Meet this young man from Keshavara village near Chikballapur. It may not be an exaggeration to say that he is can be a role model for many prospective directors in Sandalwood who believe that hard work always pays dividends.
Presenting is R Chandru, who is basking in the stupendous success of ‘Taj Mahal’. The film has completed 100 days and is heading towards 150 days at a few theatres across Karnataka.
Prior to debuting as a full-fledged director, Chandru had to face challenges inlife. His fascination for the megaphone made him run away from home and reach Gandhinagar, the hub of film activity, in Bangalore. Chandru, who hails from a farmer’s family, struggled to get a chance to work as an associate under a few directors.
As luck would have it, Chandru was got work as an associate director for the film Hrudaya I Miss You, in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. It all happened when both of them were chatting over the lunch at the shooting location.
“Ashok Kumar asked me whether I have any story to make a film. He introduced me to producer Venkateswara Reddy, a floriculturist from Anekal taluk,” says Chandru.
After a green signal from Reddy, Ashok Kumar agreed to be a co-producer for Taj Mahal, in which Ajay and Pooja Gandhi were in the lead. Chandru had faith in the script of the film.
Many were apprehensive of its success because the director chose Ajay as the hero, whose films have crashed at the box office. However, Chandru has proved many pundits in Gandhinagar wrong. “I knew that it will be a success.
Had it not been removed from Santosh theatre, it might have completed silver jubilee. Retaining the film at Santosh theatre was beyond my capacity,” says Chandru.
There were rumours that the producer did not remunerate Chandru even after the success of the film while a few people say that he has received a mere Rs 15,000 as remuneration. Chandru says, “I neither received remuneration nor asked for it. I consider the name and fame it has earned for me as the remuneration. However, I got a good amount from sale of negative rights to Telugu and Tamil producers.
Preparations are underway to make it in Telugu and Tamil,” says Chandru with a smile. He is busy making preparations for the muhurat function of his second film Prem Kahani at Sree Kanteerava Studios today. Ajay and Sheela from Hyderabad are the lead pair while music maestro Ilayaraja gives the music.
Will Chandru repeat the success with his second venture? We have to wait and see.
maheswarareddy@epmltd.com