There are actors who can’t boast of a huge volume of work, but they do leave a mark with a handful of projects that they have done. Kishor Satya is one among them. He has impressed audiences as an actor and anchor in a career spanning a decade. He has acted in serials such as ‘Manthrakodi’ (Asianet), ‘Officer’ (Amrita TV), ‘Kanalpookkal’ (Kairali TV) and ‘Kathayile Rajakumari’ (Mazhavil Manorama), and popular tele-films like ‘Neermathalathinte Pookkal’, ‘Kazhcha’ and ‘Annayude Lillippookkal’, apart from supporting roles on the silver screen in Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus, Bicycle Thieves, Paisa Paisa, City of God, The Thriller, and Rahasya Police. He is currently essaying the role of Dr. Balachandran in the daily soap ‘Karutha Muthu’ on Asianet. More from the actor on his roles on the screen. and the choices he made. Excerpts…
Initial days
Although it might seem unbelievable now, I never wanted to become an actor. I had some inclination towards direction, that’s all. I grew up in a place where there weren’t enough opportunities to inspire me to think about cinema. Thanks to a friend who was passionate about acting, I met filmmaker Jose Thomas. It was Jose who said that I had the potential to become an actor. I assisted him in his movie Kanjirappally Kariyachan. That was my introduction to tinsel town.
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There are many. After my short stint as assistant director, I moved to Dubai and joined a radio station, dedicated to Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam music. I handled the Malayalam segment. So, even though I had left cinema behind, I was destined to be in touch with tinsel town on a day-to-day basis. My life continued to revolve around the film industry, meeting and interacting with celebrities and at a certain point I decided to quit my job, return to Kerala and work in cinema. But I didn’t want to be an assistant director again and decided to try my luck in acting. That was a time when many new actors had forayed into Mollywood and I decided to give it a try. Once again, Jose gave me a chance – as the anti-hero in Youth Festival. My second movie was with Mammootty, Thaskaraveeran. But somehow my film career didn’t take off. Television beckoned, and, even though many people dissuaded me saying once you become a television actor you will always remain one, I took up the offer. I did my first serial, ‘Manthrakodi’ on Asianet. I had a successful tryst with anchoring as well, starting with ‘Vanita Ratnam’ on Amrita TV. After that I have anchored many award shows.
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In the last 10 years, I have done only four serials even though I was offered a lot of them. I am extremely happy with the choices I have made. Before I sign a role, I give it a lot of thought. I took up ‘Karutha Muthu’, which revolves around a woman with a dusky complexion, because my character has enough scope and space to perform. These days, most serials give prominence to women and men are portrayed as weak or dumb characters. But ‘Karutha Muthu’ has many bold, strong male characters, which I believe have gone down well with the male audience.
Mini-screen vs. big screen
It is true that there are many who are reluctant to cast television artistes in films, especially male actors. But in my case whatever roles I have got in movies it is solely because of my work in television. I am very uncomfortable about going to people asking for a chance in movies!
Looking ahead
I am passionate about acting and am quite happy with the work I am doing now. But I can be better and need to work hard. My confidence has been my biggest driving force.
‘Karutha Muthu’ is aired on Asianet, Monday to Saturday at 10 p.m.