In 2008 a debutant director Sakthi G. announced a biopic on Kalaignar Karunanidhi but did not proceed further. In 2009 a short biopic on Gemini Ganesan’s life and contribution to Indian cinema was commissioned by Dr. Kamala Selvaraj. But when the 90 minutes film was completed it looked more a documentary on Gemini. There were innumerable people who shoed interest on a biopic of MGR.
Director K. Bhalachander was keen on a film on Mahakavi Bharathi with Kamal Haasan as the majestic poet. But later a film on Bharathi was made and the Marathi actor Shayaji Shinde played the legendary poet with a dubbing voice. Sivaji Ganesan openly expressed his cherished dream of playing Tipu Sultan and Subhash Chandrabose many times. But ironically even Sivaji Films did not produce them.
In Bollywood the trial for a biopic is slightly better. Sardar (1993) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) and The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) were some acclaimed films in Hindi. Even Mani Ratnam’s ‘Guru’ is considered to be a successful biopic by many. But announcing and shelving a biopic project is common to Hindi also.
Your browser may not support display of this image. Asian-American filmmaker Krishna Shah set out to make a biopic on Indira Gandhi and Madhuri Dixit was to play the role of Indira. A Charles Sobhraj biopic was announced by many. Now Percept Pictures has announced their own film on life the criminal with Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead. Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra announced a film on Guru Dutt for which Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif will come together to recreate the magic of Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. Shashanka Ghosh planned a Kishore Kumar’s biopic with Aamir Khan and Vidhya Balan playing Kishore and Madhubala respectively. But now it is said Ranbir Kapoor will play Kishore and he is taking some lessons from Latha Mangeshkar for the role. These are only buzz which can be believed only when they come out.
But in Hollywood, like popcorn and fast food the biopic has long been a staple and often a big money spinner apart from sweeping the coveted awards. Most of the best and all time block busters and favourites of Hollywood are biopics.
The Great Ziegfeld, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, Gandhi, Amadeus, A Beautiful Mind, Good Night and Good Luck, Finding Neverland, The Aviator, Erin Brockovich, The Pianist, Gandhi, Amadeus, , Raging Bull, Citizen Kane, Malcolm X, Julie & Julia and Patton are just few in the list of Hollywood great biopics.
A biopic can even make people take an actor seriously. Will Smith and Jim Carrey both gained respect as dramatic actors after doing the roles Muhammad Ali in Ali and Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon respectively. Even our own Sathyaraj stunned everybody with his portrayal of Periyar which garnered him more respect.
All though biopics have become rare still some people keep the genre alive. Ram Gopal Varma is one ahead. His recently announced God and Sex is said to be a biopic on the scandalous Swamy Nithyanandha though denied by the director. RGV’s forth coming ‘Raktha Charithra’ is also on the life of one Paritala Ravi, the dreaded factionist from Anathapur district of Andhra Pradesh who was assassinated in 2005. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has revealed plans to make a biopic on the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh. The ace athlete has sold his life story for Rs. 1(One) to director.
But in Tamil we don’t see any serious takers for biopics even now. If at all Tamil producers try a biopic that will be for small screen with free commercial time in mind.
Another thing we should keep in mind is that we have never created an audience for the genre. A film on Bharathi was a flop. Even the much revered lives of Priyar and Kamaraj could not be translated into success at the box office. Even ‘Gandhi’ was a bigger success in other places than in India.
When there are too many people whose life will make a good biopic our producers must try them with a certain amount of veracity. With the audience maturing faster than the film makers think Tamil film makers can try different things. And if Kamal Haasan is able to bring out his Maruthanayagam successfully that will be a turning point.
For immediacy the Silk Smitha biopic may open eventful doors for this genre in Tamil.
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