On my pinboard- Yogaraj Bhat

Director, lyricist and actor Yogaraj Bhat has always excelled at multitasking. His films portray a slice of reality and his lyrics are not only meaningful but also add a lot of life to the movie.

He is best known for his directorial projects such as ‘Pancharangi’, ‘Paramathma’, ‘Lifeu Ishtene’, ‘ Drama’ and ‘Vaastu Prakaara’. His latest release, ‘Dana Kayonu’, portrays the life and culture in the countryside.

 He is presently working on a couple of projects in Kannada and foremost among them is ‘Nanna Hesare Anuraagi’.

Music
Bhimsen Joshi
“I learnt how to fall in love with a voice after I heard the songs sung by Dr Rajkumar, A R Rahman, Ghulam Ali, Bhimsen Joshi and Jagjit Singh. When I hear them sing, it feels like they are sitting right next to me. Such is the power in their voice and their renditions are beyond comparison.

A R Rahman’s voice is out of the world and he is the perfect example of a musician who thinks out of the box.”

Cinema
‘Seven Samurai’
“It’s hard for me to zero in on a particular actor but I have an exhaustive list of favourite films. The ones that would surely top the list are ‘Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma’,  ‘Duniya’, ‘Seven Samurai’, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, ‘Titanic’ and ‘Before Sunrise’.

‘Seven Samurai’ is a Japanese epic historical drama adventure and I like the way the different elements of cinema such as action, drama, romance and adventure have been captured so well. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched these films. I cherish them all for various reasons.”  

Author
Poornachandra Tejaswi
“Works by Poornachandra Tejaswi have always fired my imagination and aroused my interest. Poetry by Da Ra Bendre has equally held my interest. There are a few other authors such as Mirza Ghalib, Mark Twain and Jayant Kaikini whose writings have shaped and influenced my thought process. In fact, reading keeps me alive, it provokes me to think, teaches me communication and has also helped me find a way out of any complex situation.”

Food
‘Idli’ and ‘sambar’
“I am most content with a plate of ‘idli’, ‘sambar’ and ‘chutney’. I enjoy simple food and don’t like to make my meals very complicated. A few other dishes that perfectly fit into my list of favourites are ‘jolada rotti’ with ‘palya’, ‘khali dosa’ and ‘huli’ with rice. I am a big foodie and eat anything that’s placed before me. When I am really enjoying the food in front of me, I tend to go overboard. I never skip a round of yoga because it helps me stay fit in mind and body.”

Inspiration
Ramachandra Bhat
“My father Ramachandra Bhat has been my inspiration. He was a selfless man who lived for others and abided by a simple Vedic philosophy. I try to imitate him but miserably fail at it.” 

Travel
Himachal Pradesh
“There’s a sense of calm and stillness about Himachal Pradesh. If one wants to get away from the rush of daily life, they must head to Himachal Pradesh. Germany is another place that I would like to go back to because it is a technical hub and the inventions you see there are one-of-a-kind. Switzerland, for me, is sheer bliss.

Closer home, places along coastal Karnataka, Dharwad, Mysuru, Kerala and Puducherry are those that I would want to visit frequently, for work or even otherwise. I’ve always been fascinated with the Western Ghats. You learn a lot just by being around there.”  

(As told to Nina C George)