MV Gopal Ram
All set to realise his dream

He had the rare privilege of working with Sir Richard Attenborough for Gandhi as an assistant director. Gathering rich experience then, Gopal Ram headed southwards to make it big as a filmmaker. Tinseldom, however, found in him an ace writer and he penned the Hindi dialogues for many Telugu and Tamil films dubbed into that language. But the urge to direct a film from his own story grew stronger in him. And his dream will materialise soon as he will be directing producer Achanta Gopinath’s forthcoming Telugu film, which is due to commence shoot in October. In this interview, the debutant director talks about his early days, his assignments and plans for the future.

We hear you are a multi-linguist like our ex-prime minister PV Narasimha Rao?

Since I have been brought up both in Mumbai and Delhi, I am proficient with Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu besides Bengali, Tamil, English and my mother tongue Telugu. I had my college education at the Daya Singh College, Delhi.

How come you developed an interest in the sphere of entertainment?

During my college days, I directed about 13 plays, besides acting in some of them. I wrote these plays, a few of which also went on to win awards.

How and when did your tryst with cinema begin?

I used to participate in plays for the Delhi Doordarshan. Sir Richard Attenborough was scouting Indian talent to work for Gandhi. I applied for the assistant director’s post and was selected after an interview by the famous director. That was my first and most memorable cinematic experience. I am happy that my film career started with an international production. Later, I also worked with Merchant Ivory Productions for Heat and Dust.

And then you came to the south?

Having nurtured an ambition to become a filmmaker, I came to Chennai in 1985 and worked as an associate director with K Bapaiah, B Gopal and K Murali Mohan Rao for Hindi as well as Telugu films.

It was Ram Gopal Varma’s Hairaan (dubbed from the Telugu smash hit, Kshanam Kshanam) that made me a writer for dubbed films. Later, I wrote the Hindi dialogues for about 25 Telugu and Tamil films dubbed into Hindi like Miya Biwi Aur Saali (dubbed from Alari Alludu), Sabse Bada Mawali (Killer) and Jai Bharath (Tamil film Jai Hind).

I am awaiting the release of the dubbed version of Rajnikant’s super hit film Basha (Manik Basha in Hindi) produced by Achanta Gopinath in Hindi. ABCL has acquired the distribution rights of the Hindi version. I shall always cherish the compliments given to me by Amitabh Bachchan after watching the Hindi dubbed version of the film.

Your first Telugu film as a writer Samudrapu Donglu is doing well according to trade reports. You have also written the dialogue for its Hindi version and thus achieved a double.

Incidentally, Samudrapu Dongalu (dubbed from Deep Rising) was my first film as a writer in Telugu. I am happy it is doing well in all the centres. At present I am writing the dialogue for another English film, Komodo, being dubbed into Telugu, besides a Jackie Chan film also being dubbed into Telugu as Veeraputhrudu which is due soon.

And you have turned a producer too?

I’ve dubbed K Raghavendra Rao’s Bombayi Priyudu in Hindi as Main Tere Pyar Mein Paagal. Its audio is well received.

But it was your dream to become a director?

That dream will soon turn into reality, come October, thanks to producer Achanta Gopinath, who has immense confidence in me and my script. It is a social family drama. I do not want to say that it is different as it would sound like a routine statement. I can only say that the audience will find it engrossing and entertaining.

Naresh