Chai with Chitra

Have always been fond of watching interviews regarding movie people and touring talkies channel has been a wonderful medium for those who have such hobby. Chitra Lakshmanan apparently is a walking talking google on movie people. The way he approaches each interview, the amount of pause he gives after each question only interjecting at portions where if he is looped in on that response is a lesson for anyone conducting interviews. The confidence with which he handles his host, despite the familiarity or personality of the person, the kind of personal questions he asks, some of which are way too personal, as compared to coffee talk shows like that of Karan johar’s does raise eyebrows. But the intent being absolutely clear on the seriousness behind the question unlike the wimpish attitude on the other shows, is quite evident. In all probability the guest is almost always sure that the host knows the answer anyway and are relaxed in being open about something which at times are outright private otherwise. In fact the whole show goes as if Chitra Lakshmanan wants to confirm if his information on the person on other side is correct and at times it looks as if a kid is reciting his homework to his mom, who is having the text book open on hand. He never intervenes or contradicts anyone and whatever duration the episode runs, 90-95% of it is runtime is dedicated to the guest. Very rarely he gets monosyllable or simple answers. People seem to like to open up to him. He probably has a prior impression made on them or his reputation supersedes or may be people really feel at ease with him, either way the show is quite open and revealing about the guests in their own terms. One of the guests actually made this comment about the host that when ARR was about to be employed by Chitra he had asked about his family, his parents, siblings spouse et al. The director was very curious and asked him point blank why he is being so nosy about ARR’s background, which apparently was his second or first movie. Chitra had replied saying that for an industry that invests very heavily on people, more than the instruments and tools, it is the people who are the product and how they make a brand of themselves determines their level of success. Invariably another common trend on almost all of the interviews is that 75% of the interviews that I’ve seen so far, people have been so humble and respectful. The very few who came out different where known for their arrogance and personality which only gets proven again. And another common thread being the opinion about Rajini and Kamal. Almost every single one of them depicted Rajini as a timid and scared person with his own limitations had made it big, while Kamal was a sacred topic, with every single one of them gushing about his technical prowess. Even those whose movies made with kamal were duds, didn’t openly pan him, but mentioned that in a polished manner, admiring his knowledge. There were no comparison on a skill level or popularity level. Even at a familiarity level, many had interesting incidents to narrate about kamal and very rarely they mentioned about Rajini. May be because Chitra chose the guests who were from kamal camp basically or may be it was the actual point, some how in all of his interviews, Rajini comes out as a very distant second in terms of stardom or popularity amongst the guests. Makes one wonder, how in the world he became superstar with so many of his own folks having no confidence over him all this while and even now!! In one interview a guest said, Rajini was so worried about his movie after watching a kamal movie he didn’t want to release it on same day, but the movie turned out to be a bigger hit. The fact being that a movie of Rajini was a blockbuster was getting projected the other way was quite funny. Weird are the ways of this tinsel town and its inhabitants. Despite all the guests and interviews, one common thread that was very evident from all of them is that they were equally clueless about why some of their movies ran well and others tanked. That is one magic which will forever remain elusive I guess.