BW: How did you begin
your career in Tamil films?
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Sampath
Raj: My first
film is Neranja Manasu
with Captain Vijaykanth
directed by Samudirakani
of Nadodigal fame. The
film was produced by GJ
cinema. It was a big budget
film with a big star cast
and I have done a dual
role of father and son.
I had huge expectations
as I was debuting as a
villain in a big film.
However, on the third
show of the first day,
it was declared a flop.
That was my first experience.
The reason why I am saying
this is, though the film
did not |
"
On the third show
of
the first day,
it
was declared a flop
"
|
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do
well, I got a call from almost
six to seven directors like
Perarasu, Saran, Ravi and others
who promised to use me in their
films. After this, the first
opportunity was given to me
by Vijaykanth in his film Perarasu.
He remembered me and sent word
through someone to play a small
role in the film. I appreciate
the trust and faith he had on
me and his encouraging spirit.
Later, director Perarasu kept
his promise and gave me a small
role in Tirupathy with Ajith.
If not a big break, this film
for me can be termed as a decent
break in my career. Later, Hari
called me for Thamirabarani
and that’s how my journey
in Tamil films began.
What were you doing before entering
film industry?
I am from a media background.
I worked in the advertisement
industry for 14 years. I was
involved in the making of many
ad films and jingles. My love
for cinema has brought me to
Chennai. Before doing Neranja
Manasu, I had done two Kannada
films. My second Kannada film
got a national award in which
I played the role of heroine’s
father. After meeting me at
the press meet, the media reported
that I was after all young and
not old as in the film. Naganna,
a big director in Kannada who
had given five super duper hits
called me aside and was talking
when I got a call from home.
He heard me talk in Tamil and
realized that I am a Tamilian
settled in Bangalore. Through
Naganna, I got to know Baba
Venkat and Gnanavel who called
me for a photo shoot in Chennai
and that’s how I landed
here.
Your experience of working with
leading stars
My biggest unforgettable experience
in the film world is that I
was fortunate enough to work
with the person who I have never
even dreamt of seeing in real
life. She is none other than
Achi Manorama. My first day
shoot was at Udumalpet and I
saw Achi, Vijaykanth sir, Vinu
Chakravarthy and many such stalwarts
at the shooting spot. I was
very nervous but at the same
time had confidence in me. In
spite of this, I was wondering
what if I make a fool of myself
in front of so many people.
Captain and Vinu Chakravarthy
shook hands with me and wished
me luck. But Achi just smiled.
Immediately, I went to her and
fell at her feet. I was so moved
and told her that it is only
because of my mom’s good
deeds that I am standing before
her. She hugged me and gave
her blessings. She said, “Something
tells me that you would do well.
Don’t ask me what makes
me say this.” Her words
were so encouraging that I felt
buoyant and pumped up from inside.
My chest became so enlarged
and my first take itself was
Okayed. Three hundred people
applauded and I did not know
what was going on. I could feel
blood rushing to my head and
thought I was going to burst
open. I went directly to Achi
and said that it was her words
that made me deliver. Like this,
I have met many people in the
industry who have encouraged
me.
Your friendship with Venkat
Prabhu
I have met many people in the
film world but I have one very
special friend with whom I can
discuss anything from my personal
problem to professional issues.
He is Venkat Prabhu. He has
been my friend from the Neranja
Manasu days and he played the
role of my younger brother in
the film. I had around 2000
scripts and he had 10000 scripts.
We used to discuss about them
and had lofty ideas in film
making. Today, I am very happy
and proud that he is leading
in the race. He is on his way
to make a hat trick victory
and I am confident Goa would
be successful.
Can you tell something about
scenes where you have not used
a body double?
|
"
Kaadalil Vizhunden
had
the riskiest shot " |
Till date, I have done
my own stunts. In Tirupathy,
I have done a 40-feet
jump into a furnace. Kaadalil
Vizhunden had the riskiest
shot where in the pre-climax
we had a winch sequence
at a height 1600 feet
from the ground. The winch
had been constructed by
the British seventy years
back. I have a vertigo
problem and cannot look
down from heights. I could
not discuss about my fear
with anyone. I just told
Nakul in case something
happens to me; he needs
to take care of my ten-year-old
daughter.
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Don’t you think that your
negative image may not go well
with the audience?
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No. Today’s audiences
are very clear. They know
what is real and what
is reel. When I do a negative
role, they know it is
only my performance on
screen. To mention an
example, I met a family
in City Centre. The wife
came to me and said that
she did not like me going
behind a young girl in
Seval and felt too embarrassed.
When I asked the husband
if he felt that way, he
said that his wife is
a big fan of mine but
did not like my act in
the film. This is a positive
approach. Usually, villains
will
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"
I will not hit a
pregnant
woman "
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have
more of male fans but in my
case I have more of women fans.
Although they appreciate my
negative performance, they still
feel that I should not do certain
things. Personally, there are
two things that I tell all my
producers and directors. I will
not hit a pregnant woman and
will not rape young girls in
the age group of 10 to 14.
It is the usual norm to give
more action sequences to hero
than the villain. What is your
take on this? |
"
Cinema is
hero
oriented " |
You are right in a way.
Cinema is hero-oriented
because he brings in money
and it is he who carries
the film on his shoulders.
If a film fails, hero
and the director only
take the brickbats and
not a villain or the supporting
cast. As the hero takes
on such a huge onus, he
needs to be given that
distinction. It is only
natural and fair.
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How do you deal with unrealistic
stunt scenes?
I am currently working in Aranya
Kandam with Jackie Shroff. The
stunt choreographer had designed
a particular action sequence
which I felt will not be in
tune with my age but would go
well with someone younger. But
he explained saying that a person
when pushed to an extreme situation
to save his life, would do anything.
I liked this reasoning. The
stunt master gave me a DVD of
just a single shot in a Russian
film to reiterate his analysis.
I felt he was right and did
the shot. If I am not convinced
about a shot I will not do it.
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You do films like Saroja and
also Pidichirukku. Which ones
you prefer?
|
"
This is cinema and
I
am just a character " |
This is cinema and I am
just a character. What
gives me happiness is
that director of Saroja
wanted to cast me and
so did Pidichirukku’s
director. This only goes
on to show the confidence
and trust of the director
that I can essay any role.
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Aranya Kandam and working
with Jackie Shroff?
I have enjoyed and appreciated
Jackie Shroff since my
college days. He was the
first one who broke the
Bollywood image of a clean
shaven hero and appeared
rugged, unkempt and stole
many a hearts. Jackie
Shroff is such a simple
and a jolly man and has
absolutely no airs about
him. I am lucky to act
with such a star.
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"
Jackie Shroff is
such
a simple and a jolly
man
and has absolutely no
airs
about him"
|
|
"
Story is the big hero
in
Varnam " |
What
is Varnam all about?
It is the production of
a software company. When
they called me I thought
it would be a stylish
film and expected it to
be shot in the US. I went
to their office and met
the director. He told
me that he had run an
office in the US and lived
there for more than 18
years. This boosted my
confidence that the film
will certainly be |
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shot
overseas. He slowly started
saying that it is on the backdrop
of Madurai. I was completely
flabbergasted. That aside, the
film is an intense one with
no big star cast. Story is the
big hero in Varnam. It is a
bold subject which has not been
touched upon hitherto in Tamil
cinema. I have absolute confidence
in Varnam.
What made you accept newcomer
Saroj Pandit’s Porkkalam? |
When you watch the film,
you will understand my
reasons for accepting
it. It is not a regular
genre film; it is not
a regular hero film or
for that matter it is
not even a regular action
film. Every frame in Porkkalam
will be different. I liked
Saroj’s way of narration.
I started visualizing
my character. I just asked
for some time as I don’t
accept films then and
there. It is not because
I am conceited but I need
to think and re-think
about different perspectives
of my role and there would
emerge numerous questions.
I would then ask the director
who needs to give me convincing
replies. Instead of doing
four wrong films, I can
do a single good film.
So Porkkalam is one such
good film.
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"
Every frame in
Porkkalam
will
be different "
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Hero or Villain acting - which
one is difficult?
Both are difficult. The basic
quality of an artiste, as KB
sir says, lies with the creator.
If a creator is strong, he can
extract any type of performance.
To cite an example, when (Venkat)
Prabhu told me the script of
Saroja, I refused to act in
it as I felt when Jayaram sir
is the villain; I would only
come across as a sidekick. But
Prabhu was so firm and asked
me to trust him completely.
He explained that certain things
could only be shown visually.
I was not confident and questioned
about my reach. He said that
all my questions will be answered
visually and he was right.
It has been said you have many
girl friends
Is it so? Please introduce me
to them. Let me see. I am also
feeling lonely. Jokes apart,
I have an army background and
have studied in co-educational
institutions right through.
Hence I don’t have any
inhibitions with girls or women.
All my friends come home and
my mom has always welcomed all
of them. I know my limitations
very well.
If
you get a chance to see Aranya
Kandam and Endhiran, which one
you would see first?
Aaranya
Kandam very definitely as it
is my film. The next show will
be Endhiran.
What
do you think about the talents
of young directors in the industry?
|
"
Cinema
is
very healthy
these
days " |
Cinematic knowledge is
more now. People study
cinema and get into the
industry. Education is
very important. They educate
themselves on cinema,
gain practical experience
and then take the plunge
which I feel is the right
thing. It is very rare
to find directors like
Mani Rathnam or Saroj
Khan or Venkat Prabhu.
The experience of working
in various departments
of film making under various
capacities is sure to
take someone to a different
stage. Young directors
are very clear and cinema
is very healthy these
days.
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Do you want to try hero’s
roles?
No, I don’t want
to. Right from my childhood,
even when I was practicing
in front of mirror, I
only used to emulate a
villain. My folks used
to wonder. After Saroja,
I received 14 scripts
for hero. I rejected every
one of them.
In your real life, are
you a hero or a villain?
Sometimes
hero and sometimes villain
depending upon the situation.
I am after all a human
being!
|
"
After Saroja,
I
received 14 scripts
for
hero "
|
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"
Dhanush
is
a fantastic actor " |
Who
is your role model?
I generally use my body
language to depict villainy.
But role model and adopting
a body language of a particular
person are totally two
different things. I have
many role models but my
all time favorites are
Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth.
I have seen their films
innumerable times. They
are the personification
of heroism. Besides them,
I like Nana Patekar, Paresh
Rawal, Raghuvaran, Prakash
Raj. From the current
breed of heroes, I like
Dhanush. Dhanush is a
fantastic actor. His body
language, expressions
and emotive skills are
fabulous. |
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