The laugh rioter

Mallavarapu Suryanarayana popularly known as MS Narayana is a busy man today. His role in Dubai Seenu as ‘Fire Star’ Salman Raju had given him the much-needed attention at a time when he is at the crossroads of his career. On the sets of Neelakanta’s latest film, the 55-year-old comedian talks of his recent release and his foray into direction.

A writer initially, Narayana moved into acting after Raviraja Pinisetty offered him Rukmini followed by a break in EVV Satyanarayana’s Maa Nannaki Pelli. He says, “I used to participate in a lot of dramas when I was in college and it was my neighbour’s suggestion that prompted me to try my hand at acting. Those days comedy used to be understated and subtle but the trend in elevating it has improved the prospects of a comedian in Telugu films. Earlier we were given a four-minute role, now we have six minutes to unleash our creativity. People have realised entertainment need not necessarily be a funny act by a comedian, anybody from a hero, heroine to a villain can make the film entertaining.”

About his character Salman Raju which is bringing the house down the actor says, “Such roles fall on our lap very rarely. Generally when an aged actor who is still in demand is facing the camera, one doesn’t fail to notice his limitations in delivering the required expression or movement. He has some pain in the body, he blames the assistant or the choreographer. If he can’t dance he tells the dance master to compose steps according to his body language, etc., and is constantly under a feeling that he is an evergreen hero, a ‘youth’. Just because the role revolved around a film star it got such attention, if it were about some driver or a mechanic people wouldn’t notice. But the fact is it wasn’t inspired by anyone or it is not an insinuation at our popular stars.”

The four-time Nandi awardee had developed a style of his own like turning his head,  modulating his voice in a particular fashion, reacting to a dialogue very quickly and more. He says, “Very true, insecurity prompts you to opt for the standard route of acting and then you know that’s incorrect and you ultimately set out the hard and long way of developing your own style. The way I turn my head is called the “MS turn” in the industry. I don’t imitate anyone and I have my own natural, unique mannerism that I’ve been following for ages. Very rarely do good roles fall on our lap, it happens once in two months.”

MS Narayana had even tried his hand at direction first but it failed at the box-office. After a hiatus he’s all set to give a fresh look to his son Vikram. He adds, “After Dubai Seenu, I was flooded with offers but I’ve already commited myself to begin this movie in July.” The actor signs off saying the responsibility of a comedian is, “He should not allow stagnation and complacency to set in and must constantly deliver aarogyakaramaina haasyam as long as he continues to serve the film industry.”