Mini screen stars ready to bat and bowl: Kishore Satya

The hallmark of a great captain is to unleash his pack of ferocious fighters on the opponents, yet stay cool-headed. Actor Kishore Satya, the helmsman of ‘Malayali Heroes’, the cricket team of ATMA (Association of Television Media Artistes in Malayalam), promises to be one such captain and has no doubt that his boys will prove their worth in the latest cricket jamboree -- the Famous Cricket League – involving the mini screen stars.

The interview snatches vital minutes off his mid-day cool-off time away on a hectic day of work on the sets of tele-serial ‘Karuthamuthu’ but the captain shakes off his lethargy to answer our questions.  “Rather than teammates, I would say I have a set of 13 good human beings with me. You don’t find egotists in them, there is no hierarchy divide and we stay united,” says Kishore.

“Despite the hectic schedule all are involved in, the actors, to hone their talent, have reserved their weekends and Sundays to practise for the big event under the watchful eyes of veteran cricketer P. Renganathan. “All are good players. The nature of our job is such that it’s impossible to go for regular practice. Foreseeing all such circumstances, arrangements have been put in place to train a few players who have taken up outstation projects. For another two months, all have made convenient changes in their schedules. Mostly we’d be striving to better fitness and stamina.” ATMA, for the past two years, has a permanent cricket team and even the manager Dinesh Panicker was once a cricketer.

“At times, being artistes, we may not be able to endorse a social cause as individuals. But a collective effort is possible. We’d be chipping in our bit in that front as well,” he says. The championship between actors in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada television industries begins in November. Kishore, seen recently in a pivotal role in James and Alice, has three more films coming up, Renji Panicker’s Gemini, Ayal Jeevichirippundu by Vyasan K.P. and Lakshyam scripted by Jeethu Joseph.