“Today’s filmmakers are well versed in technology. Filmmaking has become easy. But I would request them to do more earthy films and provide content that speaks about our land”, says veteran director-actor Bharathiraja.
Bharathiraja is back after a gap as filmmaker with Meendum Oru Mariyadhai. He also plays the lead role in it. Rasi Nakshatra is the heroine. Music is by Raghunandan. Plans are on for release this February.
Speaking to News Today, Bharathiraja, says, “It is a movie that tries to convey a strong message that suicide is not solution to any problem. We should live to enjoy the beauty around us”.
Excerpts from his interview:
Q: Tell us about Meendum Oru Mariyadhai…
A: It is a movie that revolves around a farmer, who is a wonderful writer too. He goes to London to spend time with his son and his family. There he encounters a young girl who wants to end her life. He tries to change her mind. He throws her a challenge to spend her next ten days travelling with him and is confident that watching beautiful things around her would change her mind. The journey and the relationship that develops between the two form the crux.
Q: You have been acting in a lot of films. Why?
A: I came to Chennai in 1960s with a dream to become an actor. But there were smart-looking heroes holding fort then. I thought with my looks, my dream will not come true. I put my sincere efforts and managed to become a successful filmmaker. But today, I have understood that beauty is not the yardstick to become an actor. You have to live the character that you perform. Even the heroines I introduced to Tamil cinema were not stunningly beautiful. But they could fit into any character that was offered to them. Meendum Oru Mariyadhai is one such script that suited me as the male protagonist. I have a few more films lined up as actor now.
Q: How do you see the works of contemporary filmmakers?
A: Today’s filmmakers know everything about technology. Making a movie has become easy. But I would request them to do more earthy films and provide content that speaks about our land. Those days the likes of Mani Ratnam or K Balachander had no technical expertise when they turned directors. But their works are still admired and adored.
Q: Why do you want to do your dream project Kuttra Parambarai as web series?
A: A lot needs to be told in Kuttra Parambarai. I can’t compress all the details in just a two and half hours cinema. So plans are on to come up with web series with a minimum of 24 episodes. It will go on floors this April.
Q:Any plans to play a hero in a full-fledged commercial entertainer?
A: I do roles that suit me. Unlike Rajinikanth, who pulls it off even today. The good thing I like about Rajinikanth is that he is not bothered about his image. He does what he wants. Though I have ideological differences with him, I would say he always speaks truth on and off screen too.
Q: You seems to have sorted out differences with Ilayaraja?
A: We had worked together a lot. But at the end of the day, it is like brothers within a family, who come together in spite of all differences.