Farewell to a great guru

Making films was a serious affair for Siddalingaiah who personally took care of his entire team. He was one of those rare human beings who had a compelling sense of compassion. A tribute to the director who passed away last week

March 19, 2015 05:50 pm | Updated 05:50 pm IST

S. Siddalingaiah.

S. Siddalingaiah.

Siddalingaiah is my Guru, my mentor, my father, mother, friend, relative, and if I may so say, my God too. I met Siddalingaiah for the first time in 1981. He was searching for an actor to play the role of the villain in his upcoming movie “ Koodi Baalidare Swarga Sukha ” under the banner of Sridhara Krupa Movies. The lead roles were played by Srinivasa Murthy and Rajalakshmi. It had a great star cast including Loknath, N.S. Rao, Mysore Lokesh, Rajaram and others. Incidentally, a person who used to watch my plays was a close friend of Siddalingaiah. He offered to introduce me to him. Rather than the opportunity to be cast in a movie, I was more excited to meet one of the greatest directors of our time.

We went to meet him at Hotel Tourist on Race Course road. I was introduced to Siddalingaiah. He saw me from top to bottom and I guess since he was busy, asked me to send him a bio-data with my photograph. N.S. Rao was also present there. I was familiar with N.S. Rao as we used to enact his plays in our theatre group. I greeted him too, exchanged pleasantries and returned. After returning I forgot all about sending my details to Siddalingaiah. I presumed that Siddalingaiah was also being cordial so as to not hurt our feelings and that he had already chosen another actor for the villain role.

On the other hand, Siddalingaiah started making efforts to trace me. He was discussing about me with N.S. Rao and expressed an interest to cast me in the movie. Rao knew my whereabouts and sent a telegram asking me to come to Bangalore at the earliest and meet Siddalingaiah. I left the same evening to Bangalore. Early morning the next day, I visited a temple near Anand Rao circle, offered my prayers and went to meet him. After some casual enquiries, he started interviewing me. He asked how many plays I have done and the roles I have essayed. After gathering the details he remarked – “It is not sufficient if an actor can render the dialogues. He must fill them with emotion. Though he may not cry, he should make others cry.” I replied that it can be done. “Make me cry now,” he immediately said. I offered to show a scene from the play “ Angulimaala ” by Dr. Prabhushankar. It was the scene where Angulimaala gives up his violent ways and surrenders at the feet of Buddha. I explained the sequence and enacted the scene. Siddalingaiah’s eyes welled up and he patted me on my back and said “You’ve passed!” Thus began my journey in the Kannada film industry through the movie Koodi Baalidare Swarga Sukha . I became a disciple of Siddalingaiah from then onwards. This extraordinary director would mould every actor and take immense care in ensuring that the actor would be able to give his best performance. He showered motherly affection on us all. I say this because he would take utmost care about our lives.

You must remember one thing about Siddalingaiah – no matter what movie he made, he always took care to introduce someone new – be it an actor, an assistant director, editor, camera person, whoever it may be. He has given career breaks to so many. We all came from the Gurukula of Siddalingaiah. He always encouraged us to learn all the aspects of film making.

In the erstwhile Madras, my friends and I would usually visit the Madras Cine Labs near the Music Academy. That was the place where nearly every Kannada film was edited. So we used to watch the very first cut of several movies even before it was released to the public. Some of the greatest editors of our times used to be there. Those were the days when we still used negatives and did not have the technological advances that we boast of today. I used to help them in small editing works, joining the negatives and such tasks. That’s when we got to see the mistakes we as actors used to make. This was the reason Siddalingaiah used to ask me to go to the Cine Labs. He always asked me to study and observe the actor in front of me. This was essential to understand the way the character was to interact and develop in the movie. It would help to ensure that we matched the intensity.

Acting was like a penance for him and so was direction. He also urged me to read good novels and stories in Kannada. He had an amazing knack of recognizing a good story line and had made it a habit to read books. In my view, he was the most honest, scrupulous and diligent director of Kannada Film Industry. Rural themes were very close to his heart. He was born in a very poor family in a village called Tarur, Shira Taluk, Tumkur district. He had this wild dream of becoming an actor and went to Mysore, and Madras to realise this dream. As an assistant director he used to get up at 5 a.m.in the morning, reach the studio, sweep the premises and mop the floor. For this he used to be paid about 50 paise. In order to save 10 paise, he would walk to the studio instead of taking the bus. After all the chores, he would take bath and then get ready to explain the script, the dialogues and prepare for direction. For breakfast he would be given one plate idly and vada. These were the conditions in which he had worked and hence was so sensitive to every aspect of human behaviour. The conditions surrounding him had played a huge role in making him a brilliant director which came through his movies.

Take for instance, the movie “ Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu ”. There is a scene where the character of Loknath pleads to have a taste of the uppinakaayi (pickle). Can you imagine how skilfully that detail was caught in the movie? It became such a rage that on one occasion, people actually gifted a jaadi to store the pickles! He had such a hearty laugh about that. This finesse of representing human life in such close quarters was an unparalleled skill of Siddalingaiah.

As long as this industry stays, just one “ Bangaarada Manushya ”, one “ Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu ”, one “ Doorada Betta ” is sufficient to showcase the talent of Siddalingaiah. The subject of his movies always conveyed a message of social relevance. This is the reason why directors like Siddalingaiah and Puttanna Kanagal are relevant even today. How long and how far will you keep showing gory violence and blood on the screen? The emphasis on humane values, meaningful relationships is being eroded these days. In the movie “ Taayi Devaru ” he depicted the beauty of a mother’s affection. Each of his movies had such meaningful lyrics that were in sync with the theme of the movie, and were crafted to suit the occasion. That is why no matter how many years have passed, the songs from his movies are still evergreen and fresh. Take for instance the movie – “ Mayor Muttanna ”. This was a movie produced by Dwarakish. He was so impressed by Siddalingaiah’s honesty and uprightness that he offered to produce the next movie by Siddalingaiah. Thus came “ Mayor Muttanna ” – the plot was about a village simpleton, played by Dr. Rajkumar who becomes the Mayor of the city. The song from that movie – “ Onde naadu onde kulavu onde daivavu ” is so meaningful and inspiring! This movie was made in Tamil too with Siddalingaiah’s son in the lead role. I acted in both the movies.

Siddalingiah was very prompt about remuneration. I once visited him in Madras to see the first copy of the movie. No matter where I would see him, I would always touch his feet. He gave me a big hug and appreciated me a lot for the acting. He then casually enquired if I was able to make any progress in purchasing a site. I said that I was not able to as I did not have sufficient funds. Believe it or not, Siddalingiah tied 25,000 rupees in a handkerchief, handed it to me and asked me to register for a site and only then meet him again. 25,000 was not a small sum in those days. Who would give that much money just because he was happy with the acting?!! Such was my Guru SiddalingaiahIf at all people recognize me, it’s only because of Siddalingaiah. If I am able to take care of my family and have become established as an actor, it’s because of Siddalingaiah.

When his son Murali passed away, I went to meet him. A huge crowd had already gathered at his house. They had placed the body of Murali in a box. I was heartbroken seeing him. I went inside the house and entered the room where Siddalingaiah was sitting silently. He showed no expression of grief or sorrow. Such calmness! But I knew how agitated he was internally. I couldn’t hold back and broke down. I cried a lot that day. When I sat next to him, he consoled me calmly and lovingly. He finally said “This is all we had asked from God. What can one do? Murali had finished the work assigned to him and so God called him back! There is nothing that you or I can do about it”.

These are unforgettable events of my life. He would always address me as “ maga ” or “ mari ”. The happiness I got by acting with the very actors whom I used to watch on the silver screen is due to Siddalingaiah. For me he is a God who granted me boons. With his demise, his numerous disciples, fans, and entire Kannada industry has plunged into darkness. We have lost such a great soul, I offer my respects to him.

As told to Praveen Shivashankar

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