Indru Netru Naalai completed a successful run of 50 days in the theatres. The film is still being talked about by the audience. With his first film, director Ravi Kumar has proved that he is here to stay.
When Ravi entered the film industry, he wanted to make a film that had never been attempted before. That was the main idea for Indru Netru Naalai, a first-of-its -kind film, based on time-travel in Tamil.
Hailing from a humble family based in Tirupur, Ravi started off by making short films and winning local short film contests.
“My films were well appreciated and that gave me the courage to participate in Naalaiya Iyakkunar and I stood third in the competition. Then, I assisted director Nalan Kumarasamy in Soodhu Kavvum. When producer C V Kumar asked me if I had a story in mind and I shared a brief about the script on time travel that I was working on, he asked me to make the film as soon as possible,” he says.
And the rest is history.
Ravi loves fantasy fiction films and wanted to direct one in Tamil. “The concept of time travel is even interesting to talk about. In Hollywood films, the time machine is used sparingly; in the beginning and in the end. But in this film, We used it in many scenes. The machine was integral to the story,” he explains.
Talking about the efforts that went into making the time machine, Ravi said that he made the initial sketches of his vision of a machine.
“We needed something that was not too big as, according to the script, the machine is used in all kinds of spaces. The graphics team then gave their inputs and a 3D model art was created. While shooting, I would instruct the actors to act like they were sitting in a time machine and a lot of light is emanated from it. But in reality, we did that using a bulb,” he says.
The actors, he says, chided him telling that they would look comical once the film was done with all the required effects. But Ravi never doubted himself. “I did what I visualised. It is something new and I was only worried if audiences would understand the topic. I am happy that they did.”
Ravi refuses to divulge details of his next film, whose script he is working on. However, he says it will also be a fantasy fiction film but not a sequel to his debut film. “I have embarked on a path with fantasy fiction ideas in mind. After a few films in this genre, I will move on to something else. But if there are good writers who scripts have unique screenplays, I am always open to helming such films,” he says.
Indru Netru Naalai is being dubbed in Telugu and will be released next month. Talks are on for a Hindi remake, but Ravi is skeptical. “If a film is a hit in one language, it need not become a hit in another. This film was just an attempt and not a big budget film. Even if it is remade in other languages, we have to wait and watch if the viewers will accept it,” he says.
Ravi was appreciated by leading directors and writers in the film industry. He opines that the film industry and the audiences are open to new faces. “Directors called me to appreciate my efforts. I heard that in some theatres, the audience gave me a standing ovation when my name appeared on screen. This shows that people like a film not based on the individual but based on the concept and approach,” he signs off.