Jayam Ravi has a hectic schedule, shooting for his upcoming film, Tik Tik Tik at AVM Studios, but the star never fails to reply to text messages or return calls.
He has completed shooting for Vijay’s Vanamagan and has also signed up for Sundar C’s epic drama Sangamithra , the shooting for which will begin in a couple of months. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
How was it to work with director Vijay?
Vijay and I are close friends; he is like a brother to me. We have been planning to collaborate for the past nine years. Finally, two years ago, we decided to work together in 2017 and fixed the dates. After considering many scripts, Vijay came up with Vanamagan . Shooting for the talkie part of the film is over, and only one song sequence remains.
What kind of film is Vanamagan ?
Vanamagan tries to find the answer to a valid question — what makes one a better human being? It is an action romantic thriller, which is rare in Tamil cinema. When Vijay narrated the script, he said it would be a tough film and asked me if we could go ahead.
What do you mean when you call it a tough film?
I play a tribal in the film. We travelled to inaccessible locations amidst the dense forest regions of Vietnam, Thailand and Talakona in India.
To reach these places, we had to trek long distances, and, at times, we laid the path to get there. I also had to pay a lot of attention to my physical fitness, as my role requires alertness and agility.
Do you think Vanamagan will be received well by the younger audiences?
Every film by Vijay has some element of novelty, and Vanamagan is no exception. Children are sure to find this film entertaining, especially the scenes where I jump from one tree to another. What could be more attractive for that age group is the wildlife element, especially the tiger, in the film.
You have joined hands with Shakti Soundar Rajan once again for Tik Tik Tik ?
The title has been borrowed from Kamal Haasan’s 1981 crime mystery thriller Tik Tik Tik . It is apt for the theme of the film, as the predominant concept is racing against time. We worked together in Miruthan , which was the first zombie film in Tamil, but it was not suitable for children. So, we wanted to do a film for everyone. When he came up with a script that dealt with space expedition, I was game.
What, in your opinion, makes the film special ?
Tik Tik Tik is is the first-ever Indian space film. The character I play is not that of an astronaut, but I am part of a space expedition. The first half deals with how I get involved in the expedition and the second half completely takes place in space. I thoroughly enjoyed working in the film. I’m sure children will be amazed by the scenes involving zero gravity.
How are you preparing for Sundar C’s historical Sangamithra ?
Sundar Anna is like family to me. Sangamithra is his dream project, and I’m happy to be part of it. The team will start shooting from July and my portions will be shot in August. I will undergo training in sword fight and horse riding soon, as it is a historical.
How do you strike a balance between work and family?
I usually work continuously and then take a break for four to six months. That’s when I spend time with them. Now that I’m shooting in Chennai, I get to see them every day.
But I try and attend all the events in my kids’ school... I recently accompanied my son to his sports day.
What do you think brings the family audience to your films?
For any good film to work, it must give equal importance to all characters. Strong characters in all age groups are another advantage and can lure every kind of audience. The protagonist is the thread that connects these pivotal characters. When choosing scripts, I look for this aspect. I guess this has worked out well for me.
