When you belong to the ‘70s technology or adopted Kannada theatre within the ‘80s, then MS Sathyu would want no introduction. If one hand he was profitable accolades for his movies resembling Garam Hava (1974) on the opposite, he was wowing the theatre viewers designing units for many of the theatre teams. His units for Nagamandala is taken into account considered one of his greatest.
Title an award and Sathyu has received it. From Garam Hava being nominated for the Palme d’Or on the Cannes Movie Pageant, to Bara (1982) profitable the Nationwide Movie Award for Greatest Function Movie in Kannada. Sathyu received the Filmfare Greatest Artwork Path Award for for Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat (1964), and was conferred with the Padma Shri. The most recent accolade for Sathyu is the BIFFES Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. A dwelling legend, Sathyu straddled the worlds of theatre and cinema. A inventive manufacturing facility, Sathyu is taken into account an establishment for college students of movie and theatre.
The 93-year-old talks about his ardour for theatre, cinema and set design, and Garam Hava, which celebrates it fiftieth anniversary this 12 months.
Edited excerpts
You labored as an animator, artwork director and director. Are these disciplines unbiased of one another or ultimately related?
They’re interconnected. Doing all these was a query of getting a possibility to do one thing after I was very younger. I went to Bombay on the age of twenty-two, therefore, no matter alternative got here my manner, I accepted it. There was no alternative. I used to be good at drawing and portray, so it was straightforward for me to study animation. We had a small studio the place we created animation for ads for soaps and issues like that. That led to one thing additional.
Even right this moment, the feelings associated to the Partition are uncooked. What had been your emotions while you made Garam Hava?
I don’t know, as a result of I used to be not personally concerned nor had I skilled the horrors of Partition. I did hear tales from buddies who had skilled it, suffered loss and migrated. They spoke of division of the nation and destruction. It was these tales that I needed to point out on-screen. Then it’s a query of how honest and sincere you’re if you find yourself depicting true life tales in cinema so it isn’t diluted. As a director, the Kannada movie Bara is nearer to my coronary heart. But, folks bear in mind solely Garam Hava, which at instances saddens me. Bara was a tough movie, which was potential solely by ardour.
While you make a movie with political undertones, how straightforward or tough is it to make sure your political concepts don’t seep into the work?
The leanings and the battle is at all times there. I’m a Marxist and even right this moment, no matter I do, in theatre or cinema, it displays ultimately or the opposite in my work. I is probably not a member of any political occasion, however my leanings are expressed in my work.
As a director, what do you see has modified in cinema right this moment and what are lacunae?
Cinema has grow to be far more open right this moment. The entire format of a movie has modified due to streaming, which has additionally achieved numerous harm to the human psyche. Digital platforms aren’t good for cinema, however that’s the development right this moment. Most cinema comply with a standard template. There’s a dramatic second and instantly there’s rain. Why ought to it rain when it isn’t the season for rain nor does the script demand it? The sample has been set by the makers of those movies. I discover it synthetic and in a manner it has narrowed the scope of expression.
Artwork is one thing that ought to elevate the human thoughts. Now the human thoughts is destroyed, diminished by OTT. It’s alright to observe a soccer or a cricket match on a digital platform, not cinema.
You made 9 Hindi movies together with the long-lasting Haqeeqat. But we didn’t see you make extra movies in Mumbai…
It’s a query of getting your funds. While you begin talks, political concepts can are available in the way in which. It’s not at all times straightforward. I’ve labored with many stars and launched a lot of them. However there’s a restrict as to what number of even know that I launched Pankaj Kapur, Sharon Prabhakar and Anil Kapoor to Hindi cinema. Anil’s first Hindi movie was with me (Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya), although he had achieved the Telugu movie, Vamsha Vriksham by then.
Your involvement with Indian Individuals’s Theatre Affiliation and designing stage units until date, exhibits your ardour for this medium. Do you see theatre as a dying artwork?
Theatre is dying just for some, however is alive as there’s a one-to-one relation between the viewers and actor which can’t be achieved in cinema. In cinema, you depend upon some machine to painting your feelings and join with the viewers. In theatre, it’s a direct reference to a dwell viewers that immediately reacts to your work on stage. I simply watched a play, Bendakaluon a toast. It’s a idea that may solely be achieved by means of theatre. Another type will kill its essence.
What are your ideas on the BIFFes lifetime achievement award?
It’s a present. A present will be small or beneficiant, but it’s a present. I don’t really feel enthusiastic about it now. Maybe, I might have been excited if I used to be youthful, like after I received the Filmfare Award for Haqeeqat
because the artwork director. It was a set that was created in Ladakh. That have is extra thrilling than a lifetime achievement award.
How did you strategy the idea of Haqeeqat as artwork director?
Each story wants a sure atmosphere and look. If you’re coping with the Indian Military, then it’s a must to herald a sure authenticity to the entire thing. Actors must grow to be troopers.
They need to know tips on how to deal with weapons, transfer by means of the sand. Ladakh is right this moment exploited for each advert and movie. However when Haqeeqat was made in 1963, we had nothing and needed to make ourselves part of the Indian Military. We lived with them and ate like them.
There could be sand within the meals and we had no purpose to complain. When a soldier, who’s defending your nation can eat that, you haven’t any proper to grouse. It’s your responsibility to eat the identical meals and honour him by doing what he does.