Kiranraj hails from a region where pursuing cinema as a career was considered unconventional. The budding director however went against all norms to reach out to his dreams. Once it so happened that, he was standing in a small frayed bus stand of his village, bogged down by the harsh words of the society, rethinking his decision, contemplating his next step. The dark clouds added to the gloominess he carried within himself that day. Just then, a shabby looking man in his late sixties, who had been watching this young man lost in deep thoughts, walked towards him. With a slight bit of hesitation in his tone he began “You seem to have a lot on your mind. Do you mind if this old man gave you some advice?”. Perplexed by this sudden encounter, the young man nodded an unsure yes. Taking this as a sign, the stranger continued “every human will have his own share of worries. That is the way of life. But always remember this lad, situations or people who cause you worries have to be kept where they belong, under your foot, as fodder, for your growth. Never let them alter your true calling. Follow your heart and keep moving forward, great things will follow”. He then gently pats Kiranraj and walks away just as quietly as he had arrived.
Charlie Chaplin has been Kiranraj’s childhood hero. The director had witnessed Chaplin's artistic excellence very early on in his younger years. Once, an NGO had organized a movie night for the residents of Kiran’s village. A large white screen and a projector was set up under the vastness of the night’s sky. Villagers had gathered to watch the silent film titled “A dog’s life”. How could a film with no dialogues possibly hold the attention of its viewers was a predominant thought that floated across many minds.
Barring all the doubts, the 32 minute long film successfully glued its audience to the screen. The movie was a hit amongst the villagers; children and elders alike. It had bewitched them. The legend had made them laugh until their bellies hurt. For little Kiran, this was the start of something magnificent. It was a spark that stimulated him to dig up and explore more about Chaplin's movies and life. It was one of the most beautiful testimonies of silence, recalls Kiranraj.
Kiranraj was a bright student at school, noticed especially for his interest in the cultural and artistic field. However, due to family circumstances and the financial stress, he had to discontinue his education and take up a job after 10th.
But the desire to continue his education burned bright within Kiran. So, when the situation at home got consistent, he decided to take the next step in education through correspondence, while also continuing to work as a waiter at the restaurant. When the restaurant owners did not encourage Kiran’s ambition, he quit the job and joined a new restaurant with a supportive management.
Kiran toiled day and night relentlessly. The days were spent working at the restaurant while the nights were reserved entirely for studying. After months of hard work, Kiran gave his exams and successfully cleared it with flying colors. This success, he recalls, not only reassured him of his potential but also pushed him further in striding towards his dreams.
Imagination is the key to the world of storytelling. Kiranraj had picked up on this very early on in his life. Kiranraj grew up listening to stories from ancient India history including Ramayana and Mahabharatha from his grandparents. His grandmother was a gifted story-teller, he reminisces. With just her words she would draw him to the world of the ancient characters. Little Kiran would listen to her stories wide eyed, willfully getting captured in the details of the stories, letting his imagination run wild. A chunk of the evening was especially saved for the narration of various episodes of fables, from a range of space and time. This spark he says gave birth to a story teller in him. With time he cultivated and nurtured the art of storytelling, ll along, knowing little, that someday, he would paint stories on screens for his audience.
