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EVV FINDS A NEW WAY OUT

AMITABH BREAKS ONE MORE RECORD
In the morning he was in Srinagar with a group of stars from Mumbai, performing at a show. The show goes off without any hassles, contrary to the fears instilled in the minds of the organisers and the star participants. One senior organiser says: ‘it is all because of the omnipotent presence of Amitabh Bachchan who has come to Srinagar after several years. The show is successful, with Amitabh around it has to be. The show is over and Amitabh takes an afternoon flight to Mumbai, has a quick lunch, followed by a series of serious business meetings before he can take an early evening flight to Chennai. The occasion-the celebrations of the hundred days run ( which is a rare occasion anywhere in India, in films made in any languages these days) of writer-producer-director E.V.V. Satyanarayana Reddy, the man behind EVV Cinema, a company created by the efforts of one man alone. Amitabh could have easily turned down the invitation but he had a reason not to.

EVV was one of his greatest fans. He had seen all his films, yes all his films and seen each of them not less than ten times, even without following a word of Hindi. His being a fan of Amitabh made him vow to make filmmaking a career and not surrender without making a film with Amitabh Bachchan, come what may. It was only the dream of a young man from the South, who later made it as a filmmaker but he was shocked out of his wits when the Padmalayas (one of the leading filmmaking companies in the South decided to remake one of their biggest hits, Sooryavamsham with Amitabh Bachchan in a double role.

It took a major decision and cast Amitabh both as father and son, a double role, naturally. And when it came to their choice for the captain, the director of the film, Amitabh and all the experienced men at Padmalayas decided that it would be EVV who would direct the film, whether he knew the Hindi language or not. It was his complete command over the subject of Sooryavamsham that really mattered. Amitabh developed a great sense of respect for EVV during the making of the film because with all his experience he knew that EVV knew his job and knew it very well. He not only knew the script to the last T but also a good actor who could help the dumbest of actors come up with the good job. Amitabh’s silent respect for EVV grew and he was even willing to work with him in another film which was in the planning....

That evening the Rabindra Hall at Chennai and the sprawling grounds out side where packed with people full of excitement. All they wanted was a glimpse of the Big B and all those who were involved in the making of the film Chala Bangudi, the new artistes the technicians and the distributors from all over Andhra and every one else involved in the success of the film wanted their awards and trophies to be presented by Amitabh only. That was a request they all had made to EVV, who in turn made the request with a lot of hesitation to Amitabh, who agreed instantly. Amitabh created another record in his record-packed career that evening. He distributed more than hundred awards and trophies all by himself. The craze reached such dizzy heights that some who were presented awards and trophies by the other dignitaries on the stage, came back, pushed their award or trophy in to the hands of Amitabh and forcibly posed for a smiling photograph with Amitabh, who also kept smiling for all the three and half hours during which he was on stage.

Speaker after speaker, which included the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. Devendra Goud, sang the praises of Amitabh and he didn’t frown or look bored or tired or lose interest even for a moment. He made a brief speech praising the industry in the South for its discipline and many other qualities of both strength and mind which made it the biggest industry in the country. He praised EVV as a director, words which EVV will treasure all his life.

The happiest man that day was EVV. He had every reason too. This EVV was once a very successful filmmaker who worked with the biggest stars of the time. Bad times chased him and some of his very big films with big stars flopped at the box office for which the stars almost sent him into exile. No big star was willing to work with him. He was treated like an outcast by his very own people. He was thoroughly disillusioned. He was determined to make a come back in his own way. He worked very hard on one of his own subjects. He then signed three absolute newcomers who had never faced the camera before, Shrikant, Naveen and Malavika. He sweat it out and made Chala Bangudi. The film took the whole of Andhra by surprise. It turned out to be a storm when it turned out to become one of the biggest hits in a long time. Soon all his friends and advisers came back to him. He listened to them and did just what he wanted to do. EVV was now fully aware of the games people played in the industry and he knew how to face them.

He is now all set to remake Chala Bangudi in Hindi. He is being advised to make it with some of the big stars from Mumbai. The stars are willing. EVV is in a dilemma. I think and strongly feel he shouldn’t. This is a time when he could teach the frustrated filmmakers from Mumbai a lesson or two. It was the subject which was the star. The stars and other things made little or no difference. EVV could be a saviour. He could show filmmakers a way of making films without depending on the whims and fancies and talks of crores of the stars, the stars who at forty (male), thirty -three (female) going to college, sing songs, fall in love, fall all the way. Come in, come on EVV. Come and conduct a class for our falling, failing frustrated filmmakers before they die a living death or leave the industry to die an ignoble death which it doesn’t deserve inspite of its wealth of talent. In every department.

Ali Peter John