How
did you get into this media?
Actually I am always a stage artiste. Through stage I came to this media.
I am in this field as a writer, director, and artiste from the age of
14.
Is Kovai Anuradha your original name?
Kovai Happened to my native district. Radha from my real name Radhakrishnan.
Anu from my star Anusham. Interesting isn't it?
Tell us about your background
My father was a hindu priest and Sanskrit scholar. Mother was
a housewife. I have three daughters and one and only wife.
What where you doing before entering
into this profession?
Interesting question. I was a central government employee even 3 moths
back. I got VRS only on 9th June 2001 after my 36 years of service.
Why didn't you leave your job and take
media as your full time profession?
I didn't find it necessary. I was able to manage both the careers simultaneously
without any problem. I really think it will not be a problem for a stage
artiste to have a profession of his own. Normally stage rehearsals take
a lot of time and we have stage performance only in the evening. We
are used to it.
Is anyone else from your family into this media?
Of course yes. My eldest daughter Kovai Anuthama is my co-director.
Second daughter Kovai Anupama is a script writer. Third daughter is
now doing her schooling.
Which, where and when was your first
stage drama?
It was on 1959 April, for a Kathar Vaara Vizha on a Gandhi Jayanthi
day. I was 14 yrs old then.
What was the response for your first
drama?
Very good response, in fact more than I expected.
When was your entry from stage to TV?
For Doordharshan in 1979.
How many dramas have you staged so far?
Produced: 32, Acted: 32, Directed: 32, Written: 32
In how many serials have you participated
so far?
Acted: around 15, Produced: 1, Directed: 7, Written: 9
What are your current projects?
A comedy serial called "Suseela Aunty" in Jaya TV from Sep 18th (8:30
pm) onwards.
Have you received any awards?
There are so many for stage dramas. For serials I should say
Best Writer award - Costly Maapillai
Best Comedian Award - Mel Maadi Kaali
Best Serial Award - Manbumigu maamiyaar
Your dramas are generally family oriented. Where do you get the
inspirations from?
It is both - within my family as well as from families around.
Which is your best project so far?
As a writer and actor, it is Melmaadi Kaali. But as a writer, director
and an artiste, it is Costly Maapillai.
Why do you choose to work with same artistes again and again?
For good cooperation, understanding, talent and of course for budget.
Do you select artistes for your story or writes story for artistes?
I can do both. But I prefer artistes for story. Then only we can accept
them as artistes..
On what basis you select an artiste?
Selecting an artiste for stage is totally different from that of a cinema
or a serial. Here we never give importance to the appearance and glamour.
Even if it is Miss Universe or Miss World ,we need two qualities - dialogue
delivery and performance. If I say dialogue delivery it means the Tamil
pronunciation. I strictly insist the pronunciation "zha" from my artiste.
Even there were situations, the story itself was converted into a village
subject just because the hero could not pronunce "zha".
TO
be continued next week.......
