If you think GV Prakash’s upcoming film Bruce Lee, directed by debutant filmmaker Prashanth Pandiraj, is about martial arts, you’re mistaken. Prashanth, an associate of Pandiraj of Pasanga (2009) fame, tells City Express that he saw Prakash’s maiden acting venture Darling (2015) and thought he should write him a comedy. It was initially called Baasha Engira Antony.
“I was apprehensive; when I approached him, I didn’t know if he would like the story/script. But he liked it so much. Eventually, we became good friends. We had a great time on the sets. That must have reflected a lot in the movie. If you saw how we made this film, you’ll understand what I am talking about.”
Speaking about the title, the filmmaker talks about the characters’ attributes as the main reasons. “The real Bruce Lee was a great man, who was also bold. But here, the hero is a coward, and the heroine is brave. Bruce Lee will have humour, but with a difference. Don’t expect a heavy story, as my aim was to entertain the audience. I am sure this film will establish me as a capable director,” he says.
Prashanth’s entry to filmdom was through short films. One of his entries was selected on a popular TV channel. “There has been no looking back since. I am indebted to Pandiraj for teaching me a lot about filmmaking techniques,” he says.
The story is about how the hero lands in trouble for no fault of his, and faces the challenges thrown at him. “The whole story has been laced with light-hearted moments and in fact, there are no action scenes. Prakash has a natural flair for comedy, and the film has come out well,” he smiles.
What more can he reveal about the film? “This will be on the lines of Soodhu Kavvum (2013), appealing to the younger lot and we have shown Prakash in a different dimension altogether. Simply put, it’s a Hollywood-type villain-story,” he laughs.
Prashanath belongs to Tiruchy and is an ardent fan of actor Vijay. “So, the character I created on screen likes him. Personally, Prakash also admires Vijay.”
Having shot in and around Tiurchy, the film has Kriti Kharbanda, Rajendran, Bala Saravanan, Mansoor Ali Khan and Anandaraj, among others in pivotal roles. Meanwhile, we hear that the story has a villain, who’s shown like someone who hasn’t watched a Tamil film at all on screen.