K Shivaramu

On a comeback trail

In the annals of Kannada film history of 67 years, K Shivaramu is the first Kannada IAS officer to appear on screen, while maintaining good relations and rapport with the common people, too. With a high-paid governmental post, K. Shivaramu is not in tinsel town as an aspirant for monetary gains. Acting is his hobby and he wants to use it in the service of the people. His first film, Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake, had celebrated a 100-day run. It was followed by eight other releases. Back to acting after a five-year break, he has now signed three more films. He spoke on the sets of Yaarge Beda Duddu (YBD), his comeback vehicle.

Don’t you feel the gap of five years is too long?
It is, but nothing moved in my direction. The films I had acted in, bombed. The professional career, too, was not up to the mark.

The transfer has been a hardship for you?
I am not afraid of transfers. I know how to work wherever I am transferred even if the transfer is once in six months. And as for films, the ones I did like Vasantha Kaavya with well known director S. Narayan, and another socially relevant film Pratibhatane, were a disappointment even after the hard work I put in. Three more films of mine have completed shooting but still not released. Obviously, one gets disturbed with such developments.

Does Yaarge Beda Duddu, the Kannada film, have any shades of your bureaucratic functioning? Have the good days returned with this film?
In a way it is true. The last six or seven months have been really good. I am satisfied with the work done by me for the people of Davanagere as Deputy Commissioner. While I am busy there as DC, the offers have started pouring in. I am doing another film Subash shortly after YBD. Talks are on for one more film. I feel the bad patch has come to an end. Luck is like that. The bad and good days have not spared anyone in this world and the ups and downs in life are unexpected.

Acting in films is not a strain?
I will adjust my holidays for acting in films. The subject of Yaarge Beda Duddu is quite interesting. It deals with the problems of the common people— partly what I do in real life, caring for poor people, patting them with encouragement and providing help when they are in distress. In YBD, the character I enact believes in certain principles. Money is not everything. Love and affection are greater than money. The character I portray also tames the haughty heroine.

Why do you feel upset when the situation has been the same for many other artistes?
I know that for the last five years the going has not been good for the other artistes. Why I am feeling perturbed is because I have not come here like the others. I am not here for money. I am only anxious to get good roles and keep up this work as a hobby.

It seems the people of Davanagere are very happy after you took over as the DC?
I am proud to say that I have done some splendid work at a fast pace in the last six months. I have made people conscious of the winds of change. They are happy. Right in the beginning, I told the people belonging to the poor class in Davanagere— I have come from the slum and I work for slum. The downtrodden people are now extremely happy for the series of developmental works which have been undertaken. This will be nonstop as long as I am the DC there. Already, this example is being followed in other places.

Can you give examples of the kind of work you have begun in Davanagere?
A programme called Namma Nadu has been a tremendous success. It is like moving the mountain to the man. The concept is that the Government goes to the doorsteps of the people, especially the poor classes. Three days in a month 60 villages are visited alongwith the government officials and the elected representatives. Already, we have covered about 180 villages. There are a total of 960 villages in 24 hoblis which are under my charge.

What is it that you do by going to the doorsteps of the people?
All the problems they are facing are tackled. You name any problem, and we are there to find a solution. The government gives abundant grants to various programmes. The roads, houses, education, squabbles in case of encroachments, help for widows, anganawadis, giving facelift to schools, raids on liquor dens, meeting the problems of bonded labour and the like. The concerned ministers and the legislators are also encouraging our work. I tell the elected representatives that the work is being undertaken for the people who have elected you. I don’t want a vote bank for me, I explain.

With the good work you are doing, why are you in films?
I told you earlier. It is only a hobby. In filmy style, I have entered places where nefarious activities take place. I have recently raided a Rs 1 crore worth illicit liquor hideout.

Liquor lobby being very strong, are you not worried about a transfer?
That lobby is working now. I have heard that I have to pack my luggage shortly from Davanagere. I don’t worry because I am not the loser. The government that bows to such pressures should know what is right and what is wrong. For me, if it is not Davanagere, it will be some place else. Wherever I go I will continue to work for the downtrodden.

Are you adding a new dimension to bureaucracy in Democracy?
I am not telling all this for my personal footage. The work has gone on and will continue in future. There is a control room in the DC’s office. There is a token system prevailing for the first time in the history of India to meet the DC. The control room has spread to the nook and corner of the district. Anybody at any point of time can seek help and assistance.

Vashistha