The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : What’s next, Mr. John Vijay?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 14, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

What’s next, Mr. John Vijay?

N. Venkateswaran

John Vijay

CHENNAI: His performance as “Sun of Gun” in ‘Oram Po’ hit the bull’s eye, and his dialogues are a big hit with college students and the youth.

The role of the Chennai autodriver, who speaks Tamil in a Thoothukudi accent, got John Vijay a lot of praise and some plum roles too.

He has signed on for a role in the next movie of director Vijay, whose first film was the Ajith-starrer ‘Kireedam,’ and the role of the villain opposite Simbu in ‘Silambattam,’ being directed by cameraman Saravanan.

He did not have to go searching for a breakthough. It landed in his lap as Pushkar and Gayatri, who directed ‘Oram Po,’ were his juniors in the Visual Communications course in Loyola College.

Character

“I was their first choice for the character of ‘Sun of Gun’ as they knew that I could carry off the Thoothukudi accent very well. Actually, before shooting the movie they shot a pilot to show to producers and I acted in that too. Working on the movie was a blast as I knew most of the crew from college and also got a good friend in Arya. It was just like going back to college.”

Though in ‘Oram Po,’ actor Arya has the last laugh, the best lines were reserved for John. “Arya was very sportive even though he knew right at the beginning that I had most of the punch lines. It was very sweet of him, and I don’t think other leading actors will allow such a thing in their movies.”

He then springs a surprise. “Did you know that in the movie Arya did all the stunts himself? He did all the racing scenes on his own with the cameral plonked on the autorickshaw. I think he is one of the best autorickshaw drivers in the city.”

But acting does not come first for John, who is the programme director of Radio One FM. “I am thankful to my boss L.V. Navaneeth and my organisation to allow me to indulge in my passion, though sometimes I don’t have any free time left.”

Ask him about his future plans, and he says, “I never plan for the future. I take things as they come. I started off doing television shows for Apt TV, and later started doing ad films on my own. Then I joined Radio One. It was around this time that I got acting offers and I took those up.”

What next Mr. John Vijay? A leading role in politics?

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu