From queuing up to watch films during the Sankranti season to having one of his films release for the festival, life has come full circle for Raj Tarun who’s steadily grown as a commercially bankable actor over the years. His next release is Rangula Raatnam , directed by a debutante, Sree Ranjani, a former associate of director Selvaraghavan and bankrolled by Annapurna Productions. “What reminds me first when I talk about films and festivals is holidays. Sankranti is among the biggest festivals we have. We associate entertainment with cinema more than anything else. When I wasn’t an actor, it was mostly family time, chatting away, but either way we ended up watching movies at home or at least one in the theatre together,” he recollects.
Reuniting with the team of Uyyala Jampala (for which he was an actor and an assistant director; he is only an actor now) he finds that a lot has changed in the five year span. “As an actor, the challenge is different, it’s someone’s else story and you’ve to play a character according to others. The director here was a fantastic actor, I felt liberated. I’m seven films old, there’s an additional responsibility that you carry as an actor, that there was a familiar team in Rangula Raatnam felt comfortable.” The actor is known to work with many first time directors, he feels they come with a fire to prove themselves. “They’ll go to any length to make a movie right.”
In the film, Sithara plays his mom, on whom he relies for decision making. “In real life though, my parents have made sure I’m independent in whatever I do. At best, what I ask them about is food. The thing about mothers is they understand without communication. My character Vishnu is similar to me and many other youngsters we see today.” Does he try to identify himself with each of the characters he plays? “When I choose a film, it’s not the character alone, I need to like the script.”
Raj Tarun has tasted success in his projects, he seems to have got into an image trap. “I don’t know if I have been stereotyped. People keep saying many things, but I take in only what I’ve to.” He prefers to stay insulated from people, doesn’t hangout with anyone and has a very limited friend circle in the film fraternity too. “If there’s any favourite hangout spot I like the most, it’s my room.”
Raj Tarun with Chitra
The actor has always identified himself as a writer first, it’s not surprising that he chose to become a lyricist for Rangula Raatnam after a successful attempt with Kittu Unnadu Jagratha . “It was never a plan to become a lyricist, even in Kittu Unnadu Jagratha , it was meant to be a one-off attempt for a fun song. Being a lyricist requires great range. As I was listening to the tunes in Rangula Raatnam , I felt like writing something. To my surprise, the lyrics are more serious here. A month and a half later, when I realised the makers were retaining my version of the lyrics, I was genuinely surprised.”
The year ahead seems promising for Raj Tarun. As Rajugadu awaits release next month, he has films with Ala Ela fame Anish followed by another project with the Kumari 21f team. He says, “Phases keep changing yes, but how good it is, will depend on the results. The way ahead seems promising though. I’m not in a hurry to sign films. I won’t say the films are dependent on me to run well, but I feel it’s important to do one film at a time.”
Does he plan to watch this film in theatres? “I don’t generally prefer to do that, may be I’ll make an exception this time if I don’t shoot. I prefer previews to do a personal analysis, so that I do not carry the baggage onto my next film. It’s important to learn from failures, but it’s important to correct yourself after successes too,” he signs off.
