Meet Gitanjali, the director

Gitanjali Selvaraghavan takes the plunge with Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam, featuring newcomers

August 27, 2014 06:25 pm | Updated 06:25 pm IST

Director Gitanjali

Director Gitanjali

Director Selvaraghavan’s wife Gitanjali has taken the plunge into direction. She will helm Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam , based on a script by Selvaraghavan. The debut director has been shooting in and around Chennai for a week now. “Day 7 of shoot for my directorial debut #maalainerathumayakkam it’s been a super exciting and eventful week for me!” she tweeted. “#feelingnocturnal #nightshoot #owlschedule I love it! Night shoots always make me feel so alive!...”

Some years ago, Selvaraghavan was supposed to direct a film by the same name, with Dhanush and Andrea in the lead, but it was shelved.

Speaking to MetroPlus , Gitanjali said: “ Maalai … is an existing script that I’ve always liked a lot. A few months ago, Selva asked me if I would be interested in directing it. He has been encouraging me to get into direction, and I was thrilled to take it up.” She echoed a similar sentiment in a tweet: “Thank you @selvaraghavan for giving me such a beautiful script to work with. But, more importantly, for all your love and encouragement.”

This film, funded by a new producer, has a fresh cast and crew, and their names will be announced shortly, says Gitanjali. Cinematography is by Sridhar, her friend and an assistant of Ramji, who worked in Selvaraghavan’s Irandam Ulagam , Mayakkam Enna and Aayirathil Oruvan .

“We had three days of day shoots and the rest have been night shoots. I feel like an owl now!” she says. “But the advantage with night shoots is that they allow me the luxury of spending time with my kids Lila (two and a half)) and Omkar, who is going to turn one. My parents and Selva take care of them when I am away.”

Selva has apparently decided to take a break to spend time with the children. “Like all of you, I am also eagerly awaiting the next @selvaraghavan film, but he has decided to step back a bit and spend time with our kids…I have to respect the father’s decision. But as a fan I hope he changes his mind soon and comes back with something explosive!” she recently tweeted.

How does it feel to get back to the sets after a prolonged break raising the children? “Till I got back, I never realised how much I missed it. It feels like I am back home.”

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