Producing a film is never easy. There have been instances when people who wished to be producers gave up on their dreams and took up much less challenging options.
However, stunt master Dilip Subbarayan is different. Unmindful of the hardships he had to face, Dilip has produced a film with the funds he made by choreographing stunts for other films. His film Anjala, featuring Vimal and Nanditha in the lead, has already impressed industry insiders who watched it taking shape.
Directed by Thangam Saravanan, the film has music by Gopi Sunder and cinematography by Ravi Kannan. The film is said to be about a tea shop and those around it.
Speaking at the audio launch of the film, music director Gopi Sunder of Ustad Hotel and Bangalore Days gave us an idea of the pain Dilip had to suffer to produce this film. “I scored music for around 26 films last year. In spite of that, I agreed to do this film Anjala because of the producer. I have never seen a producer cry. But I have seen him shedding tears for this film,” said a visibly moved Gopi.
Praveen, who has edited the film, said, “I have seen Dilip reinvest whatever he made from cinema. Often, he would work hard for other films, and when they paid him he would simply receive the cheques and pass them on to this film’s unit. That was how this film was made. It was made using his salary.”
Dilip Subbarayan, while speaking on the occasion, said, “This film is named after my grandmom. Her name was Anjala and that’s why we named this film. She passed away just before we began working on the film. I dedicate this film to her.”
Stating that it was the happiest day of his life as his dad was on stage to enjoy the moment with him, Dilip said, “I have so many people to thank. Without their help, I wouldn’t have managed to make this film. In fact, whenever I went to financiers to borrow money, they would refuse. Often I would hear them say, ‘We can’t loan money to a stunt man’. At times like those, it was friends who helped me. I would often lose sleep over how I was going to produce this film but my wife and children supported me. I am thankful to them as well.
“This has been a two-year project. Every person who worked on my film treated me like family and not a technician.”