All in the family

Delhi Ganesh and his son Mahadevan speak about teaming up in Ennul Aayiram, which marks their debut — as producer and actor

A still from Ennul Aayiram

Like father, like son? In the case of veteran actor Delhi Ganesh and his son Mahadevan, it is a little difficult to tell. Delhi Ganesh first got on stage by happenstance, and has donned many hats in a career spanning over four decades. He played the alcoholic father in Punnagai Mannan and the forward-thinking father-in-law in Kalyana Samayal Saadham . He made his audience cringe when he donned the role of the villain in  Apoorva Sagodharargal  and clutch their sides with laughter as the comic act in Thenali . But now, for the first time, he takes on the mantle of film producer. Mahadevan (Maha), on the other hand, always harboured a desire to become an actor. Unlike his versatile character artiste-father, when Maha decided to step into tinseltown, he chose to do so as a hero.

In the romantic thriller Ennul Aayiram , Maha makes his debut as actor, while Delhi Ganesh turns producer.

The father and son speak about their dissimilarities and what binds them. Excerpts from an interview:

Delhi Ganesh: We are very different from each other. As a debut actor, he has ambitions; there are goals he wants to achieve… I had none of that. If someone called me for a role, whatever it was, I’d do it.

Maha: With 10 siblings to care for, and many financial obligations,  appa  didn’t have the liberty to be ambitious. I used to make fun of him; because he used to act as the father of actors younger than him.

Maha, was your decision to act in films shaped by watching your father on screen?

Maha: I loved his performance in films such as Dowry Kalyanam  (1983) and  Aahaa  (1997). He’s known not just for his comic roles; in fact, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in Pasi  (1979). But, I’ve always wondered if my father got his due for such performances. So, I wanted to prove myself — I was clear I wanted to act. But then, someone came along and said, ‘I’m sending my daughter to the U.S. for higher studies. He’s a boy; he needs to go to grad school before he gets into films.’

DG: Even I was very keen that he should go abroad and study… so that I could tell people that and feel proud. (chuckles)

Maha: So, he promised to get me into films once I returned from London with a Masters in Engineering Business Management.

Is that when the movie, Ennul Aayiram, came together?

DG: Director Krishnakumar, who was associated with AL Vijay, came to know that Maha was interested in acting and approached him with a story…

Maha: I really liked the story. It revolves around the protagonist Ashok, his dreams, fears and the people he meets. Then, the director and I approached a lot of producers, but most were apprehensive about working with newcomers. That’s when  appa  stepped in.

Are you concerned about your son’s success, now that he’s entering the film cine industry?

DG: I don’t worry about what he’s going to do; that’s his prerogative. But as a father, I must open the gates, and that I have done. I didn’t have anyone for guidance; he has me. When I could do it, he definitely can.

Did the conversations between you change while the film was being made?

DG: He would mostly just call to increase the budget…

M:(shyly) He was a lenient producer.

What about creative inputs — did you have many to share with your son?

DG: I rarely went to the shooting spot. On the day of the pooja, I watched the first shot through the monitor. He acted so casually, like he’d been doing it for years. So I told my wife, ‘We don’t need to worry anymore; he’ll be fine’.

M: I was confused. He told me off for not catching the light properly and taught me how to do it, but appreciated my acting in front of my mother.

So, is she the bridge between you two?

M: My mom tells me, ‘Don’t just get angry like your dad, achieve like him too’.

DG:   Semma  bridge. If I walk, it shakes, and if Maha does, it’s stable. (laughs)