From an actor in spoofs on television to a tinsel town hero, Santhanam has journeyed a long way. What next? He smiles, “Obviously direction. I have worked hard to come to this stage and now I want to wield the megaphone. I have a script ready but it will take another year to finalise everything else,” he says. , “Right now I am busy acting and producing movies and havea good fan base. I don’t want to miss them,” he adds.
Santhanam knows how to make his presence felt. “I don’t believe in separate comedy tracks and prefer to do humour that is inclusive and travels along with the main plot. Even horror films need a comic treatment now, going by the recent success of such films,” he says.
Spontaneous to the core, his wit has a big fan following in Kollywood. “Lot of work goes behind every dialogue though I improvise certain portions depending on the circumstance and body language of the character I play. I have a team of eight members working overnight to fix the dialogues,” he says.
His work was much appreciated in Rajesh’s trilogy Siva Manasula Sakthi,Boss Engira Baskaran and Oru Kal Oru Kannadi .
Santhanam is a team player and never thrusts himself in front.
It is this quality that endears him to many heroes who want him in their films. “I never overshoot myself. I just try to do what best will enhance the story,” he says.
He says he likes taking risks too. “It is part of life. When I came from television to cinema, many discouraged me. Again, I was warned about the risks when I decided to don the hero’s role and produce films. But I followed my instincts,” he says.
Santhanam clearly recalls the day he got a call from Simbu to act in Manmadhan . Simbu believed in his ability and gave him a chance.
Even now Simbhu advises him, Udhayanidhi teaches him the business of film production and marketing and Arya guides him to keep in good shape, says Santhanam, whosetechnical knowledge in filmmaking is also sound.
He believes a hero has to be in tune with different departments of filmmaking be cinematography, music or editing.
Music has been a big plus in his movies. Be it Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya or Vallavanukku Pullum Ayudham , the songs and background score in his movies have earned good reviews.
In his latest movie Inime Ippadithan , scheduled for release on June 12, Santhanam has introduced a new music director Santhosh Dayanidhi to the industry. “Santhosh from A.R. Rahman’s stable has done a perfect job,” says Santhanam. “Music is a highly technical field and a music composer’s cooperation is must if you want to communicate your wishes and Santhosh was very cooperative,” he says of the newcomer.
Inime Ippadithan is a sentimental rom-com. “It is a feel-good film on taking life as it comes ,” he says.
Murugan and Anand, the directors of Lollu Sabha direct this movie.
Playing the female lead are Vallavanukku Pullum Ayutham - fame Ashna Zaveri, and Akhila Kishore who won over audiences with her act in Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam . Thambi Ramaiah plays a stellar role in the movie.
“From the starters, I have now moved on to the main course. Though I have become a hero, I will continue to do humour as it is my forte. Inime ippadithan ! (That is how it will be, hereafter).”
