The trailer of the new Tamil film Parandhu Sella Vaa opens with some stunning images of Singapore, the giant 360-degree flyer towering over the city, the high rises, and an aerial view of the buzzing city at night… and a line-up of lively, young and energetic cast. There is Lufthudeen (actor Nasser’s son), a glamorous Aishwarya Rajesh appearing in western costumes for the first time, Chinese actor Narelle Kheng who makes her Tamil debut, and a gang of RJ Balaji, Karunakaran, and Sathish who crack smart lines that make you burst out laughing.
Reacting to the positive buzz around the trailer, director Dhanapal Padmanabhan says, “Breathtaking visuals alone won’t do. To win over the audience, we need a good story too.” Parandhu … is a romantic comedy shot entirely in Singapore. Cinematography by Santhosh Vijayakumar-Prabhakaran captures some of the city’s lesser known locations. “I was bowled over by the beauty of the city, which I keep frequenting. That is why I set my story here. We explored the place a lot, did a lot of recces before finalising the locations. Even the locals were surprised when we showed them the trailer. Singapore presents itself as a romantic city, and not a concrete jungle. The film captures positive aspects of life in Singapore like the prominence they give to mother tongue. About 70 per cent of the population is Chinese, and the rest are Malay, and Indians. They say a child learns better when he or she thinks in mother tongue. They have taken steps to ensure this, which is in itself inspiring,” he says.
Dhanapal says that Tamil films have failed to capture the youth’s light-hearted and positive take on life, something on the lines of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara . “It gave a peek into the carefree spirit of youth in a sensible way. We have nothing like that in Tamil. Parandhu follows a young man who is settled in his job and is going through the exciting phase of finding love. Youngsters from small towns and villages now travel all over the world, compete globally and excel in whatever they do. During my frequent travels abroad, I have met so many youngsters bubbling with enthusiasm for life. I wanted to capture this spirit. While we are still shouting from the rooftop about gender equality, they follow it effortlessly in their every day lives. They are progressive, and have a sensible side to them, which is hardly explored in films.”
He continues, “The film raises a toast to youth who handle their lives with ease. A glimpse into one of the pages from the diary of a youth. It’s a clean film that will appeal to the youth, especially the student community who are settled in a job. I have also shown my sensibilities about relationships and love.”
Dhanapal’s first film Krishnaveni Panjalai was about the lives of cotton mill workers in the Udumalpet region near Coimbatore. “With every film, I want to travel differently. My first film was totally offbeat. This is an entertainer.”
Parandhu Sella Vaa also features Singapore artists and technicians extensively and is produced by P. Arumai Chandran. One of the action sequences is done by stunt master Sunny Pang, who has done Chinese and Indonesian films. Artists like Mathi, Guna, Suganya, and Uday, who have done telefilms in Singapore and are popular faces there, are also a part of the movie. “You can call it a collaborative work between Indian and Singapore artists. My editor M.V. Rajeshkumar, who has done movies like Velaiyilla Pattadhari , Salim and ThangaMagan, has upped the energy level on the editing table. For music director Joshua, this is going to be a big break after Kaadhal ,” says Dhanapal.
The director says that both the female actors have powerful roles. “A couple of big heroes backed out because of the prominence given to the female roles. Their performances stand out. Their screen presence adds colour and value to the story. Aishwarya Rajesh is a pucca urban girl, an architect. The Chinese actor Narelle Kheng is versatile too. Her professional commitment was extraordinary. We wrote the Tamil dialogues in English and, be it love, hope or disappointment, she emoted extremely well. Lufthudeen is a perfect fit for the lead. I enjoyed his understated performance in Saivam. It’s a full-fledged role and not an easy task. But he made the transition effortlessly. More than good looks, what the audience now expect is a good performance. The involvement and contribution of comedy actors RJ Balaji, Karunakaran and Sathish ensures that the film is a fun ride.”
Dhanapal hopes that Parandhu Sella Vaa will set a benchmark for romantic comedies. “Audiences are ahead of us. Filmmakers have to work hard to meet the expectations. We are yet to make films that will satisfy them. I enjoyed making the film. I hope the audience like it too.”
