CHENNAI: Clearing the air about his portrayal of physically handicapped people in the film ‘Naan Kadavul’ that has now fetched him a National Award for Best Director, filmmaker Bala explained that he had made the film only with the intention of bringing their life to light. A not-for-profit organisation, Mother Teresa’s Association, for the welfare of the physically handicapped people has recently protested the government’s decision to award Bala the Best Director Award when he portrayed them (physically handicapped people) as hapless and unfit to live.
“Even Mother Teresa would have appreciated my work, had she seen it. I wanted to let people know the kind of life they lived. In fact, spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev saw the film, showed it on his campus, and told people to be aware of the lives of beggars and help them.
This was the intention with which I began the film,” he said.
Strictly objecting to his characters being termed physically handicapped, Bala said they had special mental abilities.
“Their grasping levels are very high,” he noted.
When asked whether he wished to thank god for his National Award, Bala simply said, “I do not wish to thank someone who does not exist. God did not help me in directing, lighting the film, nor did he help in make up. I am not thanking him,” he said.
Bala was launching his fifth film, ‘Avan Ivan’, on Tuesday. Starring Vishal, Arya and newcomer Janani Iyer, the film is being produced by AGS Entertainment.
“Unlike my other films, this one will be shot and released in a year,” he said.