DIRECTOR MANIMARAN INTERVIEW

Home > Text Interviews

"PERSONALLY, I DIDN'T WANT TRISHA KRISHNAN"

Interview Team : Vaishnavi; Ashok Kumar; Jyothsna; Venkat

With Pugazh starring Jai and Surabhi is grabbing eye balls even before it's release on March 18th, 2016; director Manimaran engages in a light chit-chat with Vaishnavi.

 

PHOTOS & STILLS - GALLERY



 

How is Pugazh different from your previous venture Udhayam NH 4?

 

Ah well, NH 4 is a travelogue while Pugazh is an out and out tale of a township. It focusses and runs around Walajapet in Vellore.

 

 

What's the theme of the story?

 

Ok so the story revolves around a ground that is the major source of entertainment in the town. When a politician tries to take over the land for his private purpose, the guys form a gang and try to stop that from happening. What happens next forms the crux of the story!

 

 

Any specific reason behind casting Jai and Surabhi?

 

I wanted to cast Dhanush but due to his unavailability, Jai came in. He is the perfect package for this venture because of which I went ahead with the same. Surabhi's character showcases a woman who moves from a city into a township. The changes she incurs and manages to overcome forms her side of the story. So I figured Surabhi is apt for this role.

 

I wanted to cast Dhanush but due to his unavailability, Jai came in.

 

Previously it was reported that Trisha plays the lead? What happened?

 

Oh I think that was the producer's choice. Personally, for this script I didn't need someone like Trisha Krishnan. With a big star, comes a huge crowd which becomes difficult to manage. I wanted to complete the film on real locations and not sets and the schedule was limited to a short period.

 

Personally, for this script I didn't need someone like Trisha Krishnan.

 

So you didn't suggest her for the casting?

 

No not at all' personally, I didn't want Trisha. It was all in all the producer's choice. Trisha apparently liked the story and wanted to be a part of it but that sadly did not happen.

 

Trisha apparently liked the story and wanted to be a part of it but that sadly did not happen.

 

 

With so many changes, how helpful were the producers?

 

Producers were a major help in this scenario. Sushant Prasad trusted me so much that he never raised any questions and came to see the shooting only for one day. They let me work at my own pace and space.

 

 

The project was first titled as Podiyan wasn't it?

 

Ah yes, we registered it but as the production happened we forgot to renew it so we lost acccess to the title. So we grabbed Pugazh because Jai's character name is also Pugazhendi in the movie.

 

We forgot to renew it so we lost acccess to the title.

 

So Pugazh was easily available?

 

Sarathkumar had the title since 6 years but he offered to give it to us so we took it and went ahead with the same title.

 

It is touted that Velraj sir has a cameo in the venture, is it so?

 

Velraj takes care of the cinematography in the project. Well and his role is for just a few moments, I'm not sure if you can refer to it as a cameo.

 

 

How did RJ Balaji come into the equation?

 

If a gang has ten guys, we need someone who is always teasing and making fun of people. RJ Balaji's characterization is one such kind and has good weightage too. That's all!

 

FACEBOOK COMMENTS

OTHER LATEST TEXT INTERVIEWS

SATHYARAJ TOLD SIBI
A lot of horror experiences happened on the sets of Sowcarpettai
Namitha and Raai Laxmi are really hot
More

DIRECTOR MANIMARAN RELATED NEWS

More

DIRECTOR MANIMARAN RELATED LINKS

Tags : Jai, Manimaran, Pugazh, Surabhi

ABOUT THIS PAGE

This page hosts exclusive interviews with actors, actresses, film technicians and related celebrities. The interviews are generally personal views of the guest about their projects and film related matters. People looking for information about actors, actresses, directors, music directors, cameramen and other technicians will find this page useful.