At an early screening of Touring Talkies held at Four Frames, a city-based preview theatre, I meet S. A. Chandrasekhar. He seems surprisingly composed for a man whose film is on the eve of its release; must come with years of going through this routine, I suppose. The screening is for director Shankar, his protégé. Excerpts from the chat:
Your last film, Sattapadi Kutram , didn’t do well at all.
Yes, I failed to take into account the increased IQ of today’s audience. That’s why I’ve taken a break of three years — I’ve watched hit films ( Cuckoo , Jigarthanda , Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom ), tried to understand what they’re doing right, and rediscovered myself as a storyteller.
During the 80s especially, you made several hits across languages with leading stars such as Rajinikanth and Rajesh Khanna. Would you say the collective film intelligence of the audience then was lower than it is now?
I think so. You could get away with a lengthy court monologue in the climax then. I doubt you can now. I realised that rather painfully after my last failure. That’s why I’ve made Touring Talkies . I want to cap my career with a hit.
So, this will be your last film?
I think so. I know one can’t be too confident about a film these days. But you’ll see that my confidence isn’t misplaced.
While I wish you the best, what if it doesn’t do well?
My wife and Vijay (son) have been telling me that it’s time I rested. I have made over 60 films during the last 30 years. But the allure of direction is hard to resist. Once a filmmaker, always a filmmaker. But this is indeed my last.
Did you talk to Vijay to perhaps understand better what works in contemporary Tamil cinema?
We discuss cinema casually at home, but that’s it. I don’t advise him on his career, and vice versa.
I spent the whole of 2013 working on the film’s stories. I say ‘stories’ because there are two of them — one before the interval and one after. The first is a love story… of a 75-year-old.
It is drawn from my life; from one of the many romantic experiences I had as a teenager (St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai). The second is a village story with a strong message.
You were quite a Romeo then?
( Laughs ) I always studied in co-ed institutions. By the time I was 16, I was busy distributing love letters to girls, and not just to the ones I was interested in. You see, I had this format for a love letter, and would hand out copies to all the girls around me. As I grew up, this one girl’s face refused to fade.
Today, I know she lives with her grandchildren. But the hero of the first story in Touring Talkies doesn’t know her whereabouts and sets out in search of her.
Is there a theme that binds both narratives?
They are totally unconnected. One ticket, two stories, as we are promoting it.
Aren’t you putting additional pressure on yourself by announcing that this will be your last film, especially because you are keen to sign off on a winning note?
I guess, but I’m super-confident about its success. Director Murugadoss saw the film recently. At the interval, he told me he loved the first story. When the film ended, he said that the second was so good that he forgot the first.
Can fellow filmmakers be expected to offer honest opinions?
The diplomacy you speak of belonged to the olden years. Young directors don’t care for such political correctness. I know Murugadoss meant it from the bottom of his heart.
What do you consider the greatest achievement of your 34-year-old film career?
My true success is the legacy I’m leaving behind — not of films, but of people. I have been responsible for dozens of successful actors and technicians. Shankar was my assistant director.
I introduced Priyanka Chopra, I brought in Simran. And obviously, I introduced Vijay too.
Vijay is a top hero today. How much credit do you take in his rise?
I introduced him in Rasigan (1994). I made quite a few films for him during that phase. But hey, I only gave him that push. It takes talent and dedication to use that launch and make something of it. All credit must go to him.
Until the early 2000s, Vijay was known as your son. Today, you are referred to as his father.
It’s the ultimate praise for me. After this film, I’ll simply look forward to watching his hits.
