Malani Remembers His Mentor K Subash On His First Death Anniversary

K Subash was a well known writer director of the Tamil film industry. He had given several successful subjects and films to the industry notably Kshatriyan (for Mani Ratnam with Vijaykanth), Kaliyugam with Prabhu, Sabhash with Parthiban and Brahma with Satyaraj. He also gave Ajith to Tamil films with Pavitra and had worked with Prabhu Deva for three films, Ezhiyin Sirripil, Ninaivirukkum Varai and One Two Three.

It was with One Two Three, the trilingual project (Tamil, Telugu and Kannada) that Sandeep Malani got introduced to K Subash. And since then, 2001; Malani has been part of K Subash films as he turned co-director with the Kannada version of 123.

Says Malani: ‘If I am today, known as a film director, it’s all because of K Subash, who gave me my first break to be an co-director along with him for 123, which followed by another Kannada film ‘Manasella Neene’ for Mugoor Sundaram (Prabhu Deva’s father). And since then, being associated with Subash Sir, I learnt the nuisance of film making. He was my mentor, my God father, my Guru. He made me stay with him for several years as he moved to Bombay from Chennai, and got association with Bollywood”

K Subash directed the Hindi film, Insan for Raj Kumar Santoshi starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Tusshar Kapoor. Malani had taken a break during that period as he was involved as a director for his own Kanglish film SMS 6260. And Malani gives the credit to his Subash Sir for this break too. ‘It was because of Subash Sir, that I got to learn and direct my first film SMS 6260, for which he gave his good wishes, blessings and called the Muhurath Shot, over Phone (on a speaker) as the shoot was in Mangalore’.  And as I completed SMS 6260, I was back with him. And during that period, Krishnan Subash (as he is also known) got involved in Hindi script writing.

Malani was with K Subash for several script work, being his chief associate and assistant. One such script was ‘Mumbai to Rameswaram’ which turned out to be ‘Chennai Express’ later that Rohit Shetty directed for Shah Rukh Khan –Deepika Padukone.  Continues Malani; ‘Being a Journalist and had the art of creative writing, also got to learn lot of things from Subash Sir, the script writing, the screenplay and doctoring the script. As Sir, was involved with Raj Kumar Santoshi, I was at home-work doctoring, correcting, spell check and understanding the screenplay. That’s when, through Sir’s contacts – I got to write the fresh script for an old shelved film, titled ‘Hello India’ (the old film was Purab Ki Laila, Paschim Ka Chaila with Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Namrata Shirodkar). I also got to be part of the shooting team at Bangkok.

‘I was one of his favorite associate or assistant as termed in Film industry. But more than that, I was his family member as he treated me like his younger brother and I stayed with him in Mumbai for 6 years.  Subash Sir gave me lots of ideas, tips and narrated many scripts. He infact, helped me in my own scripts and suggested changes and that gave me a different platform as with his help and support I directed meaningful films that got me awards, recognition and international platform for the social awareness HIV Aids film ‘Jo Jo Laali’ and the woman empowerment ‘Sulige Sikkidaaga’.  He used to criticize my work too, which I took positively and that helped me grow more. That’s why, today I proudly say, from being an actor if I have become a recognized director, it was all because of K Subash Sir.

On his first death anniversary (23^rd November),  Sandeep Malani has dedicated his latest film shot on iPhone 6s titled ‘Yeh CineMaa Hai’ to his Guru, K Subash. And on his tribute today, to the deceased great filmmaker, he writes on his facebook wall:

“It’s been a year today that you left us. I still can’t come to conclusion that you are not amongst us. Wherever you are (in heaven) and in the minds and hearts of your loved ones – be with them always…
And for sure, You will always be in my heart.
RIP sir! My Guru, my mentor!
Krishnan Subaash sir – Miss you!”