Revelling in satire
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Filmmaker Shakti Chidambaram who is at home in satire, is busy with his new project starring Satyaraj.
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Always on the move: Shakti Chidambaram
A couple of months ago, when the launch of filmmaker Shakti Chidambaram's `Englishkaaran' was flashed in the local dailies, with the cheeky tag line `Thamizh Vaazhga,' it made many chuckle at the intelligence of the innuendo. You had to meet this man who so easily gets away with all the satirical punches in his films and promos.
Shooting is going on in full swing at West CIT Nagar, Chennai, and Shakti Chidambaram is sweating it out in the summer heat, when you go over to meet him in the midst of all the confusion on the sets.
Satyaraj is the hero of `Englishkaaran' and Nameeta, the heroine. "We are planning a June1 release," says Shakti.
Satire, Shakti Chidambaram and Satyaraj have proved a deadly combo. The sarcasm in Shakti's dialogue delivered in characteristic style by Satyaraj, had made his earlier films `Ennamma Kannu' and `Maha Nadigan' a fiesta.
Though his `Kadhal Kirukkan' with Parthiban and `Charlie Chaplin' with Prabhu and Prabhu Deva did well, it is the Shakti-Satyaraj team that enjoys USP status.
Pre-occupied and serious he looks, but Shakti's brand of humour is intact. Did he come all the way from Madurai to make it in cinema, you ask.
Director in action: Discussion under way for `Englishkaaran.'
"Why else? To see the Kannagi statue on the beach?" he smiles. "Being an avid filmgoer, movies gave me the idea that I could do better than what I got to watch on screen... so I left for Chennai." Now you know why the man is a diehard fan of M. R. Radha, the inimitable villain of yesteryear cinema, who revelled in satire.
"He is my inspiration ... I have watched his `Ratha Kanneer' alone about 15 times ... his satirical humour is unbelievable," laughs Shakti. His first directorial venture, under his original name, Dinakaran, called `Samrat,' with Ramki as hero, didn't do much for him. But the pseudonym seems to work. "Shakti is our family deity and Chidambaram is my father's name," he explains.
Why production
`Englishkaaran' is a serious story underlined with comedy, assures the maker. "The viewer will come out of the theatre with the feeling of having gone deep into a thought-provoking story that's humorous too," he says and adds: "Beneath all the comedy and satire `Englishkaaran' will convey a strong social message too. It will be another milestone in Satyaraj's career."
Shakti feels that his films have always earned money for his producers.
"That's the reason why besides story, screenplay, dialogue and direction Shakti is into production, with `Englishkaaran.' "But now I know what I've got myself into ... as a creator I would just ask for what I needed, not giving as much as a thought to the cost or viability of it. Not anymore. When I call for a crane for a particular shot I have to know what the hiring charges are ... " The candour comes with a sardonic grin.
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