“Audience heart is short for art movies”, art films hero Bhoopal Reddy

- Sri Sathavahana

There are two sides for the coin of art. On either of the sides lie those persons who make or contribute their best to the specific field.

One side of the coin has those who take everything into their stride, name, fame, wealth, public reception, etc. They are widely popular in all the sections of society with a bang.

On the other side are the people who put in their best but recognised by very few, not astonishingly, even many in the same arena are ignorant of these ‘glowing “untouchable” stars’.

The state of Andhra Pradesh is blessed (one may term it fortunate or unfortunate) to have given birth to many such exemplary stars, producers and directors. Majority of them dissolved and disappeared in the time wave. Few of them are still holding breath, their confidence, and courage on a standstill position. The stagnation happens to be on many fronts like financial constraints, lack of opportunities as they are branded as ‘art films qualified’ and many more. Among the handful of art film lead players, one name is renowned. He took birth in a beautiful folk artisan family. Grew up as one among them. Bhoopal Reddy is thy name.

Reddy was not born with a silver spoon. Still he put in his entire career, interest, and valuable time in to the art. Taking strong background of the family artistic culture and inheriting the skills, he took the first line of career as a folklore singer, lyricist, writer, compiler, stage actor, cine writer and then on the lead roles of art filled film reels. The travel was very much pain and thorn filled.

Reddy performed as hero in ‘Daasi’ and ‘Komaram Bheem’ that bagged numerous awards for every division of the film like direction, acting, lyrics, music etc., at the state and national levels. Bhoopal is one of the very few Telugu actors who shared the reel with national and international reputed performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi and Smitha Patil. He achieved this fete in yet another award winning Hindi movie ‘Paar’. Though the art side of the industry nurtured him, the commercial side of it kept him aloof branding him ‘art film fit’. May be the commercial cinema segment is treating its art film twin as untouchable.

Hamarashehar.com shared some moments with this young man. The talented man addressed about various angles, which generally the commercial sided personalities ignore, as they do not dare to look at them even by mistake.

Excerpts

Q: Detail us about the circumstances that transformed you as an artiste?

A: I am from a family to whom folk art and folk singing are part of daily routine. Right from the day of holding my senses, I am attached to the arts. Mother, Grandmothers excellently sing the folk songs. Festival songs, seed sowing songs, marriage songs, grinding songs, holy songs, not only them they sing for every occasion of the life. They also have the charisma to sing and dance to those occasions.

So, unknowingly arts and songs dissolved into my blood to become part of my daily life. My birth it self was the beginning for the day when I started turning into an artiste.

Q: Were you taking part in there singing and dancing?

A: Yes. I loved it. Every time they start to sing and dance, I joined them. Out of the house, I was taking part in the street plays and plays in the temples. I used to select a role for me in which there is scope for both singing and dancing.

Q: What was your script contribution to the art?

A: I authored numerous folk songs and collected many. All those were published as compilations. Besides songs, I have written many stories, novels that went to print.

Q: About your stage experiences….

A: I have extensive experience on the stage. I remember that I took part in hundreds of stage plays and ballets. It would be apt to recall about my association with B Narsing Rao and Gaddar. Three of us founded Jana Natya Mandali. With Gaddar I shared the stage several times singing and dancing through out the state. Our object was to create political awareness in the down trodden, neglected and deprived classes. The essence of our performances is about the sufferings of poorest of the poor in the society. We worked untiringly to create basic awareness among people about their plights, rights, and duties.

Q: How and when was your entry into the cinema industry?

A: B Narsing Rao is one of the founder members of Jana Natya Mandali. We both are good pals. In 1987, Bengali director Gautham Ghosh directed “Maa Bhoomi” for Narsing Rao. My foray into the industry was through that film and I also worked with the production department.

Q: Can you explain about your character chance in ‘Paar’?

A: My acquaintance with director Gautham Ghosh during the Maa Bhoomi sessions grew thicker. Ghosh could spot the artiste in me. When he was directing ‘Paar’ he sent a word for me. The moment I visited him, he offered me side hero role in that movie right away. I was fascinated with the offer and did my best to keep the confidence of Ghosh. I was lucky to share the screen with Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi. They as you know are talented, national and international reputed stars. Paar won many national and international awards.

Q: In how many films did you sport as hero?

A: I played lead roles for Daasi and Komaram Bheem. Both of them won many awards.

Q: Are you featuring in any of the films under production?

A: Yes. One movie is under production. It is titled ‘Yellamma’. I am supporting the film with my performance and script.

Q: What reasons do you attribute for the grinding halt of art films production?

A: The audience heart is too short for an art movie reception. An art movie compared to a commercial is unable to move the heart of a spectator. Consequently, the art film producers are suffering heavy losses. Hence, no art movies production now.

Q: What do you propose for re-birth and life of art films?

A: Government should first extend a friendly hand. It should recognise and honour the art film makers. They should be given a special subsidy to produce these films. In addition to this, entertainment tax should be totally abolished for art films screening. If the government can support the art film makers during the filming session, then perhaps, there might be a chance for at least a countable art film screening.

Q: Did you at any time try for opportunities in the commercial films?

A: I did try. Indeed, I tried very hard for chances in commercial films. I could not get any right opportunity because may be I was stamped as an art film actor. Once in a while, some offers do come from commercial filmmakers. Nevertheless, they did not have any scope for giving my best and I denied them. So, they went too far from me. Even today, I am not discouraged or disgusted. If some one can give me an opportunity and offer a good role, recognising the talent in me, I will definitely act in the commercial films.

Profile

Name: Mukumdamgari Bhoopal Reddy
Date of Birth: 1953, Hyderabad
Parents: Ambamma, Ram Reddy
Spouse: Sadguna
Children: Udaya Kumar, Vennela
Education: Bachelor of Arts
Stage plays: Acted in over 500 plays
Ballets: Folk dance, Fisherman dance, Snake charmer dance, Hunter dance, Monkey ballets
Scripts: Bhoopal Patalu, Vennelalo Patalu, Pedolla Pochamma, Vasthava Pothava, Chilukala Koliki (children rhymes)
Stories: Amballa Banda (stories compilation)
Novels: Komaram Bheem, Patnam Vachina Palle
Cinema: Hero role in Komaram Bheem (Telugu) and Daasi (Telugu). Side hero in Maa Bhoomi (Telugu) and Paar (Hindi).
At present he is researching on life styles of Girijans of Vizianagaram
Others: Central government senior fellowship for children’s songs, stories, and literature.

Address

M. Bhoopal Reddy
H.No. 2-2-985
Amberpet, Hyderabad – 500 013
AP, India
Phone: 7421879.