The right Raaga in sight'

Software engineer-turned- film director, P C Shekar is back with a bang and is hoping for a blinder this time. The film Raaga, which is striking the right chords prior to its release, is a 14-year-old dream, and was first composed for Tamil actor Vikram, who was impressed with the director’s first film Kadhalae En Kadhalae, reveals the director. P C Shekar, speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle about how challenging it was to direct a different subject while creating a whole new world for his blind characters on screen.

“I was just another student who was focused on my education. But an unexpected event changed everything. In 2002, when I was still doing my MCA, I happened to visit the shoot of Pithamagan, featuring Vikram and Suriya and directed by Bala, for which Vikram even won the National Award for Best Actor,” recalls Shekhar. “We were having lunch one afternoon and I openly expressed how in awe I was, about the fact that making films came so easily to him. That’s when everybody laughed and said that if it was so easy to make films, everybody would be doing it. And I took it up as a challenge,” confesses the director who then went on to learn the art filmmaking and with the help of a digital camera, shot a short film which became an instant hit in his friends circle. This was followed by a another nine-minute short film, titled My Imagination, which went on to win 23 International Awards in 2003!

When his first ever full-length Tamil feature film Kadhalae En Kadhalae was released in 2005, it earned critical appreciation and bagged a state award as well. “The trailer of the film was a great hit even though the film didn’t do as well in terms of commercial success. Vikram expressed his desire of always wanted to play the role of a blind character and asked me to come up with such a character. That’s when I began working for Raaga,” says the Bengaluru-born director who then began working with Kannada films. Vikram too, started getting busier and hence Mithra stepped in to play the role. “Even if Vikram had agreed to act in his 14-year-old dream, I would have made the required changes. But the character requires a short and dark complexioned person and Mithra fits the character perfectly. He is also very dedicated, which makes it all worth it. Whoever is surprised by my selection of the lead actor will be pleased with the outcome. The detailing, is what makes it very satisfactory,” expresses Shekar, who has created a different world for the two blind characters. The idea is to view the film through one’s mind. While Mithra is a far more mature character with a philosophical touch, Bhama on the other hand, has a childish heart. And while composing a different Raaga, the film-maker is hoping for a blinder!