Chennai: Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who bankrolled filmmaker Lenin Bharathi’s Merku Thodarchi Malai, openly admitted during the thanksgiving meet of the movie that he was not completely happy with the film when it was screened for him.
Merku Thodarchi Malai, has earned acclaim from critics and the audience alike. The film talks of the troubles faced by people who work on cardamom estates and live at the foothills of the Western Ghats, on the Tamilnadu-Kerala border, and Theni EshwarÂs breathtaking cinematography blending with Ilayaraja’s background score was one of its mainstays. It generated a tremendous buzz on the international circuit even before its release.
However Vijay Sethupathi said, “Perhaps, my expectation was different, or I did not have enough knowledge about filmmaking. Now I realise its value; everyone is raving about it. I am gratified to have made a good film, but all credit goes to Lenin.”
The emotional Vijay Sethupathi revealed that he had decided to bankroll the film because director Lenin Bharathi had treated him with much humanity and kindness when he was just a junior artiste.
He also said that he had not made any money from the release as he had asked the director to use all the returns to fuel promotional activities.
About the success, the actor-turned-producer said, “Lenin was worried that we would not get enough theatres. But if there was a demand, people will come and watch a film. Thanks to the media, which has created a demand for our film. And now, more theatre-owners are opting to show it.”