Cinema, success, Saran
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An informal meet with Saran has the director touching upon his climb up the cinema ladder. MALATHI RANGARAJAN writes ...
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Saran in action ...
THIS WAS before the release of "Attagaasam." Busy as he was with the pre-release frenzy, director Saran had agreed to answer a few queries vis-à-vis his latest film, over telephone that day. Imagine your surprise when on answering the bell, you find the director himself at the door! Simplicity and friendliness are aplenty in Saran. "I was passing by and thought I'd drop in and talk to you in person," he smiled. The session stretched on to quite a long chat as Saran cheerfully shared his cherished moments in filmdom, and a grouse or two too.
"I had been working on the story and screenplay of "Attagaasam" for three years. When we decided that Ajit would play the hero, I made a few changes. I'm confident it will be a winner ... " (Saran's speculation seems to have paid off.) This is the third time that Saran and Ajit have come together and the combo has always worked. You had heard that they had fallen apart after "Amarkalam," but wisely enough they have buried the hatchet.
Saran goes on about how the hero took good care of the unit while shooting in Romania. "We faced serious crisis and it was Ajit who went out of his way to help us and faced much hardship himself," Saran recalls.
There has always been much talk about Ajit shooting his mouth off and saying things, which only make a negative impact ... "Please understand his frame of mind. He's an avid car racer. In racing the person at the wheel has to think fast and make split second decisions ... so his thoughts and words are quick but truthful." Saran rushes to his hero's defence. "Ajit is a very dedicated artiste ... he doesn't waste a single minute on the sets. He did the dubbing for `Attagaasam' simultaneously for both the characters he played, through the night ," Saran's paeans continue.
On the lukewarm response to "Jay Jay"
After the stupendous success of "Gemini," with Vikram, "Jay Jay" with Madhavan was a letdown. "No ... it was not a failure . It reached the audience we targeted ... " is Saran's stand. And about Madhavan: "He's a brilliant guy ... talented and plainspoken," he certifies.
The "Alli Arjuna" experience
"It's after `Alli Arjuna' that I stopped reading the reviews of my films. Anyway, I try out a different theme every time. So the comments that critics offer for one film cannot be applied to another," Saran sounds visibly hurt. Produced by Bharatiraja, with son Manoj and Richa Palot in the lead, "Alli Arjuna" was a well-made film directed by Saran. "It had a strong storyline that dealt with eve-teasing. Yet many of the big dailies and periodicals did not carry a review of the film. It came and went without a whimper," Saran is still smarting from the wound. Ironically, he has been a journalist, a freelance cartoonist to be precise, with a Tamil daily.
The heroines ...
Presumably Pooja is the only leading girl he has used twice — in "Jay Jay" and "Attagaasam." "I find her very spontaneous and comfortable before the camera. "Parthaen Rasithaen" was a veritable hit and came at a time when Prashanth needed one. If his mellowed portrayal was a highlight, so was Simran's fiery role with its negative traits. "Simran worked only for 18 days for the film. So she was doubtful about the output. And when eventually she watched the film, she was overwhelmed. `Promise me you'll give me another film,' she said," recollects Saran. Kiran emerged as a noticeable find in "Gemini" ... " I wanted a Marwari girl and she suited the role. She would have stayed on longer if only she had watched her weight," Saran feels. Sneha was an apt choice for "Vasool Raja MBBS." "We wanted a homely face and she filled the bill," he says.
Now on to "Vasool Raja ... "
"Kamal is a director's delight. He elevates comedy to a higher plane. After the film he told me, `I want to work with you again.' The words mean more to me than an award," he says.
The clique that never changes
If Saran is the director, it goes without saying that Bharadwaj is the composer, Venkatesh is the cinematographer, `Super Subbarayan' is the stunt choreographer and so on. "Attagaasam" is his ninth film and the team he began with is till intact. "You'll be surprised to hear that in all Bharadwaj and I would have discussed the songs for around 40 situations and every time I've settled for the very first tune he has given me ... Perfect sync ... you could say," smiles Saran. It is the same with the others too. "They know my way of working. `Super' Subbarayan is a stuntman who takes great care to ensure that his movements would in no way pose a danger to the hero. So why should I disturb the team," he asks.
Graduating in Visual Communication from the College of Arts, getting into K. Balachander's fold, gaining a solid hands-on experience and moving on from one mega project to another, this young man has had quite a successful traversal so far. "The nine years with KB were a perfect honing ground, " he smiles.
Service, the cinema way
He must be kidding ... "Please I'm serious. Every man needs to give vent to the violent streak and indignation that stems in him now and then. When he sees his hero bashing up the bad men and redressing the ills in society, he sees himself in the actor's shoes and the anger in him subsides. Imagine what would happen if the ire is allowed to mount ... "
Saran concludes on a profound note.
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