It takes a lot to keep Vadivelu quiet. After monopolising Tamil films for the greater part of the last decade, there was a rude jerk: he campaigned for the DMK in the 2011 polls and faded from sight as quickly as Kalaignar’s government. By his own admission, staying away from films and residing in his suburban retreat in Padappai has been restful. But has it softened him? Not in the least. At the audio launch of Tenaliraman, the comedian talks about his break, other funny-men and what the future holds for him...
Extended exile
It doesn’t feel like there has been a gap of two years really. Lot of films came my way and I avoided it because I wanted to make great ‘king’ size films.
Other comedians like Santhanam’s meteoric rise
I have not been tracking what other comedians have been doing. I think my comedy tracks are still running (on TV) anyway. I don’t see any of the movies or comedy clips these days. For that matter, I have never seen them. If I see good comedy, then I laugh. But if I don’t.. I don’t want to talk about it. Whoever is afraid of others coming into this cinema field, will always lose.
Goundamani’s return
Is Goundamani coming back? If Goundamani annan returns it is a good thing, especially if people like it. He is a good human being and a hard worker.
The Puyal’s next stop
We have readied about six films (for me to act) after this and it will be much bigger. It will not be a period flick. First I will start my next film as hero and then If any good scripts come along, I will start doing comedy roles in other heroes films. But it will have to be a substantial one with at least 12 comedy scenes. Because I have done a lot of films where the comedy track is at the back and the movie is still sitting on the shelf unreleased.
The Tenali story
I started this project because I didn’t want people to think I ran away because there was no market. I have read the Tenaliraman story in bits. Though people were afraid to work with me, Kalpathi S Aghoram sir said that he would make the film with me. People must have stood outside his house and asked him not to do it, but he never backed down. I was so touched, I even said I don’t want payment for the film.
Increased involvement
We were winding up shooting only at 6.30-7 am. We would go home only after people had left for the day’s work in the morning! Everyone in the crew was a huge fan and that showed in the effort they took. I was almost like an assistant director in this film and worked hard with director Yuvaraj Dayalan.
Starkly dark
When I came in today, I wondered if the heroine Meenakshi Dixit would recognise me. During shooting I would run to my trailer and get the costume and make-up done before she saw me. You see, she has never seen my original form (pointing to his dark skin) I asked her if she knew who I was without the get up and make up, and she laughed!
No controversy over Krishnadevarayar’s name
Krishnadevarayar is not a character in the film. The hero is a king called Mannar (king), who has not been given a name. This is just fiction surrounding the general character of Tenaliraman. It will take 100 films to tell all of Tenaliraman’s tales, so we have taken a few incidents that are linked to his character and used them fictionally in this setting. No one can object to it.
Directorial dreams
Why should I direct? I don’t want to do that. Things are fine now!