Many a TV personality has made his way into cinema in the recent past. Joining this list is young Ranjith, the winner of season 3 of the dance reality show Maanada Mayilaada. Cast as the hero of Alaye Alaye, Ranjith is playing the role of a cycle shop owner in love with a Sri Lankan refugee girl. Speaking to CE, Ranjith and the film’s director G Manikanda Kumar reveal more.
“I’ve also been part of another dance reality show on TV – Rani Yaru, Raja Yaru,” begins Ranjith. “I was part of school plays too, when I was young. So when I got a chance to audition for this movie, I went for it.”
Ranjith took a three-month acting course to hone his latent skills. Ask debut director G Manikanda Kumar why he chose Ranjith and he replies, “He has a very mobile face, which can easily carry off the emotions required. The story is about how true love can transform a person, make him connect to a higher self and make him more mature.”
The movie, whose music is by D Imman’s former assistant Dhanvi, came in for much praise by Vijay Sethupathi at the audio launch recently. Shot in Rameswaram, the movie is said to have no love duets or romantic dialogues. “In fact, the girl and boy don’t even touch each other,” says Manikanda. This movie comes close on the heels of Sivappu, which also has a heroine playing a Sri Lankan Tamil.
Ask him why he chose the topic and Manikanda says, “The plight of the refugees has always moved me, so I wanted to touch upon the issue in this love story. But it’s basically a love story about a boy in love with a refugee girl who wants to go back to her country and re-unite with her parents.”
Ankita, a child artiste from Kannada films, debuts in Tamil as the heroine in this film.
Narrating a life and death experience, Ranjith recalls, “There was a boat scene in the middle of high waves in the sea. At one point, the waves were so high that they filled our boat and the cameraman just about managed to keep the camera afloat above water. The boat was about to capsize when another wave came and stabilised us. The fishermen later told us that we had had a very narrow escape in dangerous waters.”
The movie is aiming for a summer release.