How
did Tamizh Padam start?
Tamizh
Padam did not start like a serious film project.
My friends and I were running an ad agency and
we would have a laugh talking about films among
friends. It was a rather impromptu beginning
and I started writing the script when I was
free. When it looked like it was turning up
well, I got serious about it. I met Sasi and
we decided why not and the first producer we
met was Durai Dhayanidhi. I don’t know
if any other producer would have understood
the concept if we had gone to them especially
since it was a full-length spoof. He is a youngster
and was looking for something new. The timing
was right. I narrated the story and he said
he would get back to me. He checked and I feel
he would not have got a confident reply but
yet he was strong and said that he would at
least do the release. It was his confidence
that brought us this far. |
Tamizh Padam
did not start like
a serious film project.
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Before we started the project, lot
of people spoke about it in
different ways without knowing
the content of the film
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Threats
from industry?
There
were no threats. Before we started the project,
lot of people spoke about it in different ways
without knowing the content of the film. However,
once the film was released, this disappeared.
There may have been a bit of bitterness in some
places.
What do you
think of VA Quarter Cutting?
I saw Quarter Cutting and it’s a completely
new genre and so there may be resistance from
the audience. However, I liked the film and
it’s the kind I would like to watch rather
than a normal commercial masala film. It’s
not my style but different.
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The controversy
involving you and Venkat Prabhu?
Not controversy just comedy. We decided to make it bigger
on April 1. We both had pre-planned it and wanted to
earn a cheap publicity out of it. Friends from both
the sides started scolding the others and it went on
a jolly note. It was fun.
What is the current
trend in Tamil cinema?
There is no particular trend. On one hand, you have
hyper realistic films like Mynaa, Vennilla Kabbadi Kuzhu,
Paruthiveeran and commercial films like Singam. Good
films on both sides have met with success. However,
I feel that in the new realistic trend, film-makers
must step out of the same subjects like love, friendship
and violence and show new things.
Who is your favorite
director?
My all time favorite director is Tarantino from Hollywood.
Everyone likes him and he is a trend breaker. In an
action film, he will suddenly bring in a long conversation.
Just before a murder, a murderer will kneel down and
pray. He does things which are different.
Who are the
contemporary directors you like?
I like R. Sundarrajan Sir, Gangai Amaran Sir; I like
the films of that period when music and comedy came
together in the mid eighties.
Which is your
favorite film?
The Film of the year-Once Upon a Time in Mumbai. I
like the set design, DI coloring cinematography and
I think it’s got clarity of vision. This was
much better than Hollywood films.
Do you think
a star is important for a film?
I don’t actually have that kind of priority,
the script is first and I look at who will suit it.
Many directors
are producing films, will you?
If
I have that kind of money, yes. However, that kind
of money has not come in yet.
Tell us about your next film?
The next script is with Vijay Antony, the
music director as hero. I can’t say
much about it now but tentatively it’s
titled Nakka Mukka. Like how Tamizh Padam
was a spoof this will be a new genre. I
can’t say what it is but it will be
something new for Tamil audiences but I
can’t share much about it now.
How
much was the collection of Tamizh Padam?
Actually I have a lot of doubts about the
collection criteria employed. People say
lot of different things but judging accurately
how much money a film has actually made
is difficult as there’s no proper
system.
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The next script
is with Vijay Antony,
Music Director as hero
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Tell us about
the songs
The song Oh Mahazia we decided would poke fun. If
we told people it would be a spoof, they would imagine
it the way it would be on talk shows or the way Sathyaraj
did it in small durations. For those who came planning
to see scenes from old films, we wanted to go beyond
that. People would be waiting for the song to start,
once they heard the Oh Mahazia, because lots of songs
start that way and move in but the thing was that
we did the whole song this way which was intended
to shock them and it did.
How did you decide
on Shiva?
Other
than Shiva I could not think of anyone else in that
role. When I discussed this with everyone else, they
agreed. The heroine does what a heroine in a Tamil
film does. Disha did not know Tamil initially but
as she progressed she became better and performed
well. I was fully satisfied with the hero, heroine,
the friends and the entire cast.
What was the
experience working with Vennira Aadai Murthy?
His acting was natural. He performed wonderfully
well. Working with Shanmuga Sundaram was a learning
experience, from the performance. Sometimes when
you see in the theater, people would say we feel
like hitting them on the head.
To some people life itself is
education.
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Do
you agree with Mysskin getting angry with his
assistant director for not reading?
Not fully. One does not really need to read
to be an AD.
Is it important
to be an assistant director or read to become
a director?
I have never been an assistant. Reading books
is very important. In one place we see many
worlds and in every place the experience helps.
It also helps to broaden the minds. However,
it’s not a must. But it does not mean
that reading is a must for a director. To
some people life itself is education. Likewise,
it’s not necessary for a director to
assist someone first.
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