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In
a male infested world, it is difficult to
make inroads but not impossible. Director
Madhumitha who proved this with her maiden
venture Vallamai Thaaraayo is back with
her next, a laughathon with an interesting
title Kola Kolaya Mundirikka with an ensemble
cast. This talented director talks in an
exclusive interview to Jyothsna Bhavanishankar
and Iniyan.
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BW: What do you have
for us this time?
Madhumitha: I
have come here to meet all of
you with my second film Kola
Kolaya Mundirikka. Vallamai
Thaaraayo is my first baby which
received an award from the state
government recently. It is a
definite pride for all of us
involved. I am very sure that
you audience will support Kola
Kolaya Mundirikka also just
the way you did Vallamai Thaaraayo.
Can
you tell us some of the awards
that you have won in your career
of film making?
Although it might sound clichéd,
my entry into filmdom was an
accident. I was born in Chennai
but grew up in Indonesia as
my father was working there.
My entire schooling was at Indonesia.
I wanted to take up fashion
designing for my college studies
as I was much interested in
the subject and had organized
many fashion shows in my school
days. Hence I went to Singapore
to do my fashion studies. There
was a small problem in it. As
much as I liked fashion designing,
the subject did not like me
enough. Yes… I had to
do many sketches but I was very
poor in drawing.
And
then?
At the same time, I had to shoot
video films for my other subjects.
When I was focusing on films
and video, I realized my forte
lies there. It was more interesting
for me than fashion designing
especially in my second year
of college. When I was studying
in Singapore, my very first
short film about womanhood (Untitled
Red) won the ‘best of
the world’ category in
BBC. It was very encouraging
and motivating and I was extremely
happy. I made many such short
films in my 3rd and 4th year
which won awards from Singapore
government. My professors encouraged
me to do my masters in film
making abroad and I went to
Hollywood.
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In Hollywood
In
Hollywood, I worked in
‘Pirates of the
Caribbean 3’ as
a trainee. I did a two
years program specializing
in direction. There, they
believe that a director
should know all aspects
of film making. Hence
I was trained in screen
writing and acting too.
As much as I hate coming
in front of the camera,
I had to take acting classes.
They feel it is necessary
for a director to know
the difficulties of an
actor who is in front
of the camera. So acting
was also part of the course.
Likewise, sound and camera
were also part of the
curriculum. After having
completed all these courses,
I
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"
I worked in
‘Pirates of the
Caribbean 3’"
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was
doing a film called ‘yours
affectionately’. It was
a 20 minute short film where
a girl loses her parents in
an accident and she is not able
to accept any one else as her
parents. I had dealt with the
other side of adoption- how
the adopted girl becomes rebellious
unable to accept her foster
parents. Till now, I have taken
part in 25 different film festivals
and my short film has been screened
and won awards. Although, I
got an offer to work in Universal
Film studios, I came down to
India because I wanted to be
here. I worked with Gautham
Menon in Pachaikili Muthucharam
and post production of Vettaiyaadu
Vilayaadu and then Vallamai
Thaaraayo happened.
Film world is a male bastion.
As a woman director, how do
you counter this?
Of
course, we are constantly under
the scanner. But there are advantages
as well as disadvantages. While
some of them are keen to find
what we deliver, it is difficult
to earn that kind of respect
for yourself. Be it the crew
or the audience, there is an
initial resentment. Once they
understand what you are capable
of, then things change. In fact,
my crew in Vallamai Thaaraayo
was a hand picked one and they
have understood my potential.
Some of them
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| "
It is difficult being
a woman director
but not impossible."
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have
even told that they were
apprehensive about me
initially. So there is
always a challenge to
go that extra mile to
prove yourself. Once you
establish your credibility,
you earn the respect that
is being given to a male
director or a technician.
That way, I was lucky
to have a crew which respected
me as a director and not
as a woman director. Yes,
it is difficult being
a woman director but not
impossible. |
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Do you have woman ADs
in your team? If so, how
are they different from
the male ADs?
In
Vallamai Thaaraayo, it
was an all men AD team.
But in KKM, I made sure
and found 2 women ADs.
It is difficult to find
good women Assistant Directors.
I am still trying to figure
out the reason. From very
little that I know, women
VISCOM graduates prefer
advertising to films owing
to the misconception about
film world. I think that
could be a reason for
the dearth of women
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"
It is difficult
to find good
woman Assistant Director
"
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in films. In KKM, I have a couple
of women ADs who are as hard
working as any other male AD.
Of course there are some basic
problems like if they are working
late, than they should be dropped
home. Safety and Security are
important. That apart, the attitude,
hard work and the willingness
to put one’s heart in
to the work matters more than
the gender of an AD.
What advice would you like to
give to ambitious women directors?
First
of all I hate advices whether
I am at the receiving end or
giving it. I believe that one
should do any work only if they
are able to give their 100%.
It is not right to do something
for other’s sake. That
has remained my policy. If I
am confident about something,
I will go ahead and do it unmindful
of opposition. On the other
hand, if I am not certain about
something, then I will not do
it even if others try to convince
me. So all that I can say is
–“If you are confident
about something, go ahead and
do it.”
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Why did you choose a non-formulaic
theme for your first film –
Vallamai Thaaraayo?
Visu
sir is like my godfather. When
we sat for discussions for Vallamai
Thaaraayo, he told me that I
have three options in front
of me to make my debut- one
is a hardcore masala, the second
one is a serious subject and
the third is an action flick.
He suggested that as a woman
debut director, doing a masala
film would definitely guarantee
a success. However, call it
an intuition or whatever, I
liked the concept in Vallamai
Thaaraayo. It is an emotional
story which has not been told
many times. Many people advised
me against taking such a tough
and serious subject in my debut.
But I think that’s what
drove me to take that subject
at the end of the day because
I was challenged. I wanted to
show that I can deliver such
a serious subject despite it
being my first film. I believed
in myself and the content and
went ahead. We also had interesting
characters and catchline in
Vallamai Thaaraayo. A wife seeking
divorce from her husband because
he is too good!
About
your current film Kola Kolaya
Mundirikka and its unusual title?
Vallamai
Thaaraayo and Kola Kolaya Mundirikka
are diametrically opposite in
their genres. While VT belongs
to the serious genre of drama
with emotions, feelings, ego
and relationships, KKM fits
in the light category. Talking
about the title Kola Kolaya
Mundirikka, it is a game we
have all played in our childhood
which is about chasing a thief.
In the film, there is a group
of people who go on a treasure
hunt and it is all about who
gets the treasure at the end.
So that’s about the title.
The dialogues have been written
by Crazy Mohan sir and that
should give an inkling about
the genre of the film. KKM is
a laugh out loud comedy. It
is a film where you can come,
laugh, have fun and leave.
What
is KKM’s USP?
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The best part would be
as a team, we laughed
our heart out shooting
every scene and I am sure
the audience also would
experience the same. Music
is by Selva Ganesh, son
of Ghatam maestro Vikku
Vinayakaram. KKM is a
beautiful package in the
sense that it has got
fun, entertainment, fantastic
music, well choreographed
songs; a package that
would make you happy all
along.
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"
KKM is a
beautiful package " |
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About the cast
In
my first film Vallamai Thaaraayo,
I was looking out for a relatively
fresh face for the heroine’s
role because I wanted the audience
to see the character Nanditha
in the actor. However, in KKM,
all the characters are fraudsters
and I was keen to have artists
who will play that well. I had
auditioned around 100 men and
50 women. After a couple of
rounds, we finalized on Karthik
and Shikha. Karthik as all of
you know is the ‘NRI Maapillai’.
But he is trying hard to get
out of that image. Shikha is
from Bengaluru and has done
a Kannada film.
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"
I have a perfect
cast in KKM
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Then
there is Jayaram sir.
Initially I was a bit
nervous as he is such
an established actor and
was concerned how he would
react to working with
a new director. But he
was fantastic. He is the
perfect example of a ‘director’s
actor’ and was extremely
cooperative. That way,
I consider myself to be
very fortunate as the
entire crew was very supportive
and it was like a ‘family
get together’. There
is also M S Bhasker, Vasu
Vikram, Anand Raj, Radha
Ravi and there is a new
guy called PMK who has
done a few films and K
Balachander’s play
Pournami. Every character
is unique and in some
way, they will make you
laugh. I have a perfect
cast in KKM.
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Music in KKM?
Selvaganesh is fantastic.
I have no other words
to describe him. His music
is very fresh and suits
my subject perfectly.
Selva is a good family
friend. When he heard
the story, he was very
excited as it was exact
opposite of his first
film Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu.
The
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"
Selva is a
good family
friend
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| background
score in KKM is brilliant. As
Selva is a percussionist himself,
there would be a feel of percussion
in background score. As far
as the songs are concerned,
we have done something different.
Our title track has international
musicians playing in it. Vikku
Vinayakaram, an illustrious
Ghatam Vidwan and a Grammy award
winner has played in our film
which is an extreme matter of
pride and honor for all of us.
Ranjit Barot, a music director
from Bollywood is a fantastic
drummer and he has also played
in the title track along with
Swedish guitarists Mattias Eklundh
and Jonas Hellborg. Other songs
are sung by Shankar Mahadevan,
Karthik, Suchithra, Anuradha
Sriram etc.
How
was it working with crazy Mohan?
Story and dialogues in KKM are
by Crazy Mohan. He is a legend
with such an impressive repertoire
but I have never felt his ego
anywhere. He never treated me
like a newcomer and respected
me for what I am. He was open
to suggestions and we had healthy
discussions to
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"
There will not be
KKM if crazy Mohan
was not there " |
perfect every sequence.
There will not be KKM
if crazy Mohan was not
there. During our story
discussions we would continuously
be laughing and enjoyed
every moment in making
this film. I am sure it
would be a doubly enjoyable
experience for the audience
too.
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Where was KKM shot?
Majority of the film was shot
in India- in Pondicherry, Karaikudi
and Chennai. One song was shot
in Indonesia, a place close to
my heart and a place which has
not been filmed earlier.
In
future, do you have plans to
come in front of the camera?
I know this question was coming.
As I had said earlier, I hate
coming in front of the camera
which includes even interviews.
I am generally uncomfortable
before the camera. Acting- a
big No. I would never put the
audience through that torture.
I will only stay behind the
camera.
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