Mufti is to be out in theatres this week and Sriimurali has, as usual, withdrawn from public glare. He keeps away from distractions and gives no chance of any negative remark. This time his project is even bigger, made under Jayanna Productions, reaching 400 theatres across Karnataka.
The actor tells City Express, “It is too big for Sriimurali. I am tensed but also believe that there is something big coming my way, that I need to wait and experience it.” He says that whenever a movie release is due, he likes to keep to himself. “I prefer a quiet time and cut down on meetings,” he says, adding, “of course, I am waiting for Friday because it gets me closer to my fans. I look forward to meeting them and listening to their opinion about the film”.
As he is touring every nook and cranny of Karnataka, we chat with the actor about his role, his attitude towards his career and about sharing screenspace with
Shivarajkumar.
Excerpts
‘At times, my on-screen persona surprises me too’
Sriimurali says that his larger-than-life onscreen persona surprises him. “I ask myself if this is really me,” he says. “I like being myself in real life but, as an audience member, I am crazy about Srrimurali on screen and the way people look at me. At the end of the day, it is the script that makes a star. It is a risk to do varied roles like the one in Mufti, but you also decide how you want to present yourself in front of the audience.”
‘There is undercover in every person’
Mufti is a term used to describe a cop who has gone undercover. “But it has various meanings,” says Sriimurali. “Every one of us walks around in mufti once in a while, we have a side of us that is hidden away. We also wonder if we should keep our humanity and care for people around us or follow the law and survive. But we are rarely sure what is right and wrong, and we choose to don a mufti.”
‘It is important to know where we are heading’
Sriimurali was involved in the making of the movie, which he says he did to take it to a larger audience. “It is important for us to know where we are headed,” he says. “The competition is heavy, shortcuts won’t work and only hardwork will see you through. I never thought of it as an added responsibility or as a burden”.
‘Film does not run on one individual’
Sriimurali worked with new directors such as Prashanth Neel for Uggram, Chandrashekar Bandiyappa for Rathaavara and now Narthan for Mufti. How does he decide who he will associate with? “It is about what we all do and not about a person,” he says. “There is tension while forming your team and you have to go through an exhaustive checklist. There should no ego hassles and everyone should bring positive vibes to the sets, and that shows on screen. I am no God but we have to be prepared, and there are also professional secrets that guide us. I value newcomers and a good script can work magic on everybody. If anyone makes a good movie for Sriimurali, I welcome them. I don’t go by age or experience. If they seem capable of making a good film, I say come and let’s make it.”
‘Mufti will be different from my earlier two movies’
Ugramm gave Sriimurali an image that he has been carrying to this day. The actor has no complaints and says, “It was Ugramm that gave me my comeback and it sustained me. So I am happy if people address me by the character in Ugramm, it is a big blessing. I won’t like to be seen in the same kind of movies over an over again, and I am sure people won’t appreciate such repetitions too. Ugramm was a movie of good quality, and that principle we kept in the making of Rathaavara and Mufti. People are now looking for good scripts, narration and visual presentation in my films. I intend to keep that standard… I understand that people are not able to shake off my Uggramm character, but Mufti will be different. I don’t want to brag that Mufti is first-of-its-kind in Indian cinema, but it will definitely be a good film. I want the audience to love the songs, a great BGM and brilliant performances from actors.”
‘Shivanna is example of how actor is never be too old’
Mufti, a commercial film, gets bigger with Shivarajkumar in the picture. So, how much of Shivanna’s stardust is sprinkled through the movie? “Firstly to share screen space with him is a gift to me,” he says. “He has been kind of this industry for decades, even at his age. He is inspiring and an example of how an actor can never be too old, and how you don’t have to call it quits until you want to. With Shivanna, Mufti will double its appeal as a mass film. Roping in Shivanna to play a prominent role was a decision I made and it was one of the biggest challenges that I succeeded in. I am blessed to have this combination”.