Director S. M. Vasanth is back doing what he does best — directing a film about love. From his debut Keladi Kanmani and the poignant Nee Paadhi Naan Paadhi to Rhythm and Saththam Podadhey, he's shown us the different facets of love. Moondru Paer Moondru Kaadhal, starring Arjun, Cheran and Vimal, will be no different, he says. “I take my time to start a film. The theme should push me to do it. Everything has to fall in place. That happened with MPMK,” says the director in a telephone interview. “It speaks about a theme very important for society. I've just used three love stories to narrate it.” The film is the maiden production of Mahendra Talkies, the owners of which are apparently huge fans of Rhythm.
Vasanth revels in the genre. “There have been many influences. I'll give credit to director Sridhar, Raj Kapoor, and my guru K. Balachander. I can't think of a more mature love story than Aboorva Raagangal,” he says. But Vasanth is particular about films being aesthetic. “Anything to do with a man-woman relationship is very interesting. But, I believe in showing it decently. One can always make a choice,” he explains.
Speaking about his actors, Vasanth says it was nice bonding again with Arjun, whom he directed in the graceful Rhythm. “We've always shared great vibes.” As for Cheran, Vasanth says they have mutual regard. “We've wanted to work together for long. We love each other's work.” Vimal, he says, is “brilliant with his comic timing. He's a natural”.
Vasanth, who strikes a “balance between realism and naturalism”, says MPMK is his most star-studded work to date. “Besides the male leads, there's Thamirabharani Banu and newcomers Surveen Chawla and Shruti Mohan,” he says.
The film also has a slew of National Award winners — Cheran, Thambi Ramaiah, Appukutty and Vasanth himself. MPMK, scheduled for release in August, has two more schedules, including one in Hyderabad. “It is a commercial film, but has my touch. I've given this film my all.”
Vasanth's films are known for their melodious music. “Yuvan Shankar Raja has put in about seven months of work for this film and come up with some great post-modern music. Na Muthukumar is on board and, as always, the focus is on the lyrics,” says the director. “So many women still call up to tell me what a balm ‘Pesugiraen' (Saththam Podadhey) is. Considering I write poetry myself, I like the lyrics to stand out.”
Many of Vasanth's films have garnered critical acclaim and had a fairly decent run in the theatres. And, they've done exceedingly well when screened on television, a fact that continues to flummox him. He tries to see the brighter side of things. “I guess the audience has moved from cinema to television. Finally, a creation has to reach people. We all aim for a great run in theatres, but I'm happy people are at least seeing the films.” He continues, “It's not as if I don't care when a film does not do as well as expected. I do feel bad, but snap out of it fast and get into my next film. I never give up.”
