" I ACT AS INDIAN CULTURAL AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA " - PRABHU NEPAL

(REPORT BY N.THYAGARAJAN)
PIX BY: INIAN RAJAN

Prabhu Nepaul the producer- director of TV serials pulled off a coup of sorts when he signed Sudha Chandran of Mayuri fame to act in his mega soap Jaiyam currently on air at Jaya TV. It was after the successful completion of 681 episodes of the mega-comedy-serial, Krishna Cottage for the same channel , Jakaarb Telefilms (JT) started Jaiyam which is nearing its 200th episode.

Rich in production values ,producer Prabhu Nepaul said " Bringing back Sudha Chandran again to Tamil screen and that too to act in a TV serial was a difficult task, since the dancer- actress had left filmdom 12 years ago and settled in Mumbai running a Nache Mayuri Academy coaching Bharathanatyam to many of the Mumbaites. After hearing the subject, she immediately agreed to don the greasepaint,"

In an interview, Prabhu says, " Being born in South Africa, I always wanted to produce telefilms and serials which depicted the Indian cultural values. I am making such types films and TV serials. You can term me as the ’cultural ambassador' to South African Tamils.

When tear jerker soaps are ruling the roost, Prabhu dared to produce - direct a comedy serial like Krishna Cottage. " Foremost thing in producing a comedy soap is that one should not hurt the feelings of others. Making a comedy serial is a serious business for me. Similarly, when a family drama like Jaiyam is produced, one has to depict the real problems that one confront in one's life. In Jaiyam , Sudha Chandran solves various problems which is very real and faced by many of us everyday. Our scripts are are viewer friendly”claims the director.

The devadasi's are usually potrayed with sleaze but Prabhu's Krishna Dasi serial for SUN TV Channel telecast some years before focussed about Devadasis contribution to art, dance and music and how it forms a part of their life. “Music critique Subbudu praised me saying that the Krishan Dasi had featured about the good relationship between husbands and wives as is being practised in Indian culture since time immemorial," revealed Prabhu.

Prabhu's mother hailed from Thanjavur from a Saiva Pillai family and his father from the Royal family of Nepal. He learnt Bharathanatyam from his mother in Nepal and later from Vempatti Chinna Sathyam. “After having learnt Bhartanatyam , I wanted to bring our traditional forms of India through films and tele serials. This I have been doing so for the last 12 years" says Prabhu Nepal happily.

His production company produced a film titled "Nelson Mandela's - freedom 50”. It was about the real life drama of the South African leader. JT has also produced Television serials for Indian, Singapore, Malaysian, South Africa and Sri Lanka TV Channels which has won the laurels and awards.

Some of the famous mega-serials of Jakaarb Telefilms are Bhairavi - Star Vijay, Sanghrush the true stories from the files of the ministry of finance, Customs and Excise for SUN TV, Kaatrai Varuven, Mandira Vasal, Kadhiravan, Swarangal, Uravugal, Police Diary, Nila and Picnic Antakshri (Game show) etc.,

Adds Prabhu Nepal, “Today elders ask their children to watch my serials. My serials given importance to the necessity of Hindu girls wearing mangalasutra and metti on their legs. I have given explanations in my serials quoting Hindu Upanishads. It is very subtly told like a sugar coated pill. There were a lot of positive feedbacks from various quarters of the people about this" adds Prabhu.

Now the JT is producing Indian English a full-length comedy film with most of the artistes from South Africa . The shooting would be in India. " I am sure this film will entertain millions of Tamils settled down in South Africa" says a confident Prabhu ." The pre-production of the film is over and I will have to fix up a date for the commencement of the shooting" says Prabhu.