When you see the young sensitive actor playing the violin with Shabana Azmi in "Morning Raga", you want to know who he is.

Meet Prakash Rao, son of the illustrious filmmaker K. Raghvendra Rao from Andhra Pradesh. For the offspring of a movie mogul, "Morning Raga" is an unusual launch.

Prakash smiles. "This is my second film. I have already done one regional film in Telugu called 'Neetho'. It was a typical mainstream commercial movie. It didn't do well. After that I decided to do something that is closer to my sensibility and so 'Morning Raga'."

But surely Raghvendra Rao would've wanted a more upfront unabashedly masala career for his son!

"Yes, my father is a very commercial director and we did do a big launch two years back as was expected by the public from someone his stature. But ultimately, I feel you can never pre-empt the audience. You need to first believe in the film yourself before you can expect the public to believe in it.

"And with 'Morning Raga' I think, we are on the right course. It is something we put our heart into and that sincerity is bound to connect with the audience."

Prakash's awesome co-star Shabana Azmi says she was surprised out of her wits when she came to know he had attended Lee Strasberg's acting school in New York.

"Yes, I attended Strasberg," he said. "It offered me a structured approach to the training required for an actor."

Tell him Strasberg is too posh for our cinema, and Prakash shakes his head.

"I don't believe it is posh or refined. It is how you choose to use that training that would determine the style of your acting. And before you ask, I don't intend to do only refined films. I want to do films that touch my heart - posh or crass, refined or overstated, alternative or commercial."

For now there is a Prakash's method to the madness of our masala movies.

"For the film I learnt to play the violin for four months and it helped to make it look authentic. Training for a character is essential for any technique you use, and is not particular to method acting. I was lucky I had the time to prepare for my part of a music student.

"I must add the method is not confined to realistic cinema, but can also be used for our kind of stylised cinema. I don't look upon it as mediocre. I owe a lot of my privileges to the commercial cinema that my father makes."

Prakash lights up at the mention of his co-stars.

"It truly was wonderful working with Shabanaji and Perizaad. Apart from learning a lot professionally, the biggest thing that I take back with this film is that we all bonded like a family. We share a lot of genuine warmth and affection. We all connected emotionally during the intense schedules of the shoot. I'd like to believe what we shared is rather special and unique."

Prakash feels his "Morning Raga" director Mahesh Dattani is very good with actors.

"Firstly his writing is so good, that his characters are sharply etched out from the outset. As a director, his biggest strength is that he doesn't go for the emotion of the line, but what is underneath it. That helps make the character real, multi-dimensional and real and more identifiable."

"Morning Raga" has helped Prakash grow as an actor. "Mahesh Dattani's approach has helped me tremendously as an actor. I am waiting for 'Morning Raga' to open up opportunities for me."

He admits he has no other film on hand.

"I would like to do Hindi films. But I haven't networked with anyone as yet. I am hoping 'Morning Raga' will do the networking, for nothing speaks more than your work.

"I think Bollywood is definitely moving towards a positive trend, especially in the last few years, with the influx of a lot of young talent. More people are thinking beyond the box-office -- for good or bad, at least an attempt is being made. And some films like 'Dil Chata Hai', 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S.' and 'Hum Tum' have helped consolidate that effort."

Prakash likes Farhan Akhtar's work. "I find him to be very mature as a film maker."

Intuitively withdrawn Prakash admits he's reserved. "I take time to open up to people. I'm taken to be either very shy or very arrogant. But those who know me well think I'm a wacko."

Prakash says he's supremely single.

"I am not married and neither do I have a girlfriend. I hardly ever socialise, but will have to change that if I want to be a mainstream actor. I spend a lot of time reading and listening to music. I also write a bit."

Being a big director's son in south India, the privileges are many and the hurdles few.

"I enjoy a certain respect and attention from people. It opens up opportunities to put together projects. Of course there's a downside to being my father's son. I'm constantly judged as whose son I am. I've to constantly fight the preconceived notions and the constant comparisons.

"I believe everyone has certain resources and they use it in ways they can. I am grateful for what I have and it does not bother me what others say. I try to live my life being true to myself and not as a reaction to the world outside."

This watchable young actor is now looking at the raga of life with optimism. "I hope 'Morning Raga' will open up opportunities for me as an actor, be it in alternative or mainstream cinema. My father and I have produced this film.

"Its success will help put together further projects that we believe in. I don't see 'Morning Raga' as a magic wand. But it definitely will be the first big step towards bigger things in the future."