Action laced with romance
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Yesteryear hero Ravichandran turns director with ``Manthiran." S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
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MANTHIRAN: The main players on the sets.
Entering AVM studios is not a joy anymore for old timers. The vast expanse, where many historic films have been shot, has been divided into two parts. It is the famous Pillaiyar Koil section, swarming with people, that draws one's attention.
Shooting is in progress and who is that wielding a mike giving directions to cars and autos... Ravichandran, yesteryear hero. No, don't jump to conclusions. He is not controlling traffic. He is directing ``Manthiran" which has son Hamsavirdhan as hero. Art director Anand has done the set.
Fast food joint
On the road is a small fast food joint and the signboard says "Manthiran." In walks a man who asks the boss to take the order of the man sitting in a car.
One of the lads walks up to the car parked on the other side and freezes in shock to find a girl he knows sitting in the back seat.
``Cut" shouts the director. Something is not all right. Ravichandran starts explaining to the actors. ``Continue to perform and be natural even after the hero moves away from you. You are still within the camera angle.
The scene won't be realistic otherwise. And he has this to say to the drivers. ``As the hero walks across to the parked vehicle, a car and an auto should come so close to him that he almost loses balance but manages to move on. The heroine is watching the scene from the other side."
First film
Of course, the hero is briefed about the situation and the heroine alerted that her face will come for a close-up. But when did Ravichandran turn director? The hero of ``Kadhalikka Naeramillai," that classic comedy, answers: "This is my first film as a director. I have worked with some of the good directors in Tamil and Kannada. But this is the first time my name will appear in the credits as director. This is an action- oriented movie with a love story entwined." Ravichandran has also written the story, screen play and the dialogue. Hamsavirdhan is the hero and new find Raga is the heroine. Hamsavirdhan is happy about the whole unit. "I am working hard to make the film a hit. We have finished nearly 25 per cent of the work. Two songs have been shot. One is a rope song, choreographed by Master Sridhar, and other is a set song, choreographed by Shivashanker. Another old-timer Anuradha's daughter Abinayashree has danced with the hero for a seductive number. Karthik Raja handles the camera. I appear in three different get ups." Ravichandran's another son Balaji is the co-producer of the film and his son-in-law Sriram, an advocate, lends a helping hand.
Dhina has composed music for the film produced by Saibaba Creations.
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