Jolly 970 films and still going strong

Thirty-seven years ago, a 17-yearold teenager was seen “wheeling” a Bullet motorbike through the streets of Neelasandra. Although stunt riding was a common sight even in those days, the sight of someone “wheeling” the heavy Bullet bike was indeed extraordinary.

This caught the attention of Murthy, the personal trainer of actor Ravichandran, who then introduced the young boy to him.

At the time, Ravichandran was gearing up to direct his magnum opus, "Premaloka," and the talented young lad was enlisted as the star's stunt double.

This serendipitous encounter would forever alter the course of the boy's life. Instead of pursuing a career as a bike mechanic, he has since become one of the most sought-after stunt directors in India, having worked on over 900 films across Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and Bengali cinema.

In an exclusive interview with S Shyam Prasad, Jolly Bastian shares insights into his forthcoming adventures and accomplishments.

Q. Do you still keep track of the number of films you do?

A. Yes, I do keep track of every film I work in. In the 37 years since Premaloka, including the films I am currently working on, I have worked on 970 films across various languages.

It has been a long but fulfilling journey, and I look forward to more challenges every day.

Q. What are the projects you are working on now?

A. I have a handful of films in Kannada, including Upendra's 45, and I recently completed two challenging fight sequences for Duniya Vijay's Bheema.

I'm currently engaged in five projects in Malayalam, and there's one Telugu film that will be announced shortly.

Q. How has technolog y changed the character of stunts in movies?

A. Technology has brought significant changes to how stunt sequences are executed in films.

However, it has also made the task more complex. In the past, with celluloid film, we were very particular about each shot. Nowadays, with multiple cameras and extensive content, it's sometimes challenging to find what we need.

Q. Most people think CG has made it easy. Is it true?

A. While CG has had an impact, it cannot fully replace the physicality of real stunts. Real stunts continue to be essential in filmmaking.

Q. You were also interested in directing films.

A. I directed the travel film "Lockdown Diaries," which was released on August 4. It was a great experience as I wrote the story, screenplay, and composed the stunts. I am preparing to direct another film shortly.

Q. How do you maintain your fitness?

A. My mantra is "eat to live and not live to eat." I've maintained strict standards in my food habits, which has contributed to my fitness.

Q. Being a polyglot, how do you see the trend of films releasing simultaneously in multiple languages, calling themselves pan-India?

A. The film industry has grown, with numerous films being released. While theaters can now showcase a new film every day, the market for each film has expanded. Rs. 1,000 crore at the box office is the new benchmark.

The success of films like "KGF" and "Kantara" has garnered newfound respect for Kannada technicians in the industry