How it happened?
A chance meeting with producer Janakiraman and director Gnana Rajasekar, marked my entry into the Tamil film industry, and my journey had begun as an actor from Mumbai theatre to Chennai. Moghamul gave me a fantastic opportunity to work with the best in the industry — Lenin, Krishnamurthy, and, of course, the legend Ilaiyaraaja. It was magical when Ilaiyaraaja complimented me on my performance, and presented me with a bouquet. Moghamul won the Indira Gandhi Lotus National Award.
How it felt?
I felt thrilled and excited to see myself on the screen and be mobbed by the public. All of a sudden, people started recognising me on the streets. After watching my performance in the film, director Shankar (who was doing Kadhalan then) came up to me and said: ‘I'm touched'. I was on cloud nine, and determined to make a mark in the industry.
How life changed?
Post Moghamul , things did not progress as I had imagined. Perhaps, people thought I would not do commercial cinema. Films did come later with K. Hariharan's Current , Thakkali Srinivasan's Ashoka Vanam , Padmamagan's Pallavan and Ammuvagiya Naan . But these films did not do much to me as an actor. My sojourn with films continued as I turned director with Kadhai . My joy knew no bounds when Kadhai was selected for the Eighth International Film Festival held in Chennai last December. To be featured in the midst of such celebrated directors was overwhelming. In my latest release Pathinaru , directed by S.D. Sabapathy, I play the heroine's father. For the character, I tonsured my head. Through silence I've strived to showcase a father's suppressed emotions. I've also been approached for a couple of films in Tamil and Telugu.
