T K Rajeev Kumar entered the film world with a bang. Even as 3D technology becomes the latest trend in movies worldwide, the fact remains that the country's first 3D film was made in Malayalam, long back in 1984. The film was 'My Dear Kuttichathan' and T K Rajeev Kumar had worked behind its scenes as the assistant director. Five years later came his debut directorial venture 'Chanakyan', which won the Kerala Critics Award and the Film Fare Award for Best Director. In an interview with Yentha, the veteran director speaks about his arrival in the industry, the core elements found lacking in the modern film scene, IFFK and his remade version of 'Rathinirvedam'.

“I came to this city during the late 70's and it is because I came to Trivandrum that it was possible for me to venture into the world of movies. It is this city that made me a film director,” says T K Rajeev Kumar.

The time of his arrival in Trivandrum was a turbulent one in the history of the nation. It was right after the Emergency and the public was desperate and confused about utilising the freedom that they had regained.

“I happened to see a film festival conducted during that time. Such festivals were rare in those days. The experience of viewing world classics gave me an idea of the potential that lay with the medium. I immediately became aware of the opportunity that a director has, to give the audience something that's truly unique and marvelous.”

Although a young T K Rajeev Kumar had the ardent desire to move into the world of films, his parents weren't so enthusiastic about it. For their sake he had to forsake an opportunity to study at the Pune Film Institute and instead enroll at the University College for B.Sc Zoology. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise and Rajeev Kumar says that it was the University College days that transformed him and he began to get actively involved with movies.

“When I was studying at the University College we had eminent people like O.N.V and Narendra Prasad as lecturers who always had a genuine passion for movies and attached an aesthetic value to them. Then I chanced to meet Mathew Paul, a meeting I would say was the turning point of my life. Mathew Paul introduced me to Jijo Punnose, of the Navodaya Production Company. It was their advice, encouragement and belief in me that gave me the honour of being a part of a historic project like 'My Dear Kuttichathan'. Five years later, when I went on to become an independent director, that too happened under the banner of Navodaya films.”

Rajeev Kumar marks Jijo Punnose, the director of  'My Dear Kuttichathan' and such films as 'Padayottam', as the best director that the country has produced. He also ranks 'Navodaya Production House' among the very best during that time and sees the absence of good production houses as the main reason for the present condition of the industry.

“In those days, the presence of good production houses like Navodaya ensured that there was a continuous stream of talents into the movie industry. Talents like Priyadarshan, Mohanlal and Shankar, and also yours truly were picked by 'Navodaya' from the campus itself and were exposed to the aesthetic as well as the technical side of films and trained to remain dedicated and passionate to our profession. The production houses had an organised way of functioning; they kept details on how much money could be spent on a particular movie; how much money had been made out of it; a list of their future projects … it worked like a well oiled machine. The scenario changed when individuals entered as producers. They were here for the money and to get money they always played it safe, by going for the regular script and for the most marketable stars. The artistic value of the movie was lost in the process. As a result, the few marketable stars received all the films and got over-exposed, while the budding talents had no platform to begin their career. I believe this is the reason for the present condition of the industry.”