K ishor Satya, by his own admission, is on the proverbial roll. This year has been, professionally, among the best. His television serial, ‘Karuthamuthu’ is among the toppers, according to TAM ratings. Selective about television serials, he has starred in a handful of shows. “I could have done 400 in the last 10 years, but I chose to do only around four-five. It was a risk, career-wise,” he says. There were moments of self-doubt, of wanting to rethink his choice. Today Kishor has made a comfortable space for himself on the small screen. For a person for whom cinema, let alone being an actor, was the furthest thing on his mind, Kishor has come a long way.
This year, his first release (film) was the Prithviraj-starrer, James and Alice . He is part of a few projects which include Jeethu Joseph’s Oozham , P.K. Baburaj’s Gemini , Jose Thomas’ Biju Menon-starrer Swarnakaduva and another to be scripted by Jeethu Joseph and directed by Anzar Khan, and 8119 Miles, a travelogue type film shot abroad, directed by Joe Ishwar (“work will start, most probably, only next year”). Almost 12 years after making his film debut with Youth Festival , it looks like he is finding his space. Some of his previous films iere Thaskaraveeran , City of God , Paisa Paisa , Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus and a few others.
Excerpts from an interview:
You are everywhere...what changed? Is it the ‘Karuthamuthu’ effect?
(Laughs) I don’t know. The serial is doing well. The character is such, unlike the usual TV serial hero. Dr. Balachandran has an identity of his own. Added to it, my role in James and Alice has been appreciated. And yes, I have a few films in hand.
What has been the feedback toJames and Alice?
I was doing a film after a gap of around two-and-a-half years. The role, for me personally, was a challenge. I essay the role of a doctor in the film as well, and I took it up as a challenge to make it different from Dr. Balachandran. I didn’t want people thinking ‘this is Dr. Balachandran minus his spectacles, in another get-up’. The audience sees me as this character daily on television. I didn’t want to be that version in the film. To that end I believe I have succeeded. It feels good to have your performance counted among the notable ones in the film.
The pattern is - you take a break from films, go back to TV and then return to films.
That happens when I think I’ll give films a shot, nothing exciting happens so I return to television. Basically I am not good at networking. I just cannot call up people and ask for a role. Maybe it’s high time that I change my ‘ways’. These films I am doing are all with people I have known for long. I consider Jose Thomas my guru.
Networking is important in this industry isn’t it?
It is, very. Only if you call up people and talk to them will they remember you when a project with a suitable role comes up. I have many friends here and I know many in the industry personally, but I have not used one for a role. Like I said, I need to rethink that attitude. People need to know you are around, otherwise how will your name come up when casting is on for films.
FromYouth Festivalup until now, did you feel showbiz was a struggle?
Initially I did, I worried if I made the wrong choice quitting my job with a channel in West Asia but then I got over it. When I made my debut, it was a time when films with newcomers such as Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Naren and others weren’t faring well at the box office. It wasn’t a good time. Now? Not at all.
Your kitty is full, film-wise.
Yes. This year has been good, so far. Each of the roles is different. In Gemini , my co-stars are Renji Panicker and Sijoy Varghese. I essay the role of a school principal. In Swarnakaduva , I play an abkari, the kind who has a small bar which has shut down. I am grateful that writers and directors evinced confidence in me.
You have been a prisoner of your image – that of sophistication.
That image is the result of the anchoring and the television I did - that I am this suited-booted, sophisticated character. I remember when Sibi (Malayil) sir was auditioning for his film Violin , I got a call during casting asking me to send photos in a ‘goonda’ get-up. I was surprised, I said, ‘Sibi sir knows me.’ (Laughs) ‘That’s the problem,’ this person told me.
A character you have essayed in a film, with easy recall.
I treasure the character I essayed in City of God ; I am grateful to Lijo Jose Pellisserry for being able to visualise that character that is so unlike the perception of me. I am also grateful to Babu Janardanan for that character. He has incidentally scripted Swarnakaduva .
