'Hey Ram' a big influence on 'On A Quest': R.S Prasanna

Chennai, Nov 17 (IANS) Tamil filmmaker R.S Prasanna says Kamal Haasan's "Hey Ram" had a big influence in the making of his upcoming English period film "On A Quest", about Swami Chinmayananda, a Hindu spiritual leader who inspired the formation of Chinmaya Mission.

"During the making of 'On A Quest', meant for the film festival circuit, I was devouring the masterpiece'Hey Ram', along with my film crew. Each and every frame was a masterclass on making a period film, and many times we forgot that we had a film to make of our own and got into gushing love and admiration at the detailing and intelligence of the film," Prasanna told IANS.

He said that "Hey Ram" was "years ahead of its time".

"On A Quest" features art director Thota Tharani as Swami Chinmayananda.

Kamal Haasan was the reason Prasanna fell in love with the magic of filmmaking quite early on in his life.

"In my second grade, I became obsessed with 'Guna', walking around my house in circles chanting paeans to Abirami, and of course finishing with a solid crash against the wall. It never hurt," he said.

"Kamal Haasan was the Drona to this Eklavya as I went through school, trying to balance my grades with my growing obsession with films," he added.

Prasanna had "sleepless nights" when Kamal appreciated his critically acclaimed Tamil debut "Kalyana Samayal Saadham".

"Kamal sir will always be the Drona to million Eklavyas, who never asked for a thumb in return!," he declared.