‘My Father’ — Lakshmi Jagalur pays tribute to her father, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao

MY FATHER

Father……….the word ‘father’ evokes images of love, protection, and compassion. My father Mr. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao was all this and more, much more. My first memory of my father is when I was four years old sitting on his stomach. He would come home from shootings, lift me up in his arms and place me on his stomach relaxing on the carpet. He would place me on the table during dinner times and feed me the most delicious Perugu annam. I remember him holding me tight as I fell asleep in his arms feeling safe. Despite the stormy weather on the day I was born, and six children before me did not deter him from rushing to shop for gold bangles to adorn my tiny hands. I remember the day when he carried my son in his arms. My father looked at the newborn with love, and tenderly stroked his grandson’s tiny fingers and toes, bringing tears to my eyes.

He taught us to respect fellow human beings, and the importance of humility. He taught us that money is not everything in life, and he showed it by his deeds, not words. His favourite dialogue as we were growing up was “manishi avasaraaniki minchi dabbu yemi chesukuntadu” . (Why does one need more money than needed for basic necessities) He proved it by spending every sparing moment he had with us.

As children we woke up to the strains of Classical music that he would listen to as he read the morning newspaper. Sometimes, he fed and milked the cows as he loved his coffee with fresh milk. He would help me make his favourite dish “beerakai pachadi”, when my mother was sick. Together we made the best pakodas on rainy days. He always looked at us with love and affection, and never uttered a harsh word even when we disappointed him. He would dedicate his Sundays to the family. Memories of playing cricket and badminton with him on our front yard, or playing games sitting on the marina beach are still fresh in my mind. Our beach outings ended with a treat of kulfi ice cream at PALS restaurant on beach road. He at times disguised himself with a turban and drove the bullock cart to take us to movies in Kollur movie theater during our summer vacations. Growing up we had no idea how important he was, for us he was just our loving father. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand, be it toward a loyal foreman at his ancestral property or to a fellow artiste facing hard times. When he visited me in the States three years ago, the only shopping he did was to buy T-shirts and clothes for Ramesh (his aide) and his children.

He was an avid reader, his library consisted of Epics such as Ramayana, Mahabharatha, The Bhagavdgita, Veyi Padagalu, Sarat Chandra, Chalam, Jandyala Papaya Sastri books to name a few. I remember many a splendid evenings watching him enjoy Dr. Narayana Reddy garu’s poetry, and in conversation with Dr.. Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu. Our dinner table conversations would include his description of his childhood, praising his grandmother’s cooking, his carefree teenage days, his college days, his meetings with Dr. Radhakrishnan, Pandit Nehru, Sir Richard Attenborough, to name a few. The topics of conversation would range from politics, to art to literature to music. He would praise enthusiastically if he identified talent in an artiste and likewise he would not hesitate to criticize if he did not like something, no matter how big an artiste he or she is. I remember the day he rushed home to take us all to listen to U. Srinivas mandolin concert. He came home during the break as he was the chief guest for Srinivas’s first concert and he discovered that he was a child prodigy. His enthusiasm was so infectious that we followed him without questioning. Another time I was roped in to go to a Russian circus with my six nephews and nieces because he wanted to go to the circus with his grandchildren. Needless to say I was the reluctant participant in the excursion, as I was 19 years old and did not want to be seen with tiny tots at a circus. He once asked Mr. Bapu (the great south Indian director and artiste) to draw Gandhi and Nehru in one stroke and Mr. Bapu obliged by drawing it for him.

[This the picture drawn by Bapu which is a depiction of Gandhi and Nehru]

He never compromised his principles and I know of instances he resigned as a judge when he was asked to compromise. He once ripped apart an audio cassette tape and did not hesitate to put a match to it when he found the lyrics vulgar. His anguish and disappointment with people when they failed to exhibit basic human qualities and the deteriorating human values flowed out in the form of poetry –

“Malli oka Mahatmudu na intlo puttaali,
(Another Mahatma should take birth in my house)

Oka Gautama Buddhudu na gadapalo kaalu pettaali,
(A Gautam Buddha should cross my door step)

Velisipoyina Naa inti godalaku velliveyyali!
(Paint the faded walls of my house)

Rallu rappalu vunna naa mungitlo rangavallikalu didhali
(Color my front yard filled with stones)

Nallellu Jillellu molichina prangana lo
(Remove the weed filled yard)

Nandanavanaalu naataali
(And plant a beautiful garden)

Nattintlo kodigattina naa divveku
Navya kantulu andhivvali
(The dimmed lamp in my house should shine bright)

Masaka baarina naa masthishkani
Marammathu cheyyali
(Revive my sagging personality)

Deyyaalu tiruguthuna naa kompalo
Daivanni prathishtinchali
(Install Gods in my house filled with devils)

Marachipoyina Manavathvam
Malli nenu pondali
(I should regain my lost humanity)

Marugunapadda manchitanam
Thirigi Naaku Chendali
(My hidden goodness should be rediscovered)

Malli oka Mahatmudu naa intlo puttali
(Another Mahatma should be born in my house)

Oka Kalaakarudiga
Ede Naa Asha…na Akanksha!
(As an artiste this is my wish)

I was truly blessed to be born as his daughter. Words fail me to describe the love I received from him. His tall figure always dressed in pure white, as pure as his heart and his gentle smile, his loving gaze will forever remain with me. If I ever have another lifetime, I want to be born as his daughter. He was a great actor, a great human being, a caring parent till the end; his last words were spoken to me on the cell phone saying “I am fine, do not worry” and this was before he went under the ventilator for the last time.

Aayana Talapeh maaku parama pavithram……