From realty to reel

Varun Manian talks of his film Vaayai Moodi Pesavum and his journey as a producer in Kollywood

April 24, 2014 07:25 pm | Updated May 21, 2016 01:10 pm IST - chennai:

A still from Vaayai Moodi Pesavum.

A still from Vaayai Moodi Pesavum.

When someone from the film fraternity tells realty baron Varun Manian that the ‘buzz’ regarding his film is good, he just smiles. He might still be getting used to Kollywood lingo, but this young producer is quite gung-ho regarding Vaayai Moodi Pesavum ( VMP ) that’s hitting the screens today. “It’s a simple film that I’m quite confident of. If you bring in your imagination into play, the subject will intrigue you,” says Varun, who heads Radiance Media.

It all started when Sashikanth of Y NOT Studios introduced him to director Balaji Mohan and his script. “I had already watched his earlier film, Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Eppadi , and liked it a lot,” he recalls, “It was very enjoyable and more importantly, relatable. I’m sure that most of the incidents portrayed in that film would have occurred in everybody’s lives. When I read the script of his VMP , I found it to be path-breaking and so, we were on!”

The subject of the film, which revolves around an imaginary epidemic called ‘Dumb Flu’, intrigued Varun. “Sometimes, what gets narrated initially to a producer might not get translated that well on screen. But with VMP , the end result is quite satisfactory. With both the leads, Dulquer and Nazriya, doing a fine job, I’m sure it will work with a cross-section of audiences,” he adds.

Considering that this will be his debut vehicle in Kollywood, what was it like putting it together? “Well, it’s been a pleasant one. I’ve heard several horror stories regarding the industry, but fortunately, I’ve not experienced anything yet!”

Promotions hold the key for the success of most films these days, and with VMP , the makers seem to have cashed in on digital platforms as well. Their touchscreen game — interestingly titled Vaayai Moodi PLAYsavum — had a lot of takers, especially among youngsters. This virtual dumb charades game was played on a touch screen by many. “It was a fun game that had many people excited,” states the producer, who is already looking forward to his next Vasanthabalan-directed film, Kaaviyathalaivan , which stars Siddharth and Prithviraj in the lead.

Varun seems ready to take the long ride as a producer in Kollywood. “We want to support fresh ideas and young filmmakers. If the content is good and will strike a chord with audiences, we will support it,” he signs off.

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