Chennai: Pavel Navageethan made people sit up and notice him when he performed in the critically-acclaimed Kuttram Kadithal which went on to win the national film award for best feature film in Tamil.
Speaking to News Today, he said, “When I was young, there used to be a camera at home. I would take the camera and record my surroundings. From a young age, I always loved cinematography,” says Pavel.
His teacher told him that he had good writing talent and had excellent skills when it came to using cameras. “He told me to study visual communication and told my father said I was a creative student,” says Pavel, and adds laughing, “It surprised him because I was a dull student in school.”
But, unfortunately, things didn’t go according to his plan. He couldn’t get admission into visual communication stream. But he was offered a degree in sociology. “When I asked my father about it, he said if I studied this, I can be free like him. I have never seen my father work very hard because he is very cool,” he says. “But I was still a bit upset that I couldn’t study visual communication.”
To earn for his own pocket money, he started performing in street plays. He later became a theatre trainer in a local centre. He started doing short films for private production houses. After five years, it became monotonous. Bramma who was also working with him, decided to quit their jobs. They joined together to shoot Kuttram Kadithal. “We never expected it to become an award winner nor did we ever have such intentions,” he says. “We just made it for ourselves. We wanted to make a film which we loved,” he says with feeling.
He speaks about how he got the role in Madras. “I went to speak with Ranjith about the screenplays I had written,” he says. “But when I went to speak to him, he told me, ‘Thala, Madras movie ley oru chinna role irukku, act panriya?’ (In Madras movie, there is a small role, would you like to act?)’ I laughed and asked him if he was joking. He persuaded me that the role was perfect for me. The same day, I went to audition and they selected me.”
He says that the shooting for Madras and Kuttram Kadithal were really cool. “I never thought I will become an actor,” he says. “People still recognise me as Madras Viji even though Kuttram Kadithal won a national award. After that it became very easy for me to meet producers as people start noticing my work.”
Pavel talks about his experience while shooting for Vada Chennai. “My role is both comical and at the same time it is serious. I was a bit scared to act in this movie as I had to work with Dhanush sir, Samuthirakani sir,” he says.
“They have this wonderful skill of just reading the script on the spot and performing. I couldn’t do that. I would tell Vetri sir that I will do better if I am given the dialogues at least half-an-hour ahead. But he would say that acting on-the-spot was what he wanted,” he recalled.
Eventually, his fellow co-stars became quite friendly with him and this made him confident. “Vada Chennai made me to professionally become an actor because it brought to the fore my hidden acting talent,” he says. “Vetri sir told one of the crew members that I have acted well. It felt really great to know that he liked my work.”
Talking about his plans, he said, “I hope to act in a comical role. I hope that once I become a well-established actor and feel that I can direct a movie all by myself, I will return behind the camera.”