My next movie will be as
interesting as a one-day cricket match, actor-director Ramesh tells G G Nagaraj in a chat.
The parents of actor-turned-director Ramesh wanted their son to be an IAS officer. Even Ramesh thought that he would grow up to be an IAS officer. He secured a rank in SSLC at National High School, Bangalore, but chose the engineering stream. Just when he had decided to prepare for the IAS exams, he came in contact with the movie world and his dreams took a new turn.
After having cultivated mannerisms considered essential to be a part of the tinsel town, Ramesh made his first appearance in front of the camera in the movie Mauna Geethe. However, Sundara Swapnagalu was his first movie that was released.
In the past 20 years of his association with the cinema world, Ramesh has acted in 75 Kannada movies, 30 Tamil movies, ten Telugu movies, one Malayalam movie and two Hindi movies.
In toto, he has acted in 120 movies in a wide spectrum of roles and has the credit of being a Pancha bhasha actor.
Moreover, Ramesh also nursed the desire of directing movies. Amidst all these new thoughts brewing in his mind, in a new development, he got an opportunity to direct Kamal Hasan in Rama Shama Bhama, a super hit.
Satyavan Savitri his second directorial venture has been screened through out the State.
Excerpts from an interview with Ramesh:
Was your entry into cinema coincidental?
Yes. However, I have no regrets about it at all. The film world has bestowed upon me a good life, so even my parents are not dissatisfied with my decision.
For how long are you going to journey as an actor-director?
There is an inseparable relationship between acting and direction. However, I feel that direction is more complex. Thus, I’d like to attain enlightenment on this path.
Could you tell us about the journey of Satyavan Savitri onto the silver screen?
This movie is a kind of experiment. Jennifer Kotwal, Daisy Bopanna and I are the main cast. Providing entertainment to the audience was our primary motive. Lot of graphics have been employed in this movie and the youth has responded well to Satyavan Savitri.
What are your future plans?
People are in search of new and experimental movies. Duniya and Mungaru Male are being screened in theatres even now.
I intend to make movies based on Dr K N Ganeshaiah’s novels Karisiriyana and Kanaka Musuku, and also a movie on familial frictions called Train Accident.
My next movie will be as interesting as a one-day cricket match. I do not intend to bore the audience and will definitely live up to their expectations.
What are your hobbies?
I watch a lot of movies. I am a brand ambassador for CMCA (Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness). I create awareness among children to keep Bangalore, Hubli-Dharawad clean and green.
I am also involved in the activities of Manasa, an organisation which works with special children and on a campaign for prevention of AIDS.
Tell us about your family?
I am married to Archana. Our’s is a love marriage and we have two children- Niharika and Arjun.
We do not want to thrust our dreams and aspirations on our children. Our duty is to inculcate good manners in our children and enable them to grow up in a cultured manner.
