Ravichandran turns 55 today

One of Kannada film industry's biggest showmen, V Ravichandaran, celebrates his 55th birthday today amid mixed responses to his dream project Apoorva, produced under his home banner Eshwari Productions, which he had said was his birthday gift to his fans and audiences. The actor-director tells us, 'There are divided reactions to my film, and that is quite natural as any new attempt is bound to have extreme responses.For that matter, even my biggest hit Premaloka was first dissed for being experimental, before it went out to become a phenomenon.' Looking back, Ravichandaran tells us, 'If Apoorva had to be a regular commercial venture, I would have finished working on it over a year and a half ago. It would not have taken this long to make this film. The movie is a new idea, a new experiment and I have made it with feeling. And to be able to feel the story, the audience has to hold my hand and walk with me. The sound, dialogues and picture quality add to the movie-watching experience and, if you watch the film at a state-of-the-art theatre, you will be able to experience the real essence of the film.' However, the actor-director seems to have pre-empted some of the reactions, and already has a different version of the film ready for release. 'People say the first half is slow and the second half is good. I was aware that the initial pace of the film might be an issue for certain sections of the audiences. So I already had a second version of the film ready ' one in which there is less philosophy. I will release that version this week,' says Ravichandaran, who will be spending his special day today with his well-wishers and fans.