FILM EDITOR-N GOPALAKRISHNAN

Submitted by UMAMAHESWARI on Thu, 2007-06-07 17:51
That was the sudden surge of emotions. A gentle stroke-was enough to open the floodgate of memories. N. Gopalakrishnan the reputed film editor known popularly as Ambi in the tinsel world was in a mixed mood.

Malayalam film is hardly eight decades old and Ambi has worked for 55 years as the editor! He has lot to share. In an interview he narrates how he came to this field, the strides in the technical aspects of filmmaking he has witnessed, editor’s freedom, and his personal experiences with great names in the film world, the magic of Thenmaavin Kombathu which ensured his long association with Priyadarsan and his future projects.
“I came to film world for survival. I was a priest in a temple. With the demise of my father the responsibility of running the family fell on my shoulders. So a relative of mine working in ------took me to Merryland. I met Subramaniam. He was testing my patience, in fact. Whenever I went at the appointed hour he would postpone the meeting and this went on for two months. I did not have the money either. Then I decided to disclose my position. But on that day, he took me in his car dropped at the studio and vanished. Kumar his son took me to Narsu Rajagopal and his wife Padma. She gave me the first film roll and I was taught film editing. I worked as assistant for a decade and in 1962, I did the editing for Sree Rama Pattabhishekam independently, and till date I am busy. Awards and accolades came to me but I think, it is perseverance, and hard work that brought me every thing” he said.
“Editing has changed a lot. In those days, we pasted the films by applying thin layer of balloon. There were no tapes and all recordings were done directly on the film. A cent per cent manual work. Now it is digitalized, and just a click away” he reminisced.
Gopalakrishnan has worked with all directors. “Once the shooting is over the script and the film rolls are hand over to me for editing. I complete it as quick as I can. Only Priyadarsan for whom I have worked for nearly 50 films sits with me during editing. When I edited film for Aravindan (Pokkuveyil), I could not take the liberty to edit the length of the shots. The pace of the story is different” he said. Gopalakrishnan was with Merryland till 1977. He then joined KSFDC as the head of the Editing Department, and served the institution till 1993. He considers it unimportant to be with the director on location..
There are many instances in which the caliber of the editor was recognized. “We were really thrilled to see the outcome. Sometimes it may not be what the director has conceived” he said. Gopalkrishanan has edited films in five languages. For a few Kannada films he had done the role of the dubbing artiste as well.
“Thaenmaavin Kombathu was my first production. It was a super hit. Many advised me not to venture into production. It is a risky business. But I want to produce just one more film God willing,” says this experienced hand.
Gopalakrishnan could maintain good relationship with every one in the film world. “When I met MGR, he invited me to stay with him. But I refused. After a decade in the editing room, he rushed in. (MGR insisted his presence while editing stunt scenes). “Ambi how are you?” was the question and everybody including myself were surprised.
On another occasion during the shooting of Pattuthoovala, I looked at our Malayalam hero Madhu’s watch. He responded “It is a Seiko”. Days rolled by. The film was ready to be released. He called me and gifted me that watch. I was spell bound. I could not refuse. Since then I decided not to ask anybody such questions.”
He cherishes to this day the compliments paid by noted Hindi film director Hrishikesh Mukerjee regarding his editing skills. Now busy with the Priyadarshan film “GOL” for Gopalakrishnan the fifty-five years of association have gifted him a host of memories to treasure.
UMA MAHESWARI. S
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