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Text:
Jyothsna |
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Cheeyan
Vikram needs no introduction. His impending
films always evoke a sense of curiosity
among audience. Many aspiring starlets are
ambitious to be featured alongside him.
He is one of the favorites of many producers
and directors. He has scaled great heights
but remains grounded firmly. Having completed
Kandaswamy, he is ready for his next project-
Mani Rathnam’s Ravan.
Vikram in a frank chat with behindwoods.com
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BW:
How has Kandaswamy shaped up?
When is its release?
Vikram: I generally
do not want to talk much about
anything but would like to reiterate
just one thing. A whole unit
has struggled hard for Kandaswamy
and as one of the unit members,
I still carry that struggle
and pain in me. The best balm
for my pain is the applause
of the audience. When the audience
claps seeing the film, all the
trials and tribulations will
just vanish. This is certain.
Kandaswamy will definitely be
an unforgettable experience
for movie buffs.
Experience working with Mani
Rathnam’s Ravan?
I would like to work with people
who are sticklers for perfection.
Bala is one such director. If
he is involved in something,
he would go to the deepest level
possible to explore the subject
unmindful of the time involved
or any other factor. I have
no problems with it as I am
also of that type. That’s
why Bala-Vikram combinations
could render soulful, intense
films.
Coming to Mani Sir’s Ravan,
shooting was held in the dense
jungles of Chalakudy in Kerala.
When we went to Kolkata, the
dust in the place gave all of
us sneeze and cough. Then we
moved to Madhya Pradesh where
we had lovely climate. So we
had a mix of different weather
conditions just like Mani Sir’s
works.
How did you prepare yourself
to act in Mani Rathnam’s
film?
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When
I like a character, I
would like to completely
imbibe it in me. That’s
my style. Mani sir always
tries something different.
That is his style. He
is keen to make every
frame of his a different
and a special one. That
film may not be a successful
one which is entirely
a different issue. However
it would be a special
experience for everyone.
Whenever he is filming
a scene, Mani sir will
appear like a soldier,
very aggressive and ready
to face the battlefield.
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"
Mani sir will appear
like
a
soldier, very aggressive
and
ready to face
the battlefield "
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"
Mani sir is a task master
and
totally ruthless " |
Why do you say that?
His involvement cannot
be described in words.
When I am struggling in
water or standing under
waterfalls, he expects
me to abide by his instructions.
He will just push me into
waterfalls and I will
be completely astonished
and give a bewildered
look. He would not be
satisfied with that look
but would somehow extract
what he wanted. I would
give the deepest sigh
that the scene is somehow
over. When it comes to
extorting his expectations
from the artists, Mani
sir is a task master and
totally ruthless. This
might sound exaggerated
but you will realize it
when you see the film. |
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How was it working with Abhishek
and Aishwarya?
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I know Abhishek for a
long time and we are good
friends. The moment he
enters the set, his chirpy
waves would spread all
over the place. He is
such a friendly person.
He does not leave the
set even if his shot is
over and would wait for
mine to complete. When
I am shooting on rocks
and hills, he used to
be very caring and would
always caution me to be
extra alert. His sense
of humor is amazing. When
a shot is very long, he
would jocularly say that
I don’t need glycerin
to make me cry as waiting
for the shot to get over
would automatically bring
tears to my eyes. We used
to have lengthy conversations
about film making.
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"
I found it difficult
to
work with
Aishwarya
Rai "
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As regards Aishwarya Rai, she
is completely a different person.
I found it difficult to work
with Aishwarya Rai because she
is not only Miss World but also
a person who is very keenly
observed by the people. Hence
I was not able to move with
her freely and was even hesitant
to talk to her. But on the professional
front, she is very encouraging.
What are your attempts to change
completely into a character?
I will very easily get into
skin of any role that I play.
Firstly I will bring the looks
of the character into me. Then
when I am shooting continuously
for a long time, the involvement
increases and at one point,
I start loving my role so much
and totally transform into it.
When I am required to play an
animal, I will also become an
animal, with no emotions and
no feelings just like a wooden
board. I was like this while
doing Pithamagan.
You have an action hero image.
But what is your real face? |
"
If
running behind the heroine
is
the prime job,
I am sorry,
I
am not for it " |
I like to fight, go for
battles. But the reason
is also important. I don’t
like to act in soft romantic
films. If running behind
the heroine is the prime
job, I am sorry, I am
not for it. However it
is surprising that I often
see such movies.
I want to take each step
of mine very diligently
in my career. When I am
doing a film, I would
like to trek in two important
aspects. One is that the
role should satiate my
acting thirst. Second,
my character should be
strikingly different.
The character should be
understood just by looking
at me. I would like to
do films where there is
strong character portrayal.
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Are you interested in doing
Bollywood films?
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No, I am very happy working
here. It is comfortable
in Tamil and I consider
this as my favorable ground.
I believe that understanding
the director is very important.
I cannot work in places
where I don’t understand
the language. I am happy
in Tamil films. Not only
in Tamil, but I am also
happy doing films in Telugu,
Kannada and Malayalam.
If at all I have to get
out of these languages,
then it would be for a
Mani Rathnam film or a
Rakesh Mehra project or
Sanjay Leela Bansali’s
venture. Something like
Dil Chahta Hai.
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"
I am happy in Tamil
films "
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Are you interested in scripting
or direction?
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"
Every one of us
is
an assistant director
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Every actor and actress,
at some point, would have
felt like directing or
writing a script. Perhaps,
in another five to ten
years, I would venture
into this. If seen in
a different vein, every
one of us is an assistant
director. When I am working
with Shankar or Bala or
Mani sir, psychologically,
I will be an assistant
director. I always nurture
the idea of direction.
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Do you have any particular character
that you are keen to essay?
Currently I am head over heels
in love with a character from
Selvaraghavan’s film.
From the moment I heard about
it, it has started disturbing
me. It has affected me to such
an extent that waiting for the
film to commence has become
an ordeal. I am restless.
Tamil cinema has been growing
steadily but for the past four
years, Hindi cinema appears
to have surpassed us. This change
could be attributed to NRIs
investing in films. As a result
many laurels that are due to
us are going to Bollywood and
they are doing what we should
be doing. We are still showing
violence in films. If it is
a soft romantic subject, it
is only small budget films.
This trend should change.
Film for actor or actor for
film- Which is your choice?
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I like to feature in a
sincere film. Of course,
such films do come occasionally.
Cinema is a director’s
medium. I would like to
be an actor liked by a
director. Beyond this,
accepting to act differently
and to make some one act
is a difficult task. I
am a director’s
actor. He should feel
that no one but Vikram
would suit for a particular
role. I am keen to feature
in such projects.
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"
I like to feature
in
a sincere film " |
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You are on a success journey.
Do you look back sometimes?
Definitely! I have dreamt a
lot and have accomplished beyond
my dreams. But the path has
not been a bed of roses. I have
suffered many insults, injuries,
disappointments and pains and
eventually my dreams have come
true. God has taken me to a
place beyond my expectations.
Cinema, stardom, shooting- How
is Vikram beyond all this?
I am very clear about who I
am –in front and behind
the camera. There are two persons
in me- one is within cinema
and the other outside. I have
a small nest where I, my wife
and kids dwell. When I go home,
I switch off my mobile. When
I am at the shooting spot, my
folks cannot reach me. I have
a small house in Besant Nagar.
When I am in Besant Nagar, I
would like to go around walking.
I don’t like people making
a hue and cry when they spot
me. Although there are five
security persons around me,
I would like to be left alone
when I go to the grocers or
to the gym or to the video shop.
That’s what I like. My
space belongs only to me.
What about your belief in god?
I believe in God completely.
If He decides to give me three
boons, I would ask for the following.
1. I would like to be born as
actor Vikram again. 2. I want
my family and friends with me
again. 3. The success I got
after a long list of trials
and tribulations should be got
earlier. |
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