju and Parvez of Everglades. I was really apprehensive about how these rookies would handle such experienced campaigners. And boy, were these guys good! They handled the pace with aplomb, getting the ball away for fours and sixes in the Don Bosco  ground comfortably. So heckled were the two premier fast bowlers from the opposite team that they threw Baig saab's caution to bowl within limits to these rookies and bowled flat out. But even then the kids were up to the task and I remember Vasu specially playing them square and to thirdman with comfort, without backing away to the square leg! Similarly, when he had to bowl a ball and beat the batsman (Sumanth) I showed him a particular grip which would take the ball out and might help in beating the bat. Vasu heard it out and bowled the perfect leg cutter that beat the bat and took the off stump. But when he came back and I asked him if he had realised what he had done, the answer was typically Vasu - dreamy and vague - No sir. But that is so typical of his age anyway and I was pretty much like that when I was his age.

'My best friends here are Suraj (Vikas), Sriraj (Nissar) and Nikhil (Karthik),' he says. When I ask him what he learnt from this experience he was very articulate. He said - 'Waking up on time, discipline, interacting with people, seeing new places...' Pretty good!

And life goes on for Vasu. With computer games, facebook and chatting, some cricket and some football, some Chinese food and friends and some movies. Good luck Vasu in all that you endeavour to do and may you carry that same happy-go-lucky attitude all through your life. It is a good way to 'sing success to you'.

A Tiger For Malgudi - R. K. Narayan

These days, whenever I feel like reading something that does not tax my mind, I reach out for any of RKN books. This time I picked up 'A Tiger for Malgudi' and it is vintage RKN. It's slim, as easy a read as any of his books and is set in the familiar setting of Malgudi with its Kabir street, the Boardless, the Pankaja Tiffin shop and other landmarks which have now become familiar to me. Only the characters change.

What is interesting about 'A Tiger for Malgudi' is that it is told from the perspective of a tiger. And I thought the 'Life of Pi' was the first! Obviously RKN did his research on the tiger's life in the jungle and the way it goes about its life and gave it his unique perspective of looking at human intrusion into its life. The tiger Raja even finds love and loses it! However, the story is that of Raja, an enormous tiger, that ventures into human territory after some hunters shoot down his lady love and children and how it is taken by a circus owner who trains it to perform in his circus. Captain, as he is called, is quite a character, and he trains the tiger well and shows it off as a new attraction. RKN in his inimitable style brings in the tiger tamer's weak side by showing a few exchanges with his wife Rita, the trapeze artist!

Anyway the news of the trained tiger reaches the ears of Madan a film producer who needs a trained tiger and the exchanges between him and the Captain are hilarious. Madan's movie is jeopardised when the tiger decides that enough is enough and makes a break and hides in the school headmaster's room. The room is locked, with the tiger inside, and the head master secure in his loft and RKN goes to town describing how the ordinary Malgudi denizen reacts to the extraordinary situation. Alphonse, the hunter, the vice Head Master and the strange Master who finally appears to tame the tiger with a dose of spirituality. There is enough fun in this book as there is in Malgudi, as there is drama and action and even tragedy.

I'd certainly recommend it.

Article in the Indian Express - October 17, 2010

The following article appeared in my Sunday column 'Un Intended' in the New Indian Express.

A ROMEO AND HIS ACIDIC LOVE

Harimohan Paruvu

I met a young man the other day. ‘I am in love,’ he proclaimed. Whatever happens in this world - terrorism, disease, war - love conquers all I thought, and volunteered to help, eager to promote love. He wanted to send a message to his girl. ‘A love letter?’ I exclaimed. He stared darkly at me. ‘SMS,’ he said and showed me the message. ‘ILU 2 DTH,’ said the cryptic prose. ‘DTH? Direct to home?’ I asked. ‘I love you to death,’ he explained, his face intense. 

I got spooked. This was different from the old days when we wrote love letters scented with poetry. This msg sounded like an abbreviated death threat. Now which girl would fall for this? Meanwhile Romeo was grumbling about picture quality. I asked what the matter was. ‘I need her picture,’ he muttered. How romantic! ‘A painting? A portrait?’ I queried in joy. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I need an MMS of our intimate moments to let the world know how intimate we are. Please pass me that knife?’

A knife? To write letters in blood? He brandished the knife. ‘Yes,’ he snarled. ‘To tattoo my initials on her. Love is forever.’ Now, I got worried for the girl. Where does she live, I asked gently. He pointed at his breast with the knife. ‘In your heart?’ I asked. ‘In my mobile,’ he clarified. ‘So far we have not met, I only sent smses and called her.’

Hey, hold on! ‘Is she responding to your smses and calls?’ I asked. ‘No’, he grunted. ‘But I put up a status message on my fb account. If she does not respond, I know what to do.’ What? I asked worried. ‘Harass her and her parents until they accept me. ILU TO DTH is the motto, remember.’ ‘Look,’ I wailed. ‘I thought DTH was your metaphorical death, not her real one. Just write a simple letter and you’ll know if she loves you.’ ‘Yes,’ said the rabid lover after a moment. ‘Write a letter for me.’ ‘A proposal?’ I asked. ‘No,’ said he. ‘A suicide note for both of us in case her parents object.’

‘Why her?’ I rasped angrily. ‘You die if you want to.’ ‘Because she is responsible for breaking up,’ he said categorically. ‘How will she break up if she does not even know you?’ I queried, pulling my hair out. ‘If it’s true love she’ll know,’ he said. ‘Let’s get a bottle,’ he said, suddenly restless. Booze! The refuge of Devdas and co. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Concentrated H2so4. She is friendly with another guy.’ ‘Be a sport,’ I said. ‘Let the best man win.’ ‘I am sporting,’ he revealed. ‘I bought a baseball bat to bash her brains out. See!’ ‘Please,’ I squeaked. ‘What kind of love is this?’

‘I stole this mobile phone for her,’ he confessed bitterly. ‘Hijacked cars, robbed boutiques. What else can I do?’ ‘But they are all with you,’ I whispered, pointing to the merchandise. ‘She will get them if she accepts me,’ he said. If not? ‘Then its curtains for her and her family,’ he said. ‘For insulting my love. My love is pure. Like concentrated H2SO4.’ I had enough. Terrorism and war were better than this.

‘You know what,’ I said as I left. ‘I truly pray that she loves you ten times more than you do.’ ‘Why?’ he asked surprised. ‘So,’ I said, ‘she could get a hacksaw to show how finely she loves you. Or a pair of garden shears - to keep you with her forever. Snip, snip you know.’ Romeo yelped.