Every employee big and small in the Film Labs and the Studios called him Father.
The founder of Prasad Studios and Laboratories and the doyen of Indian Cinema, LV Prasad took me to Bombay and put me under Ram Mohan, the celebrated Animator.

For the film, Mera Ghar-Mera Bache he directed, I had the good fortune of making the title cards. But for LV Prasad and his son Ramesh Prasad, I would not have stepped into the field of Animation.The father and the son have shown me a new direction in my career.

He was the Studio Director in the AIR (All India Radio Station), when I met him for the recording of my first Radio talk. I gave him my script and I thought I had to wait for his approval. Instead he led me straight into the recording room and asked me to ‘read out my talk’.

He sat in front of me with his eyes closed listening to every word of my script. After I had finished my reading, he stood up, said OK and left. I presumed that I had to repeat the exercise but I was informed that the recording was over.

He made his job simple. He evaluated, assessed rendering and monitored recording all in one stroke.

Years later I had the rare privilege of meeting him in a distant land and felicitated together by Chittem Raju, Founder of the Vanguri Foundation, Houston, TX, USA, in the presence of a large gathering of Telugu humour lovers.

In the brief speech I gave on the occasion, I recalled the incident.
Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, a man of letters, a character actor of the Telugu Tinsel world and a wonderful human being was all smiles.

Strange as it may seem, that is how I met him and only twice!

Bapu introduced me to Dilip at the latter’s residence in Kodambakkam. Dilip was working with his electronic gadgets from which music came in incredible ways.

Dilip had in his room a clock that contained only the Hours Hand .It showed that time did not define Dilip’s work. As I look back, I realize how timeless Rahman’s music has been!

Bapu, the legendary artist, cartoonist and film director is generally a closed book.He prefers to be undistracted while at work. But he will listen provided the suggestions offered are worth implementing.

I and Sasidhar, a fellow cartoonist were invited for a preview of Bapu’s film “Gorantha Deepam”.

The story is about a housewife who is lured and secluded by some men who are no other than her husband’s close friends. Sensing their ulterior motives, the woman attempts to escape. Her husband who was sent away deliberately by friends, returns now. Seeing the plight of his wife and the evil designs of his ‘trusted’ friends, he takes his friends to task.

In the movie, the entry of husband and his grappling of the situation did not look convincing. So, I suggested to Bapu, that if visuals of incidents of deceitful friends are shown as intercuts as the husband proceeds to attack his friends, then the scene would be more appealing to the viewer. Bapu readily agreed. The climax scenes of the film came out with real punch.

Bapu Bomma

About Movie Gorantha Deepam – Year 1978

Screen Play and Story : Mullapoodi Venkata Ramana
Director : Bapu
Producer : Mullapood Venkataramana
Lyrics : C Narayana Reddy
Music Director :K V Mahadevan
Singer : S P Balasubrahmanyam, P Susheela.

He was Dilip, a young energetic lad glued to his key-board. He was composing jingles and BG scores. I saw him in a recording suit. A friend of mine Mr. Modi, in whose studios, Bapu’s video lessons for AP school children were made, one day told me that young Dilip was a genius and a great music director in the making. True to what he said, Dilip made his film debut in Roja as A.R. Rahman and rose to instant fame. Incidentally for all the animation shorts which Bapu made with my assistance, Rahman scored the music.

Years later I showed those shorts and took pride in telling my students in the Heart Animation Academy, that the BG score was composed by no less a person than Rahman himself.
From Kodambakkam (that’s where Dilip lived) to Kodak Theatre (that’s where Rahman was honoured with Oscars) the maestro’s historic journey is the result of hard work and dedication.

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Jai Ho – Slumdog-Millionaire “Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!../Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale” Song.

Jai Ho – Slumdog-Millionaire “Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!../Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale” Song.

Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!

Singers:

Sukhwinder Singh
Tanvi Shah
Mahalakshmi Iyer

Below is “Jai Ho Jai Ho” Song in Text Format

Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!…Jai Ho!..
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale

Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Ratti Ratti Sachi Maine Jaan Gavayi Hai
Nach Nach Koylo Pe Raat Bitayi Hai
Akhiyon Ki Neend Maine Phoonko Se Uda Di
Neele Neele Tare Maine Ungli Jalayi Hai

Hai
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Bala! Bala!
Ahora,
Conmigo,
Tu Bala Para Hoy
Por Nuestro Dia Olvidas,
Los Problemas Que Sean
Salood!
Bala! Bala!

Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Chakh Le.. Ho Chakh Le …
Ye Raat Shahad Hai…
Chakh Le.

Rakh Le Haan Dil Hai
Dil Aakhri Had Hai
Rakh Le.

Kala Kala,
Kajal Tera
Koi Kala
Jadoo Hai Na

Kala Kala
Kajal Tera
Koi Kala
Jadoo Hai Na

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…
Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Kab Se
Han Kab Se
Jo Labpe Ruki Hai…
Keh De
Keh De
Ha Keh De
Ab Aankh Jhuki Hai..
Keh De

Aisi Aisi,
Roshan Aankhe,
Roshan Dono Heere,
Hai Kya?

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale

Jai Ho!… Jai Ho!…

Bala Bala
Jai Ho!…
Bala Bala
Jai Ho!…