When Anant Nag titled Shyam Benegal’s debut film

Shyam Benegal Photo Courtesy: Bhagya Prakash

Shyam Benegal, one of the leading filmmakers of India’s parallel cinema movement, teamed up with Girish Karnad and Anantha Nag, two great figures in Karnataka’s theater and cinema fields. A day after Benegal passed away at the age of 90, Anant Nag recalled his association with the writer-director. Incidentally, Benegal’s family hails from Karnataka’s Udupi district.

“During my theater stint in Mumbai, Amol Palekar introduced me to theater veteran Satyadev Dubey, who took me to Benegal,” said Anant Nag. Hindu. Anant Nag and Karnad worked with Benegal in highly acclaimed Hindi films shoot (1974), Nishant (1975), and churning (1976). Anant Nag also worked on Benegal’s other Hindi classics, viz the role (1977), Condura (1978), and Kali Yuga (1981).

‘I had already acted in Kannada films resolve (directed by PV Nanjaraje Urs) when Dubey suggested my name to Benegal for the lead role for his first project. Benegal had never seen me perform. He just looked at my front and side profile and finalized me as the hero,” says Anant Nag with a laugh.

Talking about the title of the film, the veteran actor said, “The film was named by Benegal plant. However, later he decided to keep the Hindi title. He asked the people around, but most did not know the Hindi equivalent of plant. Growing up in monasteries and ashrams, I had good knowledge of Sanskrit. I knew shoot The correct translation was for plant, but I was too embarrassed to tell Benegal. One day, he announced ₹1000 for the title, and after I suggested the name. Finally, he was happy with the title, and I won the cash prize.

Working with Benegal gave him the right training to grow as an actor, said Anant Nag. “His heroes were never conventional. Their characters had mixed shades, and it was challenging to do justice to them,” he said. “Benegal loved making rational films on relevant themes. perhaps, Condura Benegal was the only film with spiritual and philosophical layers,” he said.

Even after he moved to Bengaluru, Ananth Nag said he maintained a cordial relationship with the writer. “Benegal stayed in Koramangala, Bengaluru for some time before returning to Mumbai. During his visit to Bengaluru, I arranged a meeting with reporters. He told me in front of the media that he was surprised that I was a talented actor but that I had entered politics,” said Anantha Nag. It’s a big surprise that someone with sharp political drama saw my move as unusual.”