CHENNAI: A few years ago, a promising new filmmaker entered the film industry with his debut film 'Parthiban Kanavu' , which was a huge success at the box office. After a couple of films like 'Sivappathigaram' and 'Pirivom Santhippom' , now director Karu Pazhaniappan is donning the actor’s hat in his forthcoming film 'Mandhira Punnagai' (magical smile). With this film, Karu Pazhaniappan joins the growing league of directors turning actors.
What was it like to get in front of the camera?
“For the first two to three days I would constantly worry about how the shot looked. But I soon realised that I had my associates to take care of that. It’s tough to act and direct a film. In the future I won’t do both together,” says Karu Pazhaniappan and laughs.
"But there is an advantage of being the director and hero of a film. When you see yourself on screen you feel great and don’t find any faults,” he adds.
Entry into films
For Karu Pazhaniappan, films happened by accident. “My father allowed me to do something new and it was this freedom he gave me that helped me take up this profession,” says the director.
Why acting?
“I never planned it; it happened all of a sudden. Anyone can do my role in the film. It’s that of a reckless man, who bothers little about other people’s woes and earns a fancy pay. Then one day, love crosses his life but even that doesn’t change him,” informs the director, who likes the works of director Manivannan. According to Karu Pazhaniappan, Manivannan has been the man behind hit films in different genres.
Our obsession with love stories
“Tamil film industry has good talent and potential. Just by watching a couple of foreign films we can’t claim them to be better than us. To be able to compare, one must watch the other 380 releases and then come to a conclusion,” says the director. “We’re yet to move out of love-based subjects. Whatever genre it may be, we don’t go without touching the theme of love.
"The audience wants something new and unpredictable,” he adds.