1st September 2003

Pawan Kalyan is perhaps the most silent, yet most talked about hero in the Telugu film industry. Audience wants to know anything and everything about this man. For some -- he is sanguine, for some -- he is haughty, BUT for many -- he is one of the most laconic, exciting, technically gifted and talented actors to have graced the silver screen.

MOVIE CAREER

He joined the film industry following the footsteps of his illustrious brother, Megastar Chiranjeevi. Immensely interested in direction, he made his debut in a movie called "Akkada ammayi ikkada abbayi." This movie bit the dust - the only positive thing about this movie was pawan's skill at martial arts.

After taking a sabbatical, he came back with "Gokulam lo Seetha". This movie was an average grosser at the BO. Critics appreciated Pawan's emotional performance in this sentimental movie. "Suswatagam" enjoyed a good run at the BO. The climax was the highlight for this movie and had a good message for the youth.

"Toli Prema" changed Pawan's career. Directed by a new comer, this love story had Pawan playing the role of a youth, who is weak in studies but strong in character. This movie started the trend where the hero is shown as a normal guy sans any super-natural talents, unlike some of our earlier movies. It was rumored that Pawan himself directed the stunts, songs and certain sequences for this commercial blockbuster.

"Thammudu" followed "Toli Prema". Inspired from JJWS, this movie had pawan playing a below average student yet again. This movie became a run away hit and pawan became a rage among youth and students. He started the trend of some folk songs that became very catchy. His style, eruditions and gestures became rage with students and children. This movie was a musical blockbuster. Pawan's histrionics and timing reached a new high in this movie.

Pawan bid good-bye to the millennium with "Badri". This movie was sold at astronomical prices. Added to this, the movie suffered from tremendous negative publicity. It started off badly, but an avalanche of collections proved the detractors wrong and Pawan emerged a winner, yet again. It became one the biggest hits in nizam area and various A and B centers.

"Kushi!!!" What can I say about this movie? Lots of changes were made from the original movie, which had the heroine taking the major share of the role. Pawan's fights, impeccable comedy timing, songs (he directed three of them) and his involvement behind the screen made this normal love story, the second biggest hit in the history of AP (at that time) with an astronomical 22 crores share.

Pawan took 2 years break and directed and starred in Johnny. This movie became a blooper, however, he proved yet again that he is the best in action sequences and sensible portrayal of subtle emotions. Some class people were touched by the way the movie was made. His detractors come out with funny equations BUT one flop after so many hits will never ever affect any star's position.

PERSONALITY

Pawan is a very different kind of hero. He does not seem to hanker after fame, number-one position or records. He has never celebrated any 100 days movie functions (except Toli Prema). Some people believe in "actions speaking louder than words" and pawan is certainly one of them. He is a perfectionist. He does not mind spending years to achieve it. Some times, the expectations may beat the perfection - this occurred in Johnny's case.

Pawan has been a trendsetter in various ways. I don't remember seeing: folksongs, Hindi and English songs in Telugu movies, comedy in fights, Hindi dialogs (at regular intervals) before pawan's movies. I humbly apologize if any of his predecessor(s) has/have already done these feats. But the impact of pawan doing them has taken these concepts to bigger heights. For instance, the eve-teasing fight has become an integral part of every movie after Badri and Kushi.

Pawan is constantly criticized for acting in remakes. Although he is not the first actor to have done remakes, I request all those learned people to watch those original movies before making any further comments. I remember seeing "Kushi" in Tamil where the poor hero is reduced to a guest in the entire second half. Similarly Thammudu too had a totally different and refreshing treatment that made it a very loveable movie despite an illustrious original.

Special request to Pawan Kalyan

1. Perfection is a virtue and we are glad that you are endowed with a mind that cannot see anything but perfection. However, taking gap for years demoralizes your fans. As a true fan, I humbly request you to act in more movies (but meaningful) in a year.

2. Please act in movies where you can show your strengths viz. histrionics, dances and superb comedy timing.

3. You have always encouraged new talent. Please work with new music directors like Devi Sri Prasad and Chakri.

4. Your fans will appreciate if you can give some interviews sometime to any magazines.

5. You should experiment however too many experiments at the same time can lead to bad results. Try to bring out a new concept in each movie instead of packaging them in all in one.

Wish you a very happy birthday Pawan. Hope you give all your fans immense Kushi(s) with your next movies…. Do meet us often with blockbusters!!!

- By SREEKANTH/MEGAPOWERSTAR

Also read Srikanth's article on Chiranjeevi

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