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Text: Arun |
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Director
Ameer who is known for his intense films
like Maunam Pesiyade, Paruthiveeran will
be seen in a new avatar now. He is the hero
in the upcoming Yogi and he shares his thoughts
on the film with behindwoods.com
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BW: About the film
Yogi
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Ameer: It is
a movie set in the poorer parts
of Chennai, almost like the
slums and revolves around the
feelings of a resident of such
an area. His name is Yogeshwar aka
Yogi. Many movies before
have depicted life in
Chennai, but Yogi takes
a new perspective which
will definitely be interesting.
The life lead within the
restricted 8X8 confines
of a small room has been
shown really well. The
problems and issues of
such an existence can
be a movie by itself.
Yogi will be a very different
experience for all viewers. |
"
Yogi will be
a
very different experience
for
all viewers "
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What kind of a person is Yogi?
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"
Yogi does not care
much
about circumstances
or
people " |
Yogi does not care much
about circumstances or
people around him. If
he wants to do something,
he just does it. You could
like him to a lion. There
are three characters in
the movie that are always
with Yogi. One of them
has been played by Snehan,
the poet. The other two
have been played by youngsters
picked straight from the
slums of Chennai. Madhumitha
has essayed the character
titled Rajasulochana.
It is a role that is sure
to bring her accolades
once the movie releases.
Apart from them, there
are at least 20 new faces
in the movie.
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Your experience in front of
the camera
It was indeed a new experience
for me, an eye opener of sorts.
Till Yogi, I had only been extracting
the right expressions from my
actors. I did not have the knowledge
abut the problems they faced.
But now, after acting in Yogi,
I know much better. There were
times when the director in me
gave a lot of trouble to the
debutante actor within myself.
Many a time after director Subramaniam
Siva had given the ‘action’
call, I have caught myself inspecting
the shot, the camera position,
the field of vision as if I
were the director. Siva took
me aside and told I was the
hero of the movie and should
concentrate on nothing but my
performance. It took a few days
to get adjusted to my new role
as actor.
Why did it take so long in the
making?
Almost everyone I have met in
the recent past has asked me
this question. It can be fully
understood only by a person
who has attempted to shoot a
movie in Chennai. Getting permission
to shoot at important public
spots is a huge process. For
instance, we had to shoot a
scene in front of Citi Center.
It had nothing important, just
me walking past. Even for that
we had to run from pillar to
post for many days. We were
first denied permission. But
after many pleas, it was finally
granted with the condition that
shooting could be carried out
only at night, that too at a
rent of Rs 40,000 per hour.
And, when we wanted to show
a shop within the complex, they
too wanted a separate rent.
Similarly, a scene in the toilet
of Sathyam cinemas too had such
difficulties. All this were
for the more insignificant portions
of the movie! Imagine how much
we had to go through to complete
the film. At last, it is over
at a final budget of 11 crores.
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How would director Ameer
rate actor Ameer?
I was surprised by my
looks on screen. I do
not look more than 35
years. I understood there
is a lot of difference
between seeing oneself
in a photo as compared
to a well shot complete
movie. I don’t want
to say more, the audience
can see for themselves
in theaters. |
"
I was surprised by
my
looks on screen "
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"
I am a pure
‘non-vegetarian’
"
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How did you discipline
yourself for the movie?
I am a pure ‘non-vegetarian’.
I glut non-veg thrice
a day. But, ever since
Yogi started I have been
on a completely restricted
diet. Greens, vegetables,
wheat food like chappathi,
egg whites etc. I almost
started feeling as if
I |
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am
at an herbal treatment center.
Of all the things that I ate,
the only non-veg item was egg.
But, even that, I could not
eat in the form I wanted, like
omlettes. It was only the fully
boiled egg whites that I had.
Exact eight hours of sleep a
day and regular work outs at
the gym. It was difficult to
sleep peacefully after a long
day at the gym, the body used
to feel so tight. My skin too
got dark and tanned due to long
hours in the sun.
About action scenes
We have tried to do action scenes
that are comparable to Hollywood
standards. We have shot the
action scenes painstakingly
to ensure quality. Two fight
scenes were shot for a total
of 51 days. The film ‘Nenjil
Oru Aalayam’ was shot
in 20 days, now we have taken
30 whole days to shoot one fight
sequence. All the efforts have
gone into give the best to the
audience. |
Earlier this year, the
fight scenes in Ayan were
talked about a lot. The
main reason is that they
brought a leading stunt
master from USA. We have
also tried to attain the
same level of quality.
Rajashekharan is the man
behind the action in Yogi
and once the film releases,
he is sure to get big
offers and a separate
identity. I want the audiences
in theaters to feel the
originality in the fight
sequences and that is
why I chose not to go
in for body doubles for
risky shots. I did them
myself and got hurt twice
in the process. |
"
We have taken
30
whole days to shoot
one
fight sequence "
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"
Yuvan has been
exceptional
as usual
" |
Yuvan’s work
Yuvan has been exceptional
as usual. When he composes
tunes for me he gives
the impression of being
the ‘Modern Ilayaraja’.
He knows exactly what
I want, how I will shoot
the visuals and delivers
the exact mood that is
required whether it is
the songs or re- |
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recording.
In yogi, there are four songs,
one is promotional. I have also
lent my voice for a song along
with poet Snehan that goes ‘Seermavum
Koovathile, Seerazhiyum naathathile,
singara Chennai pottri’
Earlier in Paruthiveeran I had
sung a small note that went
‘Ae Dandanakka’.
Yuvan still remembered my voice
from that piece and made me
sing in Yogi. |
About director Subramaniam
Siva
I have total faith in
him as a director. I liked
Thiruda Thirudi a lot.
Everyone talks only about
‘Manmadha Rasa’
from the film, but there
are many other things
that I liked. It was a
cute love story narrated
in a very breezy manner.
This is what prompted
me to act under his direction.
Yogi will definitely be
a milestone for Subramaniam
Siva; he will attain a
new stature after the
movie is released. |
"
Everyone talks
only
about
‘Manmadha
Rasa’ "
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"
Cinema is
not
a medium
to
give messages
" |
Any message through Yogi
Cinema is not a medium
to give messages. It is
basically meant to entertain.
One must not make cinema
with the sole aim of passing
on a message, no one will
take notice of the movie
then. If a message can
be incorporated seamlessly
in the flow of things,
then it is definitely
good. Yogi will follow
that principle. Yogi will
have a message, but in
a small dose. |
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