City guy boards Mumbai Xpress
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TETE-A-TETE Ramesh, an unusual, sensitive actor, feels that Kannada actors make it big in Tamil cinema because they don't go with hang ups S. SHIVA KUMAR
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NEW LOOK Ramesh is a true blue Bangalorean who appreciates cinema in all languages
He is a typical Bangalorean. He thinks in Kannada though his mother tongue is Tamil. He can speak Hindi, a smattering of Telugu and can understand Malayalam. Language has never been a barrier. Who better than a Bangalorean can appreciate and recognise the subtle nuances in a Mohanlal performance, the comic capabilities of a Rajnikant or the simplicity and sincerity of Dr. Raj Kumar. Ramesh has imbibed and used the exposure well. Add his originality and you get performances as diverse as a Amrithavarshini as well as a Joke Falls.
He's on a roll. Apthamitra is a super-hit while Joke Falls is still going strong at the multiplex. Audiences are amused by the bucktoothed bad guy he plays in Mumbai Xpress. What next? He's not telling, but you know by the twinkle in his eye that it will be fare for the entire family. Await a rollicking comedy with a very special actor in a cameo! Excerpts from an interview:
You have just made your debut in Hindi. How come you were retained and the rest of the supporting cast discarded?
They probably couldn't find anyone uglier! (laughs) The character needed someone with buckteeth who wore thick glasses. It was a unique character. I was basically on the story team of the film and none of the characters suited the role I played. So I did not figure in the cast initially. Kamal suddenly suggested I distort my face and do the role. I agreed. The character had to look like Tinu Anand. I had to use glasses with +9 power. Kamal suggested I use contacts with - 9 to even it out. Kamal was happy because he needed someone who knew all the languages basically. My wife speaks Hindi, so I know the language well. I know Tamil and Telugu, as well so I dubbed for these versions.
Speaking Hindi with a Telugu accent must have made it easier.
The difficult part was getting a Telugu actor for the Tamil version. To fake a language you know well is tough. In Hindi, you are used to watching a Mahmood play a Madrasi. But here I was, a Madrasi speaking Hindi. So I was not faking. That's the way I speak, making mistakes with gender and grammar. Kamal helped me a lot with the Telugu accent. He sat with me throughout the dubbing and was very patient. He's very good at accents.
You watched the film in Mumbai...
I was at the premiere at Bombay and Chennai. The reaction in Tamil was excellent. It was a pleasure to watch it in Bombay. There were thronging crowds and laser beams. The advantage was that my performance got good reactions but the disadvantage was that I had to tell everyone who I was.
Reactions at premieres are polite. Did you go around the theatres?
We didn't go to the theatres but what you said is very true. People tend to be polite and nice at premieres but you cannot fake laughter that too the whole theatre in unison. You can fake a smile. That's easy.
You have been on Kamal's think-tank for a long time. How did this happen?
Friendships are like wine. They take their own time to mature. It started like any other friendship. We got closer with every film that we worked in. He liked my work in Sati Leelavathi. We got close during Panchathanthiram. He was going through a personal turmoil and a bond started. Creatively, we vibe very well. We keep on bouncing ideas off each other. I'm learning so much, not only about the craft but also about the man, the survivor. The energy he has to come out unscathed from failure is remarkable. My survival instinct is becoming stronger because of my proximity to him.
You've graduated from a Kamal fan to clone to co-star.
(Laughs) It's a very strange thing. I still remember staring at the posters of Sagara Sangamam and being enamoured. I would put on the cassette and try to dance like him. My first role in Sundara Swapnagalu was played by him in the Tamil version. Then I met him as a co-star in Punnagai Mannan but my role was chopped off. For about three to four years I was accused of copying him, which I agree now because I'm not doing it any longer and was vehemently denying at that time.
How did you manage to shrug off his influence?
I started watching a lot of other actors. At that point he was the only hero. You watch a Mohanlal, Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal. We are all a product of what we see and read, I guess. In fact, I told Kamal about this and he said he had the same problem.
You're basically a Tamilian but a Kannada actor for all practical purposes. You have done Tamil films and artistes from there have worked here. During the last six months when there was a ban on releases here, did you feel unwelcome there?
It's very important to separate individuals from causes. People who know you well as a person always treat you well. Thankfully I enjoy a lot of goodwill, be it in Chennai or Hyderabad.
Rajnikant has been ruling Tamil films for a couple of decades.
I think the reason why a Kannada actor does well in Tamil is that he does not carry the baggage of his predecessors. When Rajni went there I'm sure any Tamil actor did not influence him. So whatever he did there was totally new. The surprise element works in favour of an alien actor. I could be wrong but that's how I feel. Even your dialogue delivery will be different which works in your favour.
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