T. N. Seetharam

T N Seetharam or Gouribidanur Seetharam is a prominent Kannada film and TV serial director, actor and writer.

T.N. Seetharam has become a cultural icon in Bangalore, India, through his work in several art mediums. Mr. Seetharam has written, directed, and produced plays, movies, and top-rated television series which have attracted millions of viewers.

T.N. Seetharam was associated with the famous director Puttana Kanagal and had written scripts for his movies. He also has made appearances as an actor in movies.

He was noticed when he started directing TV serials for Doordarshan. Fame and recognition came when he directed "Mayamruga", a daily Kannada serial which stood apart for its take on reality. Mayamruga has seen a DVD avatar, which probably is the first for a Kannada serial. He then went on to direct "Kamanabillu" which was the first serial on a satellite TV to be widely watched. The most successful phase for him has been his association with ETV Kannada which resulted in famous serials like "Manvantara" and "Muktha". He has acted in most of his serials and he likes to play the character of a lawyer who comes to the rescue of the oppressed. Mr Seetharam is strong in his scripts which makes him quickly change the course of a serial and deliver what the audience demand. Usually the ratings soar when he makes an appearance. The court scenes are elaborate and goes on for weeks together and yet the audience ask for more. Thats the power and charm of Seetharam. He developed a concept of "Samvada", an organised meeting with the audience of his serials throughout the length and breadth of Karnataka. These became so popular that ETV Kannada telecast these interactions which had an equal ratings as that of the serial.

Interview (Early life)

I was born in Gowribidanur:

My father, Narayana Rao, was a shanbhog with a keen interest in theatre and had joined a company. A strict man, he had a commanding presence with a hard voice. He owned land in Gowribidanur. My mother, Sundaramma, was very traditional and affectionate — we always had meals together. She’d also tell us interesting stories about our family. I have a brother and sister.

As a boy, I suffered from an inferiority complex: I felt I wasn’t good looking but everyone seemed to love me at home. I generally did well in school at Doddaballapur. Once at a school function, the chief guest announced he’d give a hundred rupees to the one who came first in school in the SSLC exam. I took that seriously and when I managed to top the school, I started pestering the chief guest for the prize. He started avoiding me but after a lot of pressurising, I received the money. We were lucky to be taught by Anjanappa in middle school — he’d tell us inspiring stories.

I joined National College for PUC:

I started wearing footwear only after joining college. It was a sudden change from rural schooling to an urban college where there were many intelligent students. Being shy, I’d always sit in the last bench but ended up with good marks. My father wanted me to be an engineer. I did get a UVCE seat but wasn’t admitted because I was underage. I joined Renukacharya College and completed my BSc.

My first brush with theatre:

In 1966, the hostel where I stayed organised the Kailasam Day. I played Moddumani in the play "Bandavalvillada Badayi". They smeared black paint on my face so I could be suitably ugly. I did that role very well and was much appreciated; my English teacher M S Nagaraja always encouraged me. In a college play, I was given the role of Ahoblu. Very few wanted it as it involved lengthy dialogues. Since I had a good memory, I managed it well. Playwright P.Lankesh, who saw it, offered me roles in his plays and films. When theatreperson R Nagesh wanted to stage Tughlaq, Lankesh suggested my name for the role of Azeez. It was a great success. I also came to know M D Nanjundaswamy, Poornachandra Tejaswi and Gopala Gowda, all socialists who’d visit Lankesh. I acted in five of the seven plays of Lankesh and also the lead in his film Pallavi.

I was influenced by socialism:

In 1970, my father asked me to come to Gowribidanur and look after his 20 acres of land. By then, I’d completed a law course. In keeping with Socialist thought, I told him I didn’t need any land. He was very hurt, stopped taking medicine and died. I was shocked and guilty that I hadn’t heeded his word. It’s the saddest incident of my life. I was so disturbed I wrote a play "Baduka Mannisu Prabhuve"; after that, I wrote Nammolagobba Naajukaiah and Asphota.

After my father’s death I went to Gowribidanur:

I looked after the land for ten years but continued my theatre activities in Bangalore. In 1972, there was a "Bayalu Natakotsava" in Bangalore in which three plays — "Oedipus", "Jo Kumaraswamy" and "Sankranti" — were selected. B.V. Karanth was casting for them. By then, I’d acted in several plays. Surprisingly, Karanth did not select me for any role; he didn’t even ask me for the audition. I was very angry. Those days, I’d bring out a monthly magazine called Muktha and wrote strongly against B V Karanth in it. Lankesh joined me in the campaign. Karanth stopped talking to me after that. "'In 1978, a friend wanted to set up a factory:"'

He was intelligent but highly irresponsible. I stood surety for Rs 80,000 for his battery factory. He failed to repay the dues which added up to Rs 2.75 lakh. I got a court notice, that too on my wedding day. It was a struggle for me every day as I had to pay some amount to the bank daily. I’d go to friends’ house at night to put together some money. It was a black day, every day, for ten years. During that period, I managed the factory and also wrote the play "Nammolagobba Najukaiah". "'In 1980, the 100th show of my play "Asphota" was held in Madras:"'

It was a political drama. Director Puttanna Kanagal saw it. I played the lead role of Shivaprasad. After the play, he came to the green room and congratulated me. In 1982, he visited me at Gowribidanur and asked me to write the script for his film "Manasa Sarovara". I wrote 95 scenes and read it to Puttanna. He invited me for the shooting in Sandur. He didn’t use my dialogues on the first or second day. I felt humiliated. His associate told me that the dialogues weren’t good. I told Puttanna I’d go back instead of my wasting time. He called me, wrote the dialogues and showed them to me. On reading them, I realised my fault. That’s the first lesson I learnt from Puttanna.

In 1992, I started making serials:

The first one was "Mukha Mukhi" for Doordarshan. It was a great hit and never looked back after that; "Maya Mruga", "Manvantara" and "Muktha" were all hits. In 2000, I directed my first movie "Matadana" based on S L Bhyrappa’s novel. Currently, I’m directing another movie "Meera Madhava Raghava".

Politics is not my cup of tea:

In 1985, though the Janata Party tried to get me to contest from Gowribidanur, I refused. In 1999, Ramakrishna Hegde forced me to join the fray from there on a JD(U)- BJP ticket. Though I was not interested, circumstances forced me to contest. I was very happy I lost! Even my dear friends congratulated me on losing!

"Interviewed by G S Kumar of Times of India"

Filmography

*"Kraurya" (Story, Screenplay)
*"Dharanimandala Madhyadolage" (Acting)
*"Matadaana" (Direction)
*"Meera Madhava Raghava" (Story, Dialogues, Screenplay and Direction)

Television

Due to Mr. Seetharam's association with ETV, all his serials are telecast on ETV Kannada. However, the serial "Mayamruga", was aired on Doordarshan Chandana also. His 1st serial, "Mukha Mukhi" was aired on Doordarshan.

*"Mukha Mukhi"
*"Mayamruga"
*"College Taranga"
*"Mukhamukhi"
*"Manvanthara"
*"Muktha"
*"Dashavataara"
*"Minchu"
*"Male Billu"
*"Muktha Muktha"

Dramas

* Nammolagobba Naajukayya
* Baduka Mannisu Prabhuve
* Asphota

Household name

T N Seetharam has become a household name in Karnataka. His TV serials have catapulted him to fame and fortune. His courtroom drama, Muktha, has viewers sitting rivetted to their TV sets, and as an actor, he has become a familiar figure, battling it out in court.

Ironically, the black-coated lawyer who always fights for the underdog was something that Seetharam had wanted to be in real life. “I studied law, but I am more successful playing a lawyer on screen. Now, after every episode, most of the calls I get are from viewers who are lawyers and judges!” he exclaimed.

Was this the fulfilment of his personal ambition of wanting to become a successful lawyer? “Definitely, yes! I used to dream of this - me standing in court arguing an important case, with all those people watching.”

So, all those legal angles were accurate, everything technically correct. Seetharam smiled and lifted up three heavy law books in front of him. “I keep reading all these cases. Look! Ballistics and Firearms, Criminal Court Practice - everything is carefully researched.”

Awards

* 47th Indian National Film Awards: T.N.Seetharam directed Mathadaana secured 'Best Regional Film' award.

* Year 2005 Karnataka State Government's 'Aryabhata Awards': 'Best Director' award for the direction of the teleserial Muktha.

*Director of award winning TV Shows - Mayamruga, Mukta, Manvantara

T.N. Seetharam was the president of Karnataka State Film Awards jury for the year 2006.

External links

* [http://www.themusicmagazine.com/mathadana.html About Matadaana - the film]

* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar122006/enter102582006310.asp Deccan Herald Interview: Serial King Seetharam ]

* [http://sampada.net/podcasts/6 Sampada Podcast with T N Seetharam]

* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/ushakattemane/seetharam1.htm Usha Kattemane on TN Seetharam]