Director Arun Chidambaram’s Tamil film Kanavu Vaariyam has been in the spotlight for a number of reasons. First, the film, which will hit screens soon, won a Platinum Remi award at the WorldFest-Houston and then, there was news that a song from the film won a Silver Remi.
Talking to City Express, Arun says, “My film, based on the power cut situation in TN, won the Platinum Remi award for being the Best Theatrical feature film. It also has a song, Kalla Manna, which chronicles 51 traditional games of rural India. This song won the Best Children’s song award.”
Giving more details about the film, Arun says, “It is not only about power cuts, but also about chasing one’s dreams. It will inspire the dreamer in you. Although it has won a number of awards, it is a proper commercial entertainer that has been made for Tamil audiences.” Arun, who directed the film, also plays the lead in it. “My film is not based on a true-life story. A newcomer from Mumbai named Jiya plays the heroine. Apart from us, the film also features a number of characters including Ilavarasan, Black Pandi and Professor Gnanasambandan,” says the director-actor, adding that this is his first movie.
“Kanavu Vaariyam is my debut film,” he smiles. But if that’s the case, how did he learn to make a film, and that too, one that’s winning awards at the international level? “I learnt cinema by watching cinema. In fact, the directors of all the films I have watched are my gurus,” says Arun.