Ram Prakash, director of Tamilukku En Ondrai Aluththavum , which stars Nakul and Attakathi Dinesh in lead roles, invokes abstract ideas to explain what his first film is about. “I have always been intrigued about these networks that we have created to communicate among ourselves. This film is about the consequences of dismantling these networks,” says Ram Prakash.
Based on the oft-heard instruction whenever we are on a customer care call, Tamilukku ... is a film about what happens when cell-phone connectivity is lost. Ram Prakash's is an ambitious effort. In this film, ‘solar flares’ disrupt connectivity and alter the lives of some of the characters. “Nakul plays a jobless youth and ‘Attakathi’ Dinesh plays a dodgy real estate businessman who scams people," he says.
These are not exactly characters that would set the house on fire, but the difference lies in the way they are etched, he insists. "Unlike how we have seen him in other roles, Nakul is calm and composed this time around, whereas Dinesh is the source of energy in the film. They will both be playing characters that they haven't played before."
He says the film is an enquiry into the world of networks. “It's an attempt to understand how networks operate.” With the film being about technology, can it be devoid of visual effects? According to the makers, 30-35 per cent of Tamilukku … comprises computer-generated visuals. “We had to use a lot of it," he says.
