Director Siva confesses that sleep has been scant the past week or so. With Vivegam 's post-production work going up to 5.30 in the morning, Siva, somehow, manages to be ready for our 8 am interview. Work has been so taxing that he jokes his wife calls him up even when he’s home, assuming that he’s at his editing suite. Excerpts from a conversation over a cup of Horlicks:
You’ve delivered three consecutive super hits with Siruthai , Veeram and Vedhalam. Each time you make a successful film, you get access to bigger stars and budgets. But does it come with extra pressure?
It’s not the budget or the star that brings pressure. The responsibility of being in the director’s chair is enough to make you work hard.
Vivegam has been touted as Tamil cinema’s first international spy thriller. What are the challenges of placing Tamil characters in aforeign setting?
There's a disclaimer right at the beginning that the characters speak Tamil only for the ease of communication. The main characters in the film speak Tamil. For others, we’ve used a combination of subtitling and double layering of dialogues. We also have Karunakaran playing the role of a translator.
You’ve chosen to shoot in Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria and Serbia instead of more popular locations there. Are governments there supportive of our cinema?
It’s not economics that decided that. Vivegam required a certain look and an international setting. To shoot the action sequences, we specifically required broad roads and an expert stunt team. A lot of The Expendables , for instance, was shot in Bulgaria with their stunt teams.
Ajith in ‘Vivegam’
As one of Kollywood's top commercial filmmakers, what are the dos and don'ts when you work on a big-star film?
I don’t believe in splitting films as commercial and non commercial. All it should be is‘people-friendly’. The audience should take back something from the experience. It can be a message, a happy feeling or hope.
So, if you were given the budget and the opportunity to make any film you wanted, would it still be a commercial one?
Filmmaking is an art-form that cannot ignore its business side. My biggest happiness isn’t remuneration, respect or recognition... it is watching my work in the theatre and audiences going wild over it.
In an earlier interview, you had mentioned the term ‘Theatre Moments’. Can you explain what that is?
I love the experience of watching films in the big screen. As a child, I used to cycle 15 kilometres to watch FDFS of Superstar’s films. I define ‘Theatre Moments’ as times when a film feels like a celebration...a festival. It’s that part of a film that makes everybodywhistle. I ensure that every film of mine has these moments properly placed. Vedhalam had four theatre moments. Vivegam will have seven.
You need a thorough understanding of heroism to pull off the auction scene in Veeram and the transformation sequence in Vedhalam . What is your definition of heroism?
Heroism has been part of our culture for centuries. I’m an ardent fan of Sangam literature and I’ve been reading about great kings, warriors and poets since my childhood. A hero is one with the power to inspire people positively. So if I’m given a star who does that in his personal life, I see to it that their real-life charisma translates to the character they play on-screen. I think heroism is hope.
When you’re making films with such big stars, is it difficult for a director to have his signature in there somewhere?
I’d like to think that my signature is my understanding of heroism.
Is it easier if you’re a fan of the star yourself?
Yes! I used to like Ajith sir even before I worked with him but it’s his personal character that made me his fan. That translates into the films we make too.
So when you write specifically for a star, do you purposely include scenes where his character and real-life persona blur?
I do. When I wrote the line Nammakooda irukaravangala Namma Paathunda, Melairukaravan Nammala Paathupaan (God will take care of those who take care of their dear ones) for Veeram , it was because Ajith's character in the film, Vinayagam, would say it. But when I shot it, I knew it was the real Ajith saying as well... I've seen him help a lot of people. It's the same with the scene in Vedhalam where he prevents a man from harassing his sister. When Ajith sir delivered it, I got goosebumps...I know how much he hates stalking!
There’s talk on social media that Vivegam took longer than expected...
Vedhalam released on November 10, 2015, and Ajith sir underwent surgeries two days after that. Later, when I narrated the script of Vivegam and its many action sequences, he was still recovering. I was worried if he would be able to do it, but he said, ‘No problem Siva, I’ll bounce back’. And he did it...like a boss! Can you imagine that the Ajith with the six-pack was the same actor who was on crutches when he heard the script?
You sound like a bigger fan of the person than the star...
He has had a lot of positive influence on my life. I’m inspired by the way he respects people around him. No matter who approaches him, he’ll get up, pull up a chair for them and make sure they’re given something to eat. Only then will he start talking. I’m not ashamed to say this but I did not have these qualities before meeting him.
