BW: When did Sarvam
come to you?
Arya:
Vishnu wanted to make
Sarvam much before Billa but
it somehow happened only after
Billa. Sarvam came to me around
that time.
How did the story of Sarvam
impress you?
I had an idea of the script
and once I started working in
it, the story unraveled. I liked
and enjoyed every bit of it.
As I have immense faith in Vishnu,
I did not go into the nitty-gritty
details of the film.
|
|
What makes Arya-Vishnu
combo special?
Vishnu
knows me in and out. I
have been working with
him since Arindum Ariyamalum
days. More than the director-actor
relationship, we are friends
first. He knows my strengths
and weaknesses and would
not go too much on my
negative side. He brings
out the best and finer
aspects of me. We get
along like a house on
fire and can relate to
each other very well.
|
"
Vishnu
knows
me
in
and out "
|
|
How do you think Nirav Shah’s
work has helped Sarvam?
Vishnu, Nirav and I are working
together from Arindum days. For
me, as well as Nirav, Arindum
was our first film with Vishnu.
I feel he has also grown hugely
as a cinematographer with every
film. The films that Nirav worked
with Vishnu, be it Arindum or
Pattiyal or Billa or Sarvam, each
one was different and unique and
had its own characteristic feature.
Similarly, his work in Sarvam
is remarkable and is in sync with
the flow of the film.
|
"
Karthik is the
best
role
that
I have played
in
my film career
so
far "
|
Special effects were used
in song sequences in Sarvam.
Was it challenging for
you as an actor?
The
crew associated with this
had a proper plan on hand
and I had a vague idea.
They instructed me on
my movements and knew
what they wanted. So it
was not difficult for
me.
Can you compare Karthik
of Sarvam with Rudran
of Naan Kadavul?
Karthik is the best role
that I have played in
my film career so far.
It had many shades from
romantic to serious to
emotional. There was so
much of variation and
it was very challenging.
Rudran is a ‘once
in a life’ role
and I cannot do it again.
It is like an achievement
for me. One cannot compare
Rudran with any other
role.
|
|
You almost played two different
roles – happy-go-lucky
and serious – in Sarvam.
Which was shot first and did
you prepare for it?
We shot almost 75% of the ‘happy-go-lucky’
character first. Then later, it
was shuttling between this role
and the other. There was no preparation
as such. We developed as we went
along.
After Ullam Ketkume, Sarvam is
where you are shown as cool and
yuppie. Are you the same in real
life too?
The character Karthik that I play
is Sarvam is the real me. During
shoots, Vishnu would always remind
me that it is ME that I am playing
whenever I tried to do something
different. He had written the
script with me in mind. So it
was very natural for me. |
|
How was it working with
child artiste Rohan?
Working
with a child artiste could
be one of the toughest
things for an actor as
well as a director. Kids
are very naughty, genuine
and their expressions
are very naïve and
innocent. This is Rohan’s
first film and one cannot
force things on him. You
have to be extremely patient,
friendly and understandable.
You have to work according
to his style and adapt
to his working. He does
not know the intricacies
of cinema. Whatever he
did was natural and you
have to cope with that.
You learn a lot when you
work with a kid.
|
"
You learn a lot
when
you work
with
a kid "
|
|
The Rottweiler experience?
It
was very difficult and I used
to take shots after every shoot
and see if the dog was ok and
not affected by rabies. It was
very strenuous and there was
a sequence when I fight with
the dog. His master is telling
him to fight and I am having
my hand inside his mouth. He
was a very fearsome dog. At
the end of the day, we all know
that’s how cinema is and
I am happy that somehow it got
over.
Darkness is a major element in
the second half. How was it shot?
The climax was shot in rain and
in water. We were shooting in
November, December and it was
cold in the middle of the forest.
We shot for a week to ten days
continuously. I nearly gave up.
The body could not take the beating
for an extended period of time.
I took almost ten days to recuperate
after that. But I guess these
things are part and parcel of
film making.
|
"
Art and costumes
stand out in
Sarvam
"
|
Do you believe Sarvam
is technically superior
to other films that you
have done to date?
Definitely!
It is far more superior
than my previous films.
Can you elaborate on the
work of art department
in Sarvam?
Two things people are
talking about after watching
Sarvam apart from main
content are costumes and
its art work. Generally,
people don’t discuss
such things. Art and costumes
stand out in Sarvam. The
church created by Manu
Jagadh was phenomenal.
|
|
What do you feel is the USP of
Sarvam?
Its USP is its new thought. It
is not cinematic. These things
can happen to anybody. A small
event can completely change one’s
life. I feel this is its novelty
and USP.
|
|
Arya-Trisha chemistry
has raced Arya-Pooja chemistry.
Your take on this?
I
think it’s more
to do with way the scenes
are shot. The romantic
scenes in Sarvam are cool
and energetic. Trisha
was looking good. Added
to that, the costumes,
the situation and the
cast – I think everything
fell in place. Moreover,
I am very comfortable
with Trisha, as I know
her for more than ten
years but this is the
first time we got to work
together. I think these
factors contributed a
lot to our chemistry on
screen.
|
"
The romantic scenes
in Sarvam are
cool
and energetic "
|
|
|
Rajnikanth was also added along
with superman, spiderman series.
Did this evoke any kind of issue?
No. We are only adding Rajnikanth
to the super hero league. I
cannot say this about Vikram
or Kamal Haasan. In India, I
feel only Rajnikanth can be
compared to a superman. |
|
About the Simbu dialogue…
It
was not said in an insulting
or a derogatory manner
and was in a lighter vein.
Simbu is basically very
sportive and I don’t
think he is going to take
offence on this.
|
"
Simbu
is
basically
sportive
"
|
|
