Vemal’s initial forays into Kollywood may have been uncredited appearances in films such as Ghilli , Kireedam, Kuruvi and Pandhayam , but his patience and perseverance made him a known name in director Pandiraj’s critically-acclaimed Pasanga (2009). Five years may have gone by since Pasanga happened, but Vemal soon established his presence in films like Kalavani, Vaagai Sooda Vaa, Kalakalappu and others.
Hailing from Pannankombu, a village near Manapparai, Vemal had discontinued his studies with a single agenda on his mind – films. Consequently, he joined Koothu-P-Pattarai, which gave him the much-needed exposure to face the camera. “Six years in Koothu-P-Pattarai helped me hone my skills for the silver screen,” states Vemal, who is nearing the 20-film mark in his career. “Besides the upcoming release Oru Oorla Rendu Raja (OORR) , there are director Thangam Saravanan’s Anjala and director R. Nagendran’s Nee Yellam Nalla Varuvada awaiting completion,” says Vemal.
Meanwhile, Vemal seems excited about his role in OORR . “Comedian Suri and I make a terrific combination in this film, the story of which unfolds during a train journey,” he reveals. The two play youngsters from Tuticorin, who are travelling to Chennai. On the train, they meet Priya Anand, a medico from Chennai. The youngsters have their own reasons for travelling, but somehow, their lives get entangled. “While Suri provides the lighter moments, mine and the heroine’s roles are more serious, and there’s a romantic link too. Director Kannan has come up with a very interesting screenplay based on a real-life incident. There is an underlying social message beneath all that humour and romance, as well as the adventure of the journey. The rail journey ends at some point, and the rest of the travel is by road,” informs Vemal.
So, what were the challenges of shooting on a train? “Fortunately, I had done an extensive train shoot in one of my earlier films, Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga. The sequences in OORR are different from KBKR , but the earlier experience helped in tackling the challenges of this one. Perfect timing is essential to avoid re-takes, as most of the shoot takes place while the train is in motion,” says Vemal.
Post OORR , Vemal is gearing up for a big production — his third for Escape Artists, after KBKR and Desingu Raja . “It will be directed by Rajashekar. My character requires me to have a well-toned body,” reveals Vemal, “This film will be an important one and I hope it catapults me to the next level in the industry.”
