This story began in 1969, when college-going Rajagopal decided to write a story for a competition as a prank and got it published. Six decades later, Rajagopal has become crime novelist Rajesh Kumar, with about 1500 novels to his credit today. An octogenarian, retirement is not a word in his dictionary, as now, in his sixth decade as a writer, one of his stories has been adapted into a series on ZEE5—Regai, scheduled to premiere on November 28. To provide context on how this collaboration with the streamer came about, the seasoned writer starts by describing his work. “Although I have written nearly 1500 novels, every single one of my crime stories is unique. No two stories resemble each other. My narratives usually run on two or three parallel tracks, often set in different locations. These tracks appear unrelated for most of the story, but the knots are tied a few chapters before the climax. Many readers tell me that they feel as though they are reading not one but three different stories. Even fellow writers have asked how I manage multiple storylines without causing confusion, because many find it difficult to go beyond two. It requires a lot of hard work and preparation," he says. Further discussing his upcoming work, he reveals, "I put in the same effort for this story, which has now become Regai on ZEE5.”
Excerpts of the conversation:
On the story of Regai:
No two people in the world share the same fingerprint, not even twins. But in this story, five people have the same fingerprint. The story explores the reason behind this mystery. The police assume it is a crime, but it is not. This premise had a lot of potential, and ZEE5 has developed it under the title Regai.
Back in the 80s, I had a large fan following. I had a head full of hair then, and if I stepped out wearing sunglasses, I would immediately be surrounded by fans. Those were the days without mobile phones, with limited television viewing and fewer entertainment options. My novels were displayed outside small tea shops, and many people visited those shops just to buy and read my books. Today, such small shops have become rare. Among my readers was M Shakthivel, who once sent me a letter on a paper scroll filled with praise for all my stories. He must have written about a foot of it every day, and he even decorated it using sketch pens. Even a Sahitya Akademi award would not match the love and affection shown in that gesture.
I often visited old-age homes in Coimbatore to give motivational talks. During one such visit, I asked an 87-year-old woman if she knew who I was. She immediately identified me as crime novelist Rajesh Kumar. She then lifted her pillow to show me a collection of about 15 of my novels. She said she rereads them often and still finds them intriguing. Once, a friend of mine visited someone in prison. That person was holding one of my crime novels. Auto Shankar noticed the book and said, “Is that a Rajesh Kumar novel? Please give it to me. I enjoy his stories.”
That is not to say he based his crimes on my books. My point is that people, both good and bad, have read my work.
I have always admired Swami Vivekananda and his teachings. His Chicago speech is one of my favourites. I consider him one of India’s most inspiring leaders. When I wondered what Vivekananda would be like as a police officer, I created the character Vivek. Initially, I had considered a longer name, but I decided that 'Vivek' was succinct and memorable. Initially, I wrote a character named Gokulnath as his partner.
Roobala entered my stories in an unexpected way. During a trip to Madurai, I went to a hotel that was fully booked. The receptionist, Roobala, recognised me from the photograph on the back of my novels and offered me a room reserved for regular guests. When I asked her name and remarked that it was unique, she asked me to name a character after her so that no one would forget it. I fulfilled her wish by making Roobala the wife of Vivek. Around that time, the story revolved around finding a match for Vivek. When the magazine featured it, the editor teased it with a wedding invitation on the cover. Many readers believed a real wedding was happening and sent money orders as gifts. I returned them all, but the incident showed the reach my stories had.
I eventually made Gokulnath retire because he was an older cop. I introduced Vishnu, a smart and Playboy-like character, to appeal to younger readers. His character soon became very popular.
On choosing pen and paper over technology:
Using technology is easy for today’s generation, but it is not easy for someone from my time, especially for a creator. It might be convenient for mechanical work, but not when you are writing a story. I feel that the pen, the paper, and the mind are deeply connected. Once I begin writing, the dialogues naturally flow from the pen onto the page. I often feel my characters standing around me, speaking and emoting. When I type, my focus shifts to whether I have made spelling errors. Going back and forth correcting grammar and language stymies my creativity. I once typed a story and sent it to a magazine, and the editor immediately called to check if I had actually written it. My originality did not come through in that version. This is why I still choose pen and paper. To me, they bring life to a story. I make it a point to write at least ten pages every day.
On his interaction with Kamal Haasan:
I am a believer in God. You must either be a complete believer or a complete non-believer. I believe that even when someone pushes God away, He finds a way to reach them. That is what happened with Kamal Haasan. Atheists may say they do not believe in God, but they often circle back to the idea of a supreme force. Why did Karunanidhi name his first film Parashakthi? He could have named it Naathigan or something else. Why did that title come to him? I asked Kamal Haasan the same question. He says he is an atheist, yet he has acted in films titled Hey Ram, Singaravelan, Anbe Sivam, Dasavatharam, Vishwaroopam, and Soorasamharam. Why did he perform a scene in Dasavatharam where he is tied to the idol of Lord Vishnu? To me, even if he rejects the idea of God, God has entered his life in various ways. Like a mother who continues to love a difficult child, God embraces everyone equally. I wrote a long letter to Kamal Haasan expressing these thoughts. He tried to justify his choices, but his answer was not convincing to me.
On his meeting with Rajinikanth:
Nakkheeran Gopal once took me to meet Rajinikanth sir. He had launched a book called Sirukathai Kathir, and I was writing a serial story titled Rajini Rajyam. When he asked me to meet Rajinikanth, I wondered if it was truly necessary to meet an actor. Gopal convinced me by saying that the top actor of the time and the top writer of the time should meet. I did not like the idea of standing in a long queue, but he assured me that he had fixed an appointment. We were scheduled to meet at 8.30 in the morning, and we were welcomed with respect. The house was filled with the sound of “Om” and the fragrance of incense. Rajinikanth came down the curved staircase two minutes after we arrived, dressed in his signature white kurta. Many producers, celebrities, fans, and members of the press were waiting outside to see him. I gave him five of my novels, and he honestly told me he would not be able to read them. Gopal then requested him to pose in a police uniform for the story I was writing so that the photo could be printed alongside the serial in the magazine. I admired Rajinikanth’s humility despite his superstar stature.
