On a winning spree
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Vishal's third film, `Thimiru,' is doing brisk business, very much like his previous two.
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WITH HIS FEET ON THE GROUND: Vishal takes success in his stride.
Three films in three years and all of them hits! After riding the winner wave with his first two releases `Chellamae' and `Sandakkozhi,' Vishal has done a hat trick now. `Thimiru,' you hear, has had a fantastic opening. "I'm very happy about the result. But my responsibility has also increased immensely because expectation about my next film will be even higher," laughs Vishal, sounding both elated and nervous at once. The actor seems sure of every step, and cool and unwavering in every move. Vishal's new projects include Karu. Pazhaniappan's `Sivappadhikaram' and Hari's `Thamirabharani.'
Is straddling two assignments at the same time a wise decision? "No. I'm very clear that it will be only one film at a time. I began working for `Siva ... ' when `Thimiru' was nearing completion. `Thamirabharani' will take off when I'm through with `Siva ... ' While on these projects, Vishal says, "Karu. Pazhaniappan's subject is very close to my heart. I could relate to it perfectly. As for `Thamirabharani,' I'm sure it will take me to the next step in my career ... I'm willing to bide my time and wait for worthy projects."
Familiar ground
Cinema was always a familiar territory to Vishal. Dad G.K.Reddy was a producer. Brother Ajay Krishna has also done a couple of films as hero. Ajay is now working overtime to see that Vishal gains solid footing in cinema. "That's his only goal now," laughs Vishal.
His brother's stint as an actor possibly inspired him to follow suit. Vishal disagrees. "I decided my future will be in films when I was in Class XII, after watching Nagarjuna in the Telugu film, `Shiva.'" Vishal, a student of Don Bosco School, later completed his graduation from Loyola. But all the while his thoughts were in cinema.
Awed by the making skills of Ram Gopal Varma, Vishal packed his bags to move to Mumbai to work as his assistant, when his parents prevailed upon him to stay on in Chennai. So he joined actor Arjun's unit, and worked in two Arjun-directed projects, `Vedham' and `Ezhumalai.' In fact, Arjun was the one who found him photogenic, had a screen test done and insisted Vishal circulate his portfolio. Shanker's associate Gandhi Krishna came across Vishal's picture and gave him his first chance in `Chellamae.' "He was looking for a tall, dark hero and thought I filled the bill," says Vishal.
Dame Luck smiles
Once he decided to change tack from direction to acting, Vishal began working diligently to transform himself into complete hero material. He trained in dance and stunts and went in for rigorous workouts. "The film had excellent technical back-up with K.V.Anand as cinematographer and Harris Jeyaraj as composer. Also Gandhi Krishna's line was strong and new — the villain was a 16-year old, and I was not the regular lover boy hero. I played a married man in the film," Vishal goes on.
That brings us to Reema Sen. "She was very professional and put me at ease. Our on-screen chemistry worked wonders for `Chellamae.'" Vishal's toughest scene in the film was the climax that was filmed on the beaches of the Andamans. "Reema didn't know swimming and I had to bring her out of the waters," he recalls. A fairly decent performance from a newcomer was what you witnessed in `Chellamae.'
`Sandakkozhi,' his second success story, happened quite a while after `Chellamae.' "I didn't mind. I've known Lingusamy for 12 years and when I listened to his script, I knew I had to do it. Lingusamy said that he could take it up only after completing Ajit's film, `Ji.' People advised me that the gap was too much but I was firm, and the wait was worth it. So a year and three months passed before `Sandakkozhi' released," says Vishal. It was his home production and the result was another morale booster for the young man.
Vishal cannot stop talking about Meera Jasmine's potential. She played his heroine in the film. "Her spontaneity and sense of timing was superb. She was remarkable in the scene where she does all the talking, to get her parents into believing she was in college and not at the cinemas as her brother said, while I was supposed to stand looking uncomfortable and silent," he laughs.
Now it's back to Reema Sen in `Thimiru.' "It was director Tarun Gopi's choice. I accepted the story, because of the character of Shreya Reddy. Gopi had conceived Shreya's role so differently," Vishal gets slightly defensive. "Reema has a bubbly body language that suits her character perfectly," he then adds. Is he a director's actor? "Completely. As an avid filmgoer the script should excite me. Once I'm convinced I accept the director totally," he says.
Vishal's parting words come with a cryptic smile: "I've given up something very close to my heart, to become a hero. (I don't want to elaborate on what it is.) So I just can't afford to lose the race."
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