Is there anyone without a nickname? There won’t be, I swear. My dad’s Pet Name is Vasu Swami and he has many more nicknames. Each name was bestowed upon him based on some incidents that happened to him or where he was a party to it.
For quite some time the people in our village used to refer to my dad as “Art Director Vasu”.
Isn’t it a wonder how a person living in a village, never interested in films got the title “Art Director”?
My Dad’s uncle was a renowned Malayalam novelist. He called my dad one morning and announced that one of his Novels is being filmed as a TV Serial. He also told my dad that the main cast and location were already decided and to our amazement, the location was our own village. He requested my dad to provide all the help that he can to the Serial Film crew.
The novel was based on the incidents from the life of the novelist, in a joint Tamil Brahmin family. As the shooting progressed at various parts of our village, the villagers were in a festive mood and were ready to do anything for the success of the serial. Many of the villagers including my dad got an opportunity to show their faces in the serial.
During the course of the shooting, one day the art director came running to our home to see my Dad. The art director was in a dilemma. To find a solution he requested my dad’s help. The problem was that they were supposed to shoot a death scene that evening, but the art director did not know the rituals practiced and clothes worn by Tamil Brahmins after a death had occurred.
My dad agreed to help him out and both of them went to the director. The director also requested my dad’s help and asked him if there was anything to be bought for setting up the scene. My dad agreed to prepare a list and indeed as you imagine it was a big list!
Sandalwood Powder, Sacred Ashes, Flowers, Garlands
Thank God….! it’s good that I rechecked the list, my dad exclaimed. We need a white silk cloth too, my dad said to his friend.
Dad’s friend started to the town which is around ten Kilometers away from our village. It takes at least two hours for him to go and comeback.
My dad thought of remaining in the location itself so that he can observe what was happening there. He saw the art director pouring something into the glasses.
What is that? ……. Dad asked the Art Director
Its Butter milk Sir……the Art director replied.
Can I have one glass? I am too thirsty!!! My dad requested.
Extremely Sorry, Sir. It’s the property for a lunch scene , that will be shot today. The art Director replied.
PROPERTY……….What is that? Dad asked.
Property means any items or objects used on the set of a play or movie to create an effect to the viewers. For example, if the background of the story is olden times, then we select dresses and articles of that time which will create the feel of that era to the viewers. The Art Director explained to my Dad.
My dad was very happy that he has learned a new terminology “property”. And at the same time he got confused.
If it is to create more effect, why the butter milk is on the steel glass? My Dad Questioned.
That should have been Copper Glass as the time line is 1950s, my dad added.
I shall provide you the PROPERTY. I have many copper glasses at my home. My dad decided to bring some.
My dad felt very happy that he was able to correct an experienced Art director and was full of self admiration for this brilliant observation.
He bought the old Copper Glasses from home and he himself poured the Butter Milk in to it and kept the PROPERTY ready for the next scene.
The Director saw that, and he appreciated my dad for his sincerity, which further boosted my Dad’s confidence.
Two hours passed and my Dad’s friend returned with the “properties”.
Vasu, you can start now…….the director told my dad to arrange for the Death scene.
Ok Sir I will start right now……..replied my dad.
My dad called the actor and asked him sit on the easy chair and started “decorating” him with the “properties”.
He mixed the Sacred ashes with water and made a paste and he dipped his three fingers in to it and drew lines on the actor’s arms in three places, upper arm, elbow and the just above the wrist.
With the balance paste he drew three lines into the actor’s forehead and chest.
Dad then made a paste out of sandalwood powder and the same too applied in the same manner.
He took red KumKUM and placed it on the middle of the three lines on both the hands, on forehead and on the chest.
After that he placed a chain made of “rudraksha” through the actor’s neck which followed by a garland made of Jasmine.
All these decorations by my dad took around 2 hours to complete and in the mean time the director was busy shooting the lunch scene.
There were three people in the lunch scene. The hero, his sister and his brother in law. The hero and his BIL were sitting on a mat and in front of them the plantain leaves were kept. The scene was like, the sister has to serve rice and other stuffs and the two guys sitting should eat the “properties” as if they are having a delicious feast. Towards the end the hero should drink the buttermilk and appreciate his sister for her cooking skills.
The scene was ok on its third take and now the hero has around three glasses of buttermilk in his tummy.
Once the lunch scene was over, the director asked his associate whether the makeup was over for the corpse. my dad was on its final touch up and he told the associate that, he would bring the actor in another 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes my dad and actor went near the Director. Seeing the actor and his makeup, the director was very happy which can’t be expressed in words. He appreciated my dad for his valuable contribution for the success of the scene.
The camera was set, the director asked the actor to lie down in the “frame” and to close his eyes.
All set!!!
Start Cameraaaa.....the director shouted
Rolling………, the Cameraman shouted,
Scene No 21…Shot no 1…...the Clap boys Clapped.
Actio……………
One second, director sir. My dad interrupted and he gave the white silk cloth to the associate director; which if you remember was the last item in the list of properties and said.
Now you have to cover the body with the silk.
The director appreciated my dad’s timely advice and ordered his associate to cover the body and the associate covered the body of the actor.
Again All set
Start Cameraaaa.....the director shouted
Rolling………, the Camera man shouted,
Scene No 21…Shot no 1…...the Clap boys Clapped.
Actio……………
Before the director could complete the word “Action”, an innocent boy from the gathering asked….his doubt little louder.
Why did you cover the body? If you wanted cover it, then why did you decorate his chest and arms with garlands, holy ashes and Kumkum?
The Director, my Dad and the others gathered were stunned and embarrassed for a moment and when they realized their mistake, all of them burst out laughing. Even though, they had incurred unnecessary expenses to buy the properties as per my dad’s list they still saw the humor in the situation..
Ultimately, it was decided by the director not to cover the body as, considerable time, effort and money had been spent on the actor.
When all the people were laughing, the hero, who acted in the lunch scene was missing and a vomiting noise attracted the attention of the gathering.
Yes that was the hero, who had gulped down three glasses of buttermilk form the copper glass, who was vomiting excessively.
An elderly man, who was an expert in remedial medicines, explained the reason of the excessive vomiting. When the green patina clinging to old copper vessels (Copper Oxide) mixes with acids ( the chemical name for buttermilk is Lactic acid) the lactic acid becomes very poisonous.
My dad looked in to the eyes of the art director helplessly. The art director also looked into my dad’s face and the unsaid message could be this;
Thanks Vasu……….thanks for ruining my day………..
That day onwards, the nickname “The Art director” was bestowed up on my dad for a long time to come.
