As a comedian, there are few like him. And in his career of 27 years, he has acted in more than 1,050 films, a feat that has got him into the Guinness Books of World Records. However, in recent times, there has been talk that his comedy is becoming routine — to put it plainly, boring. But the comedian says that he simply follows the director’s orders.‘Director’s the boss’: “I do whatever the directors and writers ask me to do. I can’t argue with them that this character is routine or similar to my earlier film. The same directors and writers created my earlier characters and made me successful,” says Brahmanandam. “I never take the comments made about me seriously. I just do my work. Sometimes people will laugh, sometimes they may not laugh. Moreover, the film business involves a lot of money and I can’t tell the writer or director to design my character as I like. My job is to act according to the director’s vision.”
10 more films to release: Brahmanandam lists around 10 films of his that are releasing soon — Bengal Tiger, Soggade Chinni Nayane, Aatadukundam Ra, Sardar Gabbar Singh, Sarainodu, Abaitho Ammayi, Soukyam, Loafer, Chuttalabbayi, Garam, Mental Police and Krishnashtami. “These are the ones I can think of immediately, there are some more. I hope everyone understands when they see the list of these films,” he laughs. “And I feel proud that many people, especially kids who visit Hyderabad from abroad, want to see me along with historic places like Charminar and Golconda. That gives me more honour than anything else. When I travel, at many places people look at me and laugh, but I still don’t understand why they laugh. Something is there in me.” “Doing comedy is very difficult and if you do it perfectly you can do any kind of roles. But I still feel sad that an award should be included in the National Film Awards for ‘Best Comic Actor’ too. I don’t know why they never look at in this area,” concludes the actor.
Nobody is permanent: The actor is all for new talent. “I don’t want to be in every film, and I can’t do that. Nothing is permanent in this world. When I was young I would do 35 to 40 films a year. Now I can’t work like that and if I thought along those lines then it would be my stupidity,” he says. Coming back to his roles being criticised lately, Brahmanandam justifies, “If you see the present trend in Tollywood, many are eying the horror-comedy genre, because those films are hits. My characters too are designed by writers on the same lines,” he says. Asked about successful films this year, in which he wasn’t present, Brahmanandam says, “I never feel that because of my presence a film will taste success. A film’s success or failure does not totally depend on me,” he says.
Fat pay packet: When asked about his high remuneration, something which stops small filmmakers from approaching him, he says, “I have done many films without remuneration and sometimes for just a token amount. But there is a demand and supply. Whoever wants my presence approaches me. If they thought my remuneration was too high, they would not have taken me.” He adds that he has done films for just Rs 2,500 though he has played key characters in them.
On retiring: The comedian also says that he has not thought about retirement. “Nothing will start with us and nothing will end with us. By God’s grace I have made people laugh all these years and I will continue as long as I can. “Regarding peoples’ criticism, I haven’t given it a thought. I am always peaceful and live my life happily, I don’t worry,” he says.
