Forever pushing boundaries

PHOTO: CHITRALOKA.COM

OUTSTANDING Lakshman

As Kannada filmdom celebrates its platinum jubilee, it must also be acknowledged as an industry in crisis — worried by flops, lacking quality films, and confused about the audience. It is in this milieu that one fondly remembers R. Lakshman, the legendary director and producer who was instrumental in rescuing the industry from a very similar crisis, many decades age. He passed away recently at the age of 75.

Lakshman spent 62 years of his life successfully serving the film industry. A humble man of great compassion, Lakshman fought tirelessly against the “remake” culture, struggling to retain the Kannada film industry in Karnataka.

Lakshman started his career as a distributor in 1950, when he was manager of Ashoka theatre in Frazer Town in Bangalore. Those were days when Kannada films were shot entirely in Madras Studios, and ironically, the theatre where he was manager showed only Tamil movies. To retain the industry in Karnataka he worked upon building the Karnataka Studio, sensing the industry’s pulse, and comprehending its needs and aspirations.

In the late 1950’s, the Kannada film industry faced the onslaught of dubbed Tamil and Telugu films. There were widespread protests against the screening of other language films in preference over Kannada. Lakshman with his friends joined the chorus raised by A.N. Krishnmurty (Aa.Na.Kru) to improve the lot of the Kannada film industry.

The year 1963 was a landmark year in the history of the industry. Artists almost became unemployed as the industry faced the crisis of capital. Producing movies became a nightmare for want of infrastructure. At this point of time, giants of the industry like Rajkumar, Balakrishna and Narasimharaju with their mentor G.V. Iyer formed an association to produce “Ranadhira Kantirava”, a historical, which was screened in Bharath Theatre, which till then had never screened a Kannada movie. The film became an instant hit and helped the industry rebuild itself. Lakshman’s role in these events cannot be overlooked.

Lakshman produced “Uyyale” (1969) starring Rajkumar under direction of N. Lakshminarayan and the film made it to international arena and still remains one of the best movies made in Kannada. His next film “Devara Makkalu” was also a super hit. With his long-time associate Gopal, Lakshman formed Srinidhi Productions and produced “Bangarada Manushya” (1972), which of course changed the future course for Rajkumar as an actor and the Kannada film industry, as a whole. The film ran for two years in Bangalore and more than one year in many centres and grossed the highest amount in the history of Kannada cinema.

When Rajkumar completed 100 movies, Lakshman made a special film “Natasarvabhouma”, which was a collective display of all his earlier movies. It was more a documentary and was acclaimed by one and all.

But during the recent years, Lakshman, who produced 12 quality films in all, and who was in the forefront of the upliftment of the Kannada film industry, was not treated with the respect and recognition he deserved. Lakshman confined himself to his home, only writing on films. His sane words were missing in the thin air of Gandhinagar, where money and muscle power has ruled the roost over the years. He could have made crores, had he kept the rights of “Bangarada Manushya” with himself, but the man was not of that genre.

Lakshman’s concern about the serious issues plaguing the Kannada film industry, like remakes, lack of good stories, lack of nativity, fell on deaf ears. The man who made Rajkumar the superstar of Kannada filmdom, remained calm and suffered humiliation over the years silently. The industry failed to stand by the man who cared so much for its development.

His death has left a void difficult to fill in the industry. Though Lakshman is not amongst us, his movies and its message remain etched in the memories of Kannada cine goers.Lakshman lives in the hearts of Kannadigas and that itself is the tribute to the man.

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