AT the outset, there’s hardly a reason for an actor like Suriya who has experimented with his mould, to take up a pacy action film like Ayan. And the actor, who is currently shooting for 'Aadhavan' in Chennai, is candid about why he chose the film. “The script of 'Ayan' was not written keeping me in mind. But I liked what I was told and I know the audience will enjoy it too,” begins the usually taciturn actor.
"I must confess to being a fan of director KV Anand’s style of filmmaking. I enjoyed Prithviraj’s smartly etched character as a villain in KV Anand’s earlier film 'Kana Kandein' at a time when villains were stereotypically shown as ugly or crass," Suriya says. Added to this slick filmmaking is the realism that backs Ayan’s storyline. "The movie will highlight one aspect of the city people are hardly aware of. And it’s not fiction. Newspaper cuttings on that issue for over a decade were assembled to study the issue in depth," he says, refusing to divulge more about the issue. "We have incorporated three real life stories into the film," he adds. 'Ayan' is produced by AVM Films and has been bought by Sun Pictures. It features Prabhu in an important role and Tamannaah plays Suriya’s love interest.
"But 'Ayan’s not just about action, and is a heady cocktail of romance, music, sentiment and action," he vouches, adding that his films, despite being commercial will be different. "I can do only what excites the actor in me. Even if I do what people term a ‘masala movie’, it will have new content," he assures. That coming from a star whose commercial flicks from the most recent 'Vel' to 'Kaakha Kaakha' have been entertaining fares, makes 'Ayan' a film to watch out for.
‘Recognition for 'Vaaranam Aayiram' was my best’
Suriya is completely aware of the flak 'Vaaranam Aayiram' has drawn as a film, but the reception for his role has been phenomenal, he recounts. "People have never used the adjectives they did to describe my performance these 11 years," he says with a smile
‘I won’t do this ever again’
Largely appreciated for doing most stunts by himself, Suriya says he has one stunt he wouldn't do again, in Ayan. "When KV Anand said I had to jump between cliffs, it didn’t sound dangerous. On seeing the shot on completion, it struck me as very risky, being 1,000 feet above the ground," he says
'Aadhavan', a no clichés film
'Aadhavan' is director KS Ravikumar’s next film after 'Dasavathaaram', and Suriya calls it a new genre for both of them. “KSR sir is a bundle of ideas. He is capable of giving 15 ideas in half an hour and mulling over one idea for more than a day. If we contemplate against having anything in the film, it would just be like he is hitting the delete button and the scene is gone. He wouldn’t care about how much effort went into creating that scene in he first place," he adds
sharadha@epmltd.com