As someone who makes his job seem so effortless, Ma Ka Pa Anand is certain about one thing – take your job seriously even when it’s about making people laugh. And that’s what seems to work as the RJ-turned-television anchor makes his entry into films as well. While his debut work ( Vanavarayan Vallavarayan) is ready for release, his second ( Panjumittai ) is being wrapped up, and, even as we speak, he signs his third ( Atti ).
“Films were not on my radar. Actor Kreshna and producer ‘Pattiyal’ Sekar convinced me to take the big step. Humour is central to all these films, but there’s variety in the roles I play. VV is a rural subject and I play actor Kreshna’s brother,” says the Pudhucherrian. “It wasn’t difficult facing the camera for films. As an RJ or television anchor, spontaneity is always valued. During my shoots for films too, all I relied on was my ability to be natural. I was conscious of not making mistakes, since the expenses involved in film shoots are high and I didn’t want experienced co-artists to repeat shots because of me.”
But despite all his attempts, in one scene Anand got the timing wrong and ended up slapping Kreshna really hard. “It was a fight sequence on a street. Kreshna is well trained in martial arts. He can fight without hurting! I tried hard not to goof up. But when it came to the actual shot, I got the timing wrong. The result, Kreshna ended up with bruises and a swollen face! I hit him hard and fled the scene. The director chased me. I ran faster, thinking I was going to be reprimanded. Actually, he just wanted to tell me that Kreshna was cool about it. My hand ached for two days; wonder how he felt!” The shoot continued and soon the film was wrapped up, and Anand moved on to his next project, Panjumittai, with confidence. “I play the lead in this fantasy comedy. It’s about an introvert with a quirky bent of mind. Maybe a little mokkai too,” he laughs.
“The technical team is now working on the graphics,” says Anand, who is now keen to get into shape and train in the martial arts and dance movements. “So many people wait outside production houses for years to get into films. I didn’t have to do that. Since I got this opportunity, I want to respect my work and give it my best. In Atti, I play a gana singer. I’m already observing their style and body language.” On a nostalgic note, Anand says he became a radio jockey after abandoning his dream of becoming an advertising professional.
“In the name of client servicing, I was merely doing a courier boy’s job!” he says with the same bluntness that’s made him so popular. “The wind blew and I just went with the flow.” Though the transition from radio to television seemed like a natural progression, it wasn’t easy in the beginning. “I had to wait for a proper break by just doing ‘bit’ interviews and hosting Cinema, Kaaram, Coffee , a Kollywood-based sitcom on Vijay TV.”
Today, Anand is a fixture on prime time television, anchoring popular reality shows Super Singer (and Junior) and Adhu Idhu Edhu on Vijay TV. “There’s a lot of stress during reality shows. The participants are anxious, with some on the verge of breaking down. As an anchor, I try to lighten up the moments and spread cheer.”
