Intense is the word that best describes director Mysskin. He portrays characters with utmost sincerity. Kaniyan Poongundran in Thupparivalan stands testimony.
Mysskin’s love for literature is evident from the fact that he has named the hero of the movie after the Sangam period Tamil poet Kaniyan Poongundran. “I could have named the character Kaushik, Gowtham or Santhosh, but those names would not have made any difference. But the name Kaniyan Poongundran was given to attract audience attention,” says Mysskin.
From childhood days, he has developed a liking for detective fiction. From the 56 short stories and four novels of Arthur Conan Doyle to Thuppariyum Sambu, Irumbukai Mayavi and Tamizhvanan’s Sankarlal, Mysskin’s strong affinity to the fictional detectives has culminated in Thupparivalan . He sees them as an archetype for detective characters – eccentric, intelligent and uncomplicated. In fact, he has dedicated the movie to Doyle and Jeremy Brett who played the role to near perfection.
“I wanted to do a film on private detective for long but I did not have any sufficient reference material in Tamil films. Here, detectives are always associated with the investigation wing of the police department. Private detectives are not popular. Even in Yutham Sei , Cheran works for the department. Unlike those from the department, the private detective belongs to the disadvantaged lot. He does not have the backing of the law. In a way, it is a blessing in disguise as he can go to any extent to get desired results. Like, he can break open the house to get the evidence. I have worked for six months on this script alone,” he says.
The movie in a way reflects Mysskin’s acquired sensibilities. Like Kaniyan, for whom the mystery of a case is far more interesting than any amount of money, Mysskin too does not compromise much. In fact, Kaniyan refuses to take up the assignment to find the missing daughter of a businessman who offers a blank cheque to him, but agrees to find a Pomeranian, when a boy approaches with his pocket money. “ Thupparivalan is an attempt to see life from the private detective’s point of view,” he says.
Mysskin’s passion for stunts has become the talking point as the film’s stunt choreography has come out well. “I love martial arts and have learnt Kungfu for seven years. I am not for guns. The hero of the movie believes in himself and fights with his hands,” he says. Right from Chithiram Pesuthadi , fight sequences in Mysskin’s movies are distinctly different and in Thupparivalan too he has done it with much grace. Mysskin is currently working on Savarakathi , a plot that revolves around a barber who is a habitual liar but a good-hearted person. The story takes a turn when he meets an anti-social, who had never lied in his life. “I got the spark from a real life barber Pitchai whom I know from childhood. He opens his mouth only to tell lies,” he says.
Savarakathi , scheduled for the first week of November, has Mysskin, director Ram and Poorna playing the lead roles. Directed by G.R. Aditya, the film is written and produced by Mysskin. “It is a comedy movie. Poorna’s down to earth character will be appreciated,” he says.
Mysskin has an inimitable way of narration and hope the success of Thupparivalan continues in Savarakathi also.
