Krishnan BalakrishnanKrishnan Balakrishnan is the perfect guy next door: rugged, mature and full of vim and vigor. No wonder he comes as an obvious choice for directors when they are in need of an ordinary face to present a character with some depth. The list of directors he has worked with include Adoor Gopalakrishnan to John Varghese of Adi Kapyare Kootamani.
For Krishnan, the ongoing IFFI screens offers a double delight: two of his films - Dr Biju Kumar’s Kaadu Pookkunna Neram and Shaji N. Karun's Kuttysrank – have made it to the fest. Krishnan speaks to Onmanorama on the sidelines of IFFI at Panaji.
A theater activist
I started my acting career as a theater artiste. I joined Kavalam Narayanapanicker sir's Sopanam theater group after finishing school and worked with him for some 10 years. The years at Sopanam molded the actor in me, and I got many opportunities to participate in national and international drama festivals that time.
Entry to film
It was Kukku Surendran who gave me a ticket to filmdom. I debuted through his film titled Oraal in 2005. I played the title character.
A still from the movie 'Left Right Left'Then I chose to be a freelance actor, both in cinema and drama. I played the protagonist in Surya Krishnamurthy's play Melvilasam. In fact, director Adoor Gopalakrishnan sir offered me a role in his film Oru Pennum Randu Aanum after watching that play. I was also fortunate to act in his latest film Pinneyum.
Krishnan's notable films include Shaji N. Karun's Kuttisrank, Thriller, Left Right Left and Adi Kapyare Koottamani.
Of Dr Biju and Kaadu Pookkunna Neram
I met Dr. Biju at a film festival. Kaadu Pookkunna Neram is my third film with him after Perariyathavar and Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal. In this film, I play the role of a cop who is part of an anti-Maoist operation team.
Does Adoor let actors improvise?
It's a misconception that Adoor sir doesn't let actors improvise their performances. He gives maximum freedom to actors during rehearsals. Until the final rehearsal, the actor can improvise his performance. And Adoor sir chooses the best out of those. But once the rehearsal is over and camera starts rolling, he doesn't want the actor to make any improvisation.
It was Kukku Surendran who gave me a ticket to filmdom, says KrishnanVillage theater
Along with my friend Shyam Reji, I have been experimenting with a form of village theater recently. We started it at Malayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram. In this project, we arrange performances in villages with the natives as actors. We choose a short story as a basic text and improvise it by weaving into it contemporary political and social developments. It's done on a low budget and we have been performing at events such as marriages, following the tradition in northern Kerala. I'm also working with my friends on a project aiming to transform the Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram a cultural hub.
Krishnan Balakrishnan is the perfect guy next door: rugged, mature and full of vim and vigorNew films?
I am currently acting in Anil Thomas' Minnaminungu.
Krishnan stays at Kallayam in Thiruvananthapuram along with his mother.
