Laabam speaks about economic politics behind agriculture, says actor Vijay Sethupathi.Directed by late S P Jananathan, the movie stars Vijay Sethupathi and Sruthi Haasan in the lead roles. Champaka, Prithvi Pandiarajan, Ramesh Thilak don key roles. Music is by D Imman. Plans are on for a release on 9 September in theatres.
In a nutshell, the movie speaks about how profits to farmers have become daylight robbery, says Vijay Sethupathi.
Speaking to News Today, he says, ‘A voracious reader like Jananathan presents not a regular agriculture movie in Laabam. He understands Marxian philosophy better than others. He has spoken agrarian issues in Laabam with Marxianxian ideology’.
‘An agrarian product is for people and not for market is his idea. Jananathan completed everything including climax. Sadly he passed away and not here to see Laabam ‘s release. We never knew this could be his last film’.
Dwelling about his role, he says, ‘I play a fakir. Someone who had been to a long tour across the country. Up on his return, he becomes president of farmers association. He faces problems and how he addresses it forms the crux. It is not his individual problems but conflicts that society face. A group of people tries arrive a solution to it. It addresses a lot to youngsters.’
On his co-star Sruthi Haasan, he says, ‘Sruthi is intelligent and talented actress. She has done a wonderful role in Laabam. During shoots, I would listen stories about her dad (Kamal Haasan). They would be motivating’.
Asked how he manages to do several movies simultaneously, Vijay Sethupathi says, ‘Too many films at a times shows people welcome variety. You cannot compress content in the name of commercial elements. I believe that a good story will woo audience. We should aim not to educate people but to engage them. We should be responsible for the time that they spent watching a movie in theatre’.
‘Few of my movies were completed long back are also coming out now. It makes everyone say that I am doing many at one time. I am curious to see how people see me watching my films’, Vijay Sethupathi states.
Queried about his films ready for release, he says, ‘I am almost done with Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kadhal, shoot for webseries with Rajan and DK of The Family Man fame is nearing completion, shoot is on for Kamal Haasan starrer Vikram, Vettrimarann and Ponram’s films are on the floors’.
Is Vijay Sethupathi keen on doing different cinema. He says, ‘I am not behind different stories. I practise what I do. I am not keen to identify as someone who do different films. I loved doing Laabam for it is presented by Jana sir who understand world politics and various schools of thought well’.
Asked whether he would try his hands at politics as he does movies that carry lofty themes, Vijay Sethupathi says a big ‘no’. ‘Acting is my passion and I love doing it’.