CAST SIVAKARTHIKEYAN INTERVIEW

I never really expected to become an anchor. My life led me there and I grabbed the opportunity. When I got a chance to perform on stage in my college, I made use of it. That led me to participate in a reality show. I used that too. Kalakkapovadhu Yaaru got me an opportunity to be an anchor and I clutched on to it.
 

I saw everything as an opportunity and plunged into it just for the sake of exploring. Just like Thalaivar would say, “Yei anbu Manna! Vaaipugal amayaadhu… Naamdhaan amaithu kolla vendum.”

I would be lying if I say I neither had the idea nor the desire to take up cinema. The big screens never failed to amaze me. But I really wasn’t aspiring to be a hero. I wanted to be a hero’s friend or maybe a good comedian.
 

That’s when Pandiraj gave me Marina. At the same time Dhanush offered me a role in 3 after seeing me hosting an award show. But, Pandiraj had asked me not to take up any other project, until I finish Marina. So I told Dhanush about my situation. He spoke with Pandiraj personally and got the go ahead signal with a condition that Marina must release first.
 

While doing 3, Dhanush told that he had underused me big time and asked if I would do a film under his banner. I told him I’m already doing 3, but he asked me if I do a movie as a hero. I was stunned. That’s the story behind Ethir Neechal.

We should never allow ourselves to believe that we are incapable of something. That has been my Mantra and never have I regretted my decision to take up acting.
 

I almost burst with goosebumps when I saw myself on the big screen. Mind you, these are the screen in which I enjoyed seeing and sometimes worshipped my heroes. 

AR Murugadoss has a knack to tell impactful stories in a very simple manner. From sleeper cells in Thuppakki to Nooku Varmam of 7aam Arivu, everything has become hits. Similarly, Maan Karate has a strong content narrated in a very simple manner.

I think Ethir Neechal and Maan Karate had a lot of scope for him. He had the opportunity to explore a variety of genres in these films. Take Ethir Neechal for example, there’s Nijamellam Marandhu Pochu on one side and a Sathiyama Nee Enakku on the other. Whereas, he had to majorly concentrate on romance in films like Vanakkam Chennai and 3. Maybe the variety makes our films look better. But he has given his best in all the albums. Like wine, he is getting better and better with each film.

When we say boxing climax, you might get reminded of Badri, M Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi and many other movies. Every movie has its own story and similarly Maan Karate has a story that supports the involvement of Boxing in it.
 

I was told that the team was going to erect a boxing arena but I had no clue that it was going to be so massive. The last ten minutes of the movie will happen at this set.
 

It’s a well choreographed boxing sequence between me and Vamsi Krishna. For a shot Sukumar used a heli-cam and we were asked to fight extempore. Vamsi and I were aware of few moves and we kept fighting for, like 6 minutes without a cut. I surrendered myself to Vamsi and we innovated the action sequence, on the spot. He’d say, “duck,” and I do accordingly then I’d say “Vamsi fall”, and he’d be ready to get one good punch from me. We both enjoyed that sequence.

I might not make a good action hero. But Taana has some good realistic action sequences.
 

You cannot expect me to do what mass heroes do. We want to witness massive stunts from Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya and Ajith and every time they do we horripilate. That’s their forte.

Maan Karate has indeed set a higher benchmark in every aspect. Durai Senthil Kumar (Ethir Neechal) in fact asked me recently why I’m setting a higher benchmark with every new film. He now has a bigger responsibility to do in Taana. But that’s what keeps us moving forward. 
 

As far as how I’m going to sustain it, the difference in the script will be the major factor on which I’ll sign a film. For example, apart from the romance and comedy, Taana will have me playing a cop. How will I fit into a cop’s part will drive the story forward.
 

There are a few strategies I have in mind for now.
 

• Firstly, I don’t want to do too many films simultaneously and struggle to release each one at the right time.
   
• Secondly, I want to do only family entertainers. From children to senior citizens, everyone must have a good time at my movies.
   
• I want to play my age for now.
   
• I’m open to experimentation. But my films will also have a lot of humor, which people expect out of me.
   
• I should be able to personally connect to the character I play. I cannot play a psycho killer, for instance. May be in the future I’ll be open to do such creepy characters.
   
• I want my transitions to be slow and gradual.