“Hi, I’m Sivakarthikeyan,” he grins. Like we wouldn’t know. His is a success story that people familiar with Tamil cinema are well aware of. Since his début in Marina, Sivakarthikeyan has steadily risen in popularity with every film. He goes all massy with Seema Raja, releasing this week. It’s a film that sees him join hands with director Ponram for the third time, following two hits. In an interview to MetroPlus, the actor opens up on why he zeroed in on this project and his journey so far. Excerpts:
This is your third film with a director who has already given you two hits. Is it right, then, to call it a ‘safe project’?
Not at all. I could have done something even easier if I had wanted to do a safe project. The trailer is proof that we’re trying something extra in this case. There are some things that are mandatory in this combination — like good humour — but that alone is not enough. We don’t want audiences to say that they’ve seen all this in our previous two films.
How do you select your scripts?
Actually, this story was with him during the time we were scouting for locations for Rajini Murugan. He told me this line back then, but I wasn’t in his mind as the lead actor. We’ve heard several stories of kings and royalty, and Seema Raja is an attempt at exploring a character who comes from that lineage. The treatment is fun, but it also has an important message.
Your last outing was Velaikkaran, which you billed as your first serious film. What was the feedback you received?
I received the best compliment for that film recently, when I was shooting with director Ravikumar for my next. His friend had come along, and he mentioned that his life had changed because of me. I was puzzled. He told me that he runs a chemical business, and that he has stopped fixing targets for his employees. A lot of children tell me that they’ve stopped eating junk food. As a film, it could have been better, yes, but our intent has been acknowledged by the audiences, and that is success for me. The credit should go to (director) Mohan Raja.
- One would expect the man behind Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam and Rajini Murugan to be fresh out of the villages of Madurai or Dindigul, but director Ponram laughs and says, “I’ve lived in Chennai ever since my childhood. I did visit my native place a lot during my teenage years, the memories of which have been stuck in my mind.” This might explain his preference for setting his films against Tamil Nadu’s rural background and his understanding of people from the region. “Audiences there are open to both a serious story and a comedy. So, it’s easy to make a mixed bag that will work well,” he says. It’s his third film with Sivakarthikeyan, but he says that wasn’t the plan. “But I guess some things are just meant to be. With Siva, Soori and I, we’ll know as soon as we do a scene if the comedy will work.” With a core cast and Imman’s music, the director seems to have stumbled upon a magic formula to deliver a hit. Ask him if Seema Raja will be a deviation from this formula and he says, “No, it’s quite similar to the previous two, with a few tweaks.” He’s confident that it will be well received. “It’s been close to three years since Rajini Murugan, so I’m not worried that the audience will find it repetitive.” Joining his cast as the leading lady is Samantha, who will be playing a village belle for the first time. “Sam was actually very excited about this role as she had never gotten the chance to play a typical ooru ponnu in a pavadai thavani before.” This time, he also has on board Simran, Napoleon, and Lal in his cast. D Imman’s music always works well in his films, delivering hits like ‘Oodha Colour Ribbon’ and ‘Yennamma Ippadi Panreengalaema’. “In villages, the idea is not just to listen to music but to make everyone around you listen to it. That’s our people’s mindset, and once again Imman has given songs that everyone will enjoy.” The director says he’s in no hurry on future projects, while he eagerly awaits the release and response to Seema Raja, which promises to be a typical mass entertainer with a generous helping of action and comedy.
- — Anugraha Sundaravelu
Is there any other issue that you’d like to present on the big screen?
There are so many things that can be told on the big screen. Like how the education sector ought to be. Considering that many children watch my films, a movie based on their perspective on education might be worth considering. I hope to do something like that in the future.
It’s heartening to hear you say that, but doesn’t that also apply to a film like Remo, which glorified stalking?
Oh, you’ve still not come out of Remo? It was a comedy film, and I don’t think it’s fair to look too much into such a script. If you ask me questions on Velaikkaran, I’m ready to face it, but Remo was clearly pitched as a comedy. Also, growing up as an actor is a constantly evolving process. So many children eat mud when they’re growing up. Is it fair to question them about it after they’re adults?
Is your decision to take up a serious film after a comedy a conscious one?
It just fell in place like that. After Seema Raja, I have a film with director Rajesh that will have fun and romance. Subsequently, my film with director Ravikumar is a science fiction subject that deals with something that concerns today’s society.
Sci-fi is a very different subject for you...
Sports, sci-fi and fantasy are among my most favourite genres.
And what triggered this interest?
I watched a lot of animation films as a child. Sci-fi hasn’t been dealt with too much in Tamil cinema, and that’s why I green-lit this project.
Would you describe Kollywood as ‘close-knit’?
It’s like that with any industry, right? There has been a lot of friendship among film industry people, with actors constantly supporting their peer’s projects.
Who’s your closest friend?
Composer Anirudh. Our friendship goes beyond films. My current three films have different composers — Imman, Hiphop Aadhi and AR Rahman — but I’m still in constant touch with Anirudh.
You mentioned once that you’d like to do a film someday like Chak De! India. Is your upcoming production, Kanaa, a step towards that?
It is. Chak De! India, Dangal and Sultan are the kind of films I watch when I’m down. Kanaa is a fictional sports story by Arunraja, and we’ve used cricket only like a gift-wrapping material to tell our story about a woman. We hope it inspires everyone, especially women, to chase their dreams. The biggest advantage for the film is that I don’t star as the lead!
From Marina to now, there has been a big change in how you present yourself. How much of an effort has gone into that?
Back then, I didn’t have the time and money to groom myself. But now, I have understood that it’s a responsibility. I believe that one looks better when one is confident.