Switching roles with ease

A SCIENCE research scholar involved in a television film production? It may sound strange but Mohana Krishnaswamy seems to excel in both. A university topper and gold medalist, and a doctorate in bio-chemistry, Mohana has published 20 post-doctoral research papers in various scientific journals and is the winner of the Hari Om Ashram's national award for research in Ayurveda. While this would make her appear serious and scholarly, there is another facet to her personality that would come as a surprise to many.

Mohana is a producer of 20 television serials and around 100 documentary films. She is the winner of the IFUW prize at Helsinki, for directing the best documentary on women's empowerment. She is also the winner of the Bristol Award for Best Tamil TV Serial. She is chairperson of Krishnaswamy Associates Private Limited. Incidentally, she is also a linguist, fluent in half-a-dozen languages.

For over 15 years now, producing serials has been a dominating passion, though her interest in scientific research continues. At the height of a research career in a Government laboratory, Mohana began to find bureaucratic hurdles stifling.

A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she began to devote part of her time to her husband's company, Krishnaswamy Associates. S. Krishnaswamy, a doctorate in film production from the Columbia University, U.S., founded the company in 1964 and built up a reputation for producing some outstanding documentary films. If you were in school or college in the late 1970s, you will recall seeing his four-hour documentary 'Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi' - the first Indian title to be distributed under a Hollywood banner - Warner Bros.

In 1984, Krishnaswamy was given a special assignment by the Government to make a documentary on what led to Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Diffident about his proficiency in Hindi, he was on the look-out for an interviewer who would be given clearance by the Defence authorities to accompany him to Punjab.

Being fluent in Hindi, Mohana volunteered to help him interview the victims of terrorism and when the couple landed in Amritsar, they were almost the first civilians to enter the Golden Temple, when the Operation was nearing completion.

Besides, the scope for genuine research was getting increasingly narrower given the work atmosphere in the Government laboratory.

At that time, Rajiv Gandhi wanted the Krishnaswamys to prepare the Hindi version of 'Indus Valley ...' within two weeks. Twenty- six reels of 35 mm colour film, four hours and more.

The eminent writer, K. A. Abbas, who was an admirer of the film, offered to translate the production into Hindi. But it had to be checked word by word to ensure that the dubbing was properly done, recorded and synchronised.

It was a challenge that Mohana rose to with such ease and skill that it won her the appreciation of the former Prime Minister.

Though Krishnaswamy Associates was producing several documentary films at that time and working to a tight schedule, Mohana suggested diversification by producing television serials. When Chennai Doordarshan commenced the telecast of sponsored serials, Krishnaswamy Associates' "Nallathor Veenai", based on a Jayakanthan novel, was slotted in the very first week of sponsored teleserials. Mohana became the producer of the company's TV serials and documentary films, practically relieving her husband of the burden of the organisation, so that he could concentrate on writing and direction.

Mohana also directed some documentaries, including the award- winning 'How They Left Hell Behind', on the empowerment of women.

The company pioneered the production of Hindi TV serials in a Tamil ambience and Mohana became a co-director with her husband in these ventures.

The next generation became active in the company, with both the daughters of the Krishnaswamys acting in lead roles in 'Upasana.'

Mohana produced Sri Aurobindo's 'Savitri' as a dance drama for television. Choreographed and performed by the Krishnaswamys' daughters, Lata and Gita, the dance drama won an award at the U.S. International Film Festival, Illinois. Other popular serials of this team include 'Thuppariyum Sambu," "Buddha Jatakam," "Jaana Pehchana,"besides the highly authentic "Ezhu Thalaimurai Ezhuchi," a docu-drama serial on the freedom struggle. Mohana is currently producing "Oorarinda Rahasyam 2001," which is telecast on Monday evening on Doordarshan and Podhigai.

S. R. ASHOK KUMAR

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Treat for vegetarians
Next     : Pulse of the past