Director Jayam Raja’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing ever since his film Thani Oruvan hit screens last week. Congratulatory messages continue to pour in even as the director switches off his phone to talk to the media. It has now become clear that the film, which has been raking in the moolah at the box office, is well on its way to being declared a hit. Clearly, it’s a big victory. Did he expect it?
Says Jayam Raja, “I alone expected it. There were many who didn’t believe in this story. The soul of this story can be experienced but not explained. But Jayam Ravi, my brother and the hero of the film, had no problems trusting me. My entire team had complete faith in me. I made this film believing in today’s youth and the women audience and my belief has paid off rich dividends. I am thankful to the audience for their emphatic response to my film.”
Talking about what he said had worked in his film’s favour, the director said, “Usually, we come across films that focus on converting personal anger into public anger. I believe for the first time, my film talked about converting public anger into personal anger.”
The topics he chose in the film were all very current. Clearly, a lot of research seemed to have gone into it. Ask him about this and he confesses, “Yes, we hired a team of researchers called Physics Consultant group, to research on a number of issues for the film. From the training methods adopted at the police training institute to the manner in which scams and corruption had spread in different industries, this team researched and gave me details which were then used in the plot.”
Clarifying that he thought this victory to be a reward for his hardwork rather than his skill, he says, “I worked on this project for a period of three years. I would say it is my hard work that has fetched me this reward. Not my skill.”
Admitting that talks were on to make the film into Telugu and Hindi as well, Raja says, “It is true. Actor Salman Khan’s team said that they were impressed with the film. In Telugu too, I am interested in remaking it as I believe that the spirit of this film has to be taken to a national level.”
Is Thani Oruvan the Last Tamil Movie to be Shot on Film?
Even as audiences continue to heap praise on Thani Oruvan, not many know that this might well be the last Tamil movie to be shot in film. Yes, if one is to go by what the film’s cameraman Ramji says, Thani Oruvan might well go down in the history books as just that.
“Ninety five per cent of this film was shot on film. However, we ran out of film for the last five per cent. All of them had also stopped producing film and therefore, we shot it in digital,” he says.