There’s something verydifferent about him. His excellent sense of timing and punch lines have earned him a huge fan following, but he says his intention has never been that. City Express catches up with the actor-singer-music director, Premgi Amaren, who has his hands full with Maanga, Salim and Venkat Prabhu’s Mass, as he talks about what it takes to become a successful comedian.
Not just a comedy actor
I am not a funnyman and don’t understand why people laugh when they see me onscreen. I don’t want to be a mere comedy actor. I equally have a serious side to me.
Double role
As any other actor, I want to experiment with everything, but I don’t want to play a side-track comedy actor to heroes. I want to be a hero in the comedy genre. I play a double role in Maanga with two heroines — Advaita and Leema. I play both a bhagavathar Gemini Ganesan from the 50s and a present day scientist Shiva, who thinks he’s clever and intelligent, but actually, he’s not and that’s why people call him Maanga. Since, it’s a double role, both characters had to be seen together in most frames and that’s challenging. I had to learn how the dialogues were delivered in those days, after referring to a lot of photographs. And yes, composing music was equally interesting. Shooting is over and we are working on postproduction. Since the second half of the film has some graphic work, it’s taking time. There are six songs in the film. The movie will hit screens after August.
A guest apperance
In Salim, I am playing a guest role where I perform the remix of Superstar’s Siva Sambo song, where Vijay Antony comes to theatre to see that movie. ‘Multi international mega ultimate superstar’ is the title Vijay Antony gave me after seeing my performance. (Smiles)
Big suspense
I am also a part of Mass. I am so excited to share screenspace with Suriya, Amy Jackson and Nayanthara. Venkat Prabhu is not really a planner and I don’t know what role he has for me on his mind. It happens spontaneously.
Dream role
I want to play a powerful superhero and a bad villain. I am super sick of doing roles that make people laugh. I manage to look like the common man and the audience manages to relate to these characters of mine. So far, I have put my heart and soul to all the films that I’ve done till now. I have given much more than what is scripted every time.