Director Prabhu Solomon, whose upcoming film Thodari features Dhanush and Keerthy Suresh in the lead, says that shooting this film was quite a challenge. The film has been getting a lot of attention of late. The story, which takes place on a train, happens over a period of two days and three nights. So, the crew had to shoot a large number of sequences on a train.
Says Prabhu Solomon, “Making this film was a challenge because it demands so much co-ordination, effort and commitment. We shot on a train which had an engine attached to 11 bogies. Even if I had hired the train for five hours, I would still have to wait for clearance from the Railways for the signals. Sometimes, shooting even a single shot was very tough.”
Prabhu Solomon is known to spare no effort when it comes to making films. His earlier films, Mynaa (2010) and Kumki (2012), stand testimony to this fact. In this film too, he seems to have tested the boundaries of his patience and courage by canning some really risky shots.
“We wanted mist for certain sequences and therefore shot in Dhoop Sagar which is near Castle Rock in Goa. There, we had to shoot certain sequences in which artistes were atop the train. As there was mist, visibility levels were low. Therefore, we had to ensure even the braking was perfect. If the timing missed, a lot of people would be injured. But by God’s grace, everything was perfect. I believe in the Almighty and therefore, even before canning these sequences, I prayed to god, seeking his guidance. I entrusted myself and my entire crew in his care,” says the director almost with a sigh of relief.
The director says they shot the train sequence over a period of 22-25 days. “I shot the extreme wide shots on the train. Apart from these shots, we also had a huge amount of matte work. Some of the challenges I faced would leave me drained! Sometimes I wondered why I even choose such difficult topics as the subjects of my films. But when I see my completed film, all my exhaustion has turned into joy. Now I think my next film’s subject should be tougher than this one,” he grins.