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Camera: P. Ganesh Babu | Interviewer &
Text: Jyothsna |
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As
the menacing Pandya in Kaakka Kaakka, Jeevan
was easily the most hated person but the
Machakaran went on to become the most envied
man, continuously romancing not one, not
two, but many heroines in his film(s). His
latest Naan Avanillai 2 has made the audience,
the distributors and the producers happy
and the actor is ready for his next release,
Krishna Leelai, a Kavithalaya production.
Meet Jeevan in conversation with Senior
Editor Jyothsna Bhavanishankar.
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BW: How has been the
response for Naan Avanillai
2?
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Jeevan:
The response for Naan
Avanillai 2 is better
than Naan Avanillai 1
as per the trade and distributor’s
report throughout the
state in addition to Chennai.
The response is positive
everywhere. It is a fun
and enjoyable film. It
is an out-and-out commercial
flick which can be seen
in a relaxed manner. We
have got what we had aimed
for.
Your experience working in Naan
Avanillai 2?
It is not a new team for
me as this is the third
film I am working with
them after Naan Avanillai
1 and Thotta. When we
had completed Naan Avanillai
1, we did not
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"
The response for
Naan
Avanillai 2
is
better than
Naan
Avanillai 1 "
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have any idea to do a sequel.
But the success of the film
made us consider doing a sequel
and this is the first time in
Tamil film industry, a sequel
is made. There are a couple
of firsts associated with this
project. First, a remake of
a Tamil film in the same language
and second, a follow-up film.
Hence we started Naan Avanillai
2 at the same point where Naan
Avanillai 1 ended.
Will part 3 of Naan Avanillai
follow?
Not sure, we have just given
a small slot for it. Let’s
see!
What prompted you to enter film
industry?
I cannot say that I nurtured
ambitions to become a film star
or anything like that. In fact,
till my high school, I did not
much watch films. Later, I became
interested in theatre and got
myself trained. Offers from
Tamil cinema started coming
in and that’s when I did
my first film University. I
am not from a film background
and did not plan to be in film
industry. However, after having
entered this industry, I am
serious about what I do. So
its only destiny that has brought
me here.
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of not having
a film background?
There are many advantages and
a few disadvantages. On the
positive side, it is only ‘I,
me, myself’ who decide
every move of mine whether it
is right or wrong. I take the
onus when a film succeeds or
flops. There is no one to help
me around or choose scripts.
This is not difficult, as I
have been independent right
from my childhood and take my
decisions. I am not in anyone’s
clutches. This independence
has helped me learn a lot on
my own instead of |
"
I am not in
anyone’s
clutches "
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someone teaching. When
I experienced this at
the start of my career,
it was definitely advantageous
for me. On the flip side,
entry into the industry
has been difficult as
you need to have a Godfather.
But I have the biggest
Godfather on my side -
the real GOD - who helps
in every endeavor of mine.
Otherwise, a person who
is completely novice to
an industry cannot move
up in a ladder like this.
God is with me.
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Usually people start as villain
and become hero but you did
just the opposite. How did it
happen?
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I just wanted to play
around. I did not have
any fear or apprehension
doing anti hero roles.
When I heard Gautham Menon’s
Kaakka Kaakka, I knew
this film would make noise.
You either love Pandya
or hate him but you can
never ignore him. The
script was woven in such
a way that you cannot
overlook Pandya. So I
decided to give it a try
and also realized that
it is rare to get such
an opportunity. Secondly,
University was not released
then and hence I was not
aware of its results.
I started Kaakka Kaakka
shoot three months before
the release of University.
It was a nice experience
working with Gautham Menon,
who was confident about
the audiences’ response
to my character. |
"
You either love Pandya
or
hate him but you can
never
ignore him "
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Did you get a call from Gautham
Menon to work with him later?
Yeah... I got a call from him
to work in the Telugu version
of Kaakka Kaakka. I was not
very keen as I had other commitments.
Moreover, I had chopped my hair
then and Pandya character had
a specific set of mannerisms
and body language with his hair.
I did not want to do the role
without my original hair. Plus,
I don’t know Telugu and
it was a barrier for me. That’s
why I could not do the Telugu
Kaakka Kaakka. But that aside,
Gautham calls me for his parties
and we touch base quite often.
But professionally I have not
got a call from him after Telugu
Kaakka Kaakka.
By and large, your roles have
some amount of grey shades in
them. Don’t you think
you are getting stereotypical?
After Kaakka Kaakka, I did Thiruttu
Payale in which all the characters
had grey shades who were cheating
someone or the other. In the
film, the point that was made
very clear was, anything that
was got in the wrong or illegal
way, be it money or sex, is
not good for life and one is
bound to get into trouble due
to this. All the characters
in the film had some shades
of deceit in them. Towards the
end of the film in the climax,
there is a strong message that
one should work hard to get
money. As regards Naan Avanillai,
which was a remake of KB sir’s
film, there was a bell of alarm
to women that they should be
careful while choosing their
soul mate as it is a sensitive
issue. Selecting one’s
life partner should not be done
in haste. One can have desires
but not greed. These messages
were given in the film which
showed that the money that was
gained was indeed donated to
an orphanage.
In Thotta, my role did not have
grey shades. In Naan Avanillai
2, the money taken from the
girls is being given for Sri
Lankan Tamil’s cause.
Moreover, the girls who get
cheated are not honest girls
and they are also cheats and
I cheat them. In real life also,
I recently read in newspapers
that a girl had sold her house
for a few crores to help her
lover. Hence such incidents
do occur in society and I just
happen to enact that on screen.
That’s all!
Any favorite directors that
you are keen to work with? |
"
We are in the
business
of acting"
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I don’t have any
such specific set of people.
I would be happy to work
with anyone who could
translate a good story
into a wonderful film
on screen. After all,
an actor’s job is
to perform and we are
in the business of acting.
I would love to work with
anyone who has a good
script and who would want
to cast me. I don’t
have any hang ups about
working with any director.
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Any dream role?
I don’t have any
dream role. All I dream
is that my producer and
distributor should make
good money from my films.
The audience should feel
satisfied seeing my films.
This medium is powerful
and we cannot be preaching
people all the time. We
are in the entertainment
industry and we should
entertain people. I only
dream of doing films that
would keep the audience
entertained and the producers
happy and I don’t
have the time and age
to try out something else.
I have just started my
career and I want to take
it easy right now. |
"
We cannot be preaching
people
all the time "
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"
Whoever wins,
they
are my role models
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Your favorite artistes
among the current breed?
I have always remained
Rajni sir’s fan.
I used to watch all his
films. But I don’t
have any role model as
such. I like people who
are successful. The world
likes only winners and
not losers. So whoever
wins, they are my role
models. |
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Your future projects?
In January Kavithalaya’s
Krishna Leelai would be released.
There are many offers that are
coming my way. I have not signed
on the dotted line yet. Right
now, I am enjoying the success
of Naan Avanillai 2. |
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