Moving portrait of Bharathi

FILM DIRECTOR G. Rajashekharan, I.A.S., has embarked on what is perceived to be his magnum opus; a full length Tamil feature film on the life and time of the revolutionary, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi. For one thing, it is the first time ever that a film is being made on the reformist and it is fitting that someone like Rajashekharan has dedicated himself to the demanding task of doing justice to the legend called Bharathi.

Rajashekharan has devoted more than three years in researching the archives and painstakingly collecting little known details to embellish the character of Subramanya Bharathi. "My overriding ambition has been to bring out all facets of Bharathi to the masses so that his message is understood. Many of his revolutionary ideas and initiatives of the early 1900s are extremely valid today - on social reform, on ecology and environment and, the stark, pure simplicity of his poems and prose," declared Rajashekharan in a chat.

It is incredibly sad that Bharathi's health, never too good, plucked him away at the young age of 39. The film "Bharathi", produced by the Pentafour Group's Media Dreams Pvt Ltd., commences with Bharathi as a toddler in Ettaiyapuram, and the early death of his father who had lofty dreams of industrialising the area (Bharathi's mother had died even earlier). Bharathi then went to Kashi (Varanasi), where he was supported by his uncle. Bharathi received invaluable education at Kashi and became adept in Hindi, Sanskrit and even French while his innate talent for linguistics only enabled complete mastery over his mother tongue Tamil.

Interestingly, Bharathi's felicity over French facilitated him to settle down in Pondicherry for more than a decade (the longest stay of his life anywhere). When the British were gunning for Bharathi over his explosive writings in his journal, he was effectively thumbing his nose at them across the border since Pondicherry was a French settlement. Immediately after World War I, the French and British grew closer and Bharathi was briefly jailed for his 'indiscretions'.

The film deals with the tremendous suffering that Bharathi had to face in his poignantly brief lifetime. Director Rajashekharan pointed out that there are misconceptions about Bharathi's death. Most people think that his death resulted from mortal injuries suffered by him when an elephant literally picked him up with its trunk and flung him in the air.

In the past, Bharathi had always fed the elephant and on the day of the incident, he had been trying to offer a banana to the tusker! So much for elephantine memory and Rajashekharan insisted that Bharathi's death took place significantly after this and that it was from other clinical factors.

Coming back to the movie "Bharathi", the cast and the people behind it are impeccable. The leading roles are by Sayaji Shinde (as Bharathi), Devyani (Bharathi's wife) and yesteryear Tamil hero Srikanth (Bharathi's uncle).

Filmed on location at Ettaiyapuram, Varanasi and Pondicherry, the film is slated for release on August 15, 2000 (appropriately).

Ilaiyaraja is directing the music and it will be interesting to see whether Rajkumar (Bharathi's grandson in real life) sings for the film. The cinematography is being handled by Thangar Bachan (of "Kaadhal Kottai" fame). P. Krishnamurthy is the art director and editing is by B. Lenin.

Rajashekharan belongs to the 1983 batch of I.A.S. (Kerala cadre) and has served as Deputy Collector of Thrissur, MD of Kerala State Film Development Corporation and, more recently as the chief of the Film Censor Board here. Rajashekharan's obsession with movies traces back to his younger days when he had seen every single Tamil movie made.

Rajashekharan's earlier feature film "Mogha Mul," starring Archana Joglekar, won the National Award for the best film by a debutant director.

Another award winning effort of his (National Panorama) was the 30 minute film, "Oru Kan Oru Paarvai" featuring Delhi Ganesh and Thalai Vaasal Vijay. And now, "Bharathi" promises to bring his everlasting fulfilment for his script and direction and for spreading the message of Subramanya Bharathi which has never been more relevant than the troubled times we live in.

M. SRINATH NARAYAN

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