50 years is like five days for an actor

Next year, Pranaya Raja Srinath will complete 50 years in the film industry. And all these years have only added to the passion and drive that he has for cinema. The actor credits his guru, legendary filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal, with giving his career a new lease of life. The artiste in him has always craved to try something different, and after over two decades, it is Puttanna's prot'g', PH Vishwanath, who gave him the chance to do that in Suli.Srinath talks to us about all this and more'
Association with Puttanna Kanagal I was introduced as Srinath by SKA Chari in Madhura Milana. All was going well in my career, but I wanted a change. At that time, it was only Puttannaji who could offer a change, and almost everyone who acted in his films went on to become a star. I had done 30 films, but hadn't got an offer from him, so I was contemplating quitting the film industry. Then, in 1975, Puttannaji offered me Shubha Mangala, and that was the turning point in my life. I did almost 100 films between 1977 and 1983, and was given the title Pranaya Raja. I got a lot of love and affection from audiences, and Puttannaji observed all this. In 1983, he asked me if I was satisfied with my career, and I said that I was looking for something more, but didn't know what that was. He told me that he wanted to show the world a Srinath that no one had seen before, and I was excited by the prospect. The result was Manasa Sarovara.
The birth of Suli As I started getting older, I decided that I should gracefully make the shift to character roles. I have been doing such roles for years and the industry backed me and showed me love. But the artiste within me was getting restless again and was craving something different. Puttannaji was no more, so I wondered who else would give me that chance for a change. That's when I thought that I should do this myself. I was very close to Puttannaji and he taught me many things, including direction. My wife, Geetha, encouraged me to make our own film that I would direct. I wanted to make a film like my guru (Puttanna), so I came up with 3-4 stories. But each idea seemed better than the last. Geetha spoke to our family friend TS Sathyanarayan, and they both asked me to select one story. As I pondered this, I told PH Vishwanath, who is a close disciple of Puttannaji, about my restlessness to try something new. He narrated the story thread of Suli and I was excited by it. Suli would show me in a different light, which is something that I was yearning for. My wife and I decided to make this movie and Sathyanarayan also came onboard as the co-producer. Deeya Communications was set up so that I would turn director, but I thought that it would be best if my guru's sishya (Vishwanath) directed the movie. And thus, Suli was born.
Playing Budensaab gave me the satisfaction of my life Vishwanath's work was beyond my expectations. Each scene connects with the next ' that is how he has woven the screenplay. I play Budensaab, who is the main character. The challenge was to present myself in an entirely different light and that has given me the satisfaction of my life. We shot for a total of 31-32 days for Suli, and in that period of time, I became Budensaab. There was no acting in the movie; the entire cast was living the characters, so it was very natural for us. We all lived in the village like a family; even the 12 donkeys in the movie became a part of the family. Budensaab has given me artistic satisfaction. I am not worried about the result; I know that the passing mark will come, but I don't know if we will get first class or not. But I have given the entire product 100 marks.
Presenting myself in a different light I have got this chance of change after waiting for 20-25 years. And now that this is done, I am looking for something different. I constantly keep thinking about what's next. But that next change may not come immediately; it could take 20 more years, but so be it. Knowing that a change will come gives me the encouragement and drive to carry on. There is a vested interest in this as well since I know that I will be around till that happens ' be it in 10 or 20 years. That's the challenge that I take up.
I will work till the very end Next year, I complete 50 years in the film industry, but for an artiste, 50 years is five days. The sixth and seventh days must begin now, and I aim to make it to the 10th day. I will work till the very end. I am happy that I have the support of my wife and friends when it comes to understanding me and finding the character that I want to essay. I am looking for different shades in the stories that I have, so I will work on that now. I may act in the movies to come, or not. Direction is another challenge that I want to take up and I will definitely direct soon, but don't ask me when that will happen as it could be in the next six months, a year, or five years. But I won't sit idle.