Chennai: After Goli Soda’s success in 2014, Goli Soda 2 (GS2) hit the screens on Thursday. City Express spoke to its director Vijay Milton about the movie, his experience of working with Gautham Menon and Samuthirkani, and more.
What can we look forward to in Goli Soda 2 in terms of storyline?
We cannot say everyone in the society is privileged enough to have access to all things good. The movie concentrates on young people who come from mediocre family backgrounds. It is about the struggle they undergo in the process of establishing and sustaining an identity for themselves. The story is not location-specific; any youngster fighting against all odds to succeed in life will relate to it.
How was your experience working with Gautham Menon and Samuthirkani?
It was happy, fun and memorable. When you work with actors, you generally have to explain every single detail that needs to reflect on their performance. With directors turning actors, the job is much easier. They grasp things quickly and also give additional inputs to the scene. I feel inputs from both of them have added more value to the film. At the end of the day, I am a fan of people who have opinions, be it good or bad.
How was it to be a director-cum-cinematographer for a movie?
I think it is an added advantage to be in a position to be able to multitask. If you are involved in and committed to what you are doing, you cannot look at it as a burden. I enjoy the responsibility of being both; it has worked out well for me.
A commercially hit movie or a critically acclaimed one, what defines success for a director?
Movie is art, at the same time it is also a product in the market. It needs reach as much as appreciation. When a director does a movie, he needs to make sure it is satisfying for him as well as the audience. A director’s success definitely lies in striking the right balance between impressing and expressing.
The ‘GST Vandi’ that carried eatables and drinks for the underprivileged came to Madurai last week as part of your movie’s promotions. Do you think it is high time we took Kollywood movie promotions to cities beyond Chennai?
The Goli Soda 2 trucks travelling to different cities were actually done with a social motive to help those in need. The moment we informed people that we will be coming out to Madurai, they were delighted. I think it is important to take the promotional activities to all cities that will screen the movie. We have done it successfully and I hope few others will take the initiative to do so too.
Any upcoming talents that you feel will make it big in the Tamil film industry?
Film writer and director H Vinodh is an inspiring talent. He has worked as an assistant director with me. He finds the perfect balance when it comes to keeping the audience entertained and conveying a proper message through a movie.