Interviewer & Text: Daya
Debutant director Ahmad is waiting for his film Vaamanan to release and he is brimming with energy. Having directed over 80 short films for Singapore television, this talented young director now takes his dreams to the big screen. His crew is a coup of sorts with Arvind Krishna in charge of the camera and the hot and happening Yuvan Shankar Raja at the helm of affairs for the music department. The duo has been Ahmad’s friends for over a decade and this team is all set to rock screens soon.


BW:
How did you enter films?

Ahmed: I completed my Visual Communication from Loyola College, Chennai and I have always wanted to become a film-maker which has been my dream and passion. Right from my childhood, I have been dreaming of this and now I have the opportunity.

Did you take any formal training to enter the industry?

After completing my Visual Communication, I joined Director Kadir and was with him as a trainee working for one of his films. Later I went to Singapore where I had the opportunity to become a producer for television shows and many music videos, promotions for corporates and so on. I have completed more than 80 short films and this helped me understand the basics of cinema.

You have worked with Yuvan Shankar Raja. Tell us about the experience.

I have worked with Ilayaraja, Yuvan Shankar and Karthik Raja and have collaborated with them for a Singapore Government project. We had taken all of them to Singapore and they composed about forty odd numbers and gave the local Singaporeans an opportunity to participate by singing. I shot those music videos in seven to eight countries.

Can you name some of them?

Well, it was not one video that had a name. The program was called Nenjinile and featured these forty videos.

Can you tell us about the short films?

These were for Singapore television and my favorite was Kadan which was appreciated. This was the story of a construction worker and what he undergoes during recession and it was quite a sensitive one.

What were the other kinds of films you made, were they entertainment based or social subjects?

I would not call it a social theme because I am a fictional director. I have done a lot of short films which were entertaining and message driven at the same time. Whatever I have done was for a commercial mainstream television so it’s a mix of entertainment and a bit of message here and there.

What is the storyline of Vaamanan?

Vaamanan is about a guy who wants to be a hero in films but due to circumstances becomes a real life hero. That’s the crux and plot of the story.


Why did you pick Jai for the role?

Jai has the boy-next-door looks. He does not have an image as an action hero and I wanted someone like that. He is young and I liked his face. Jai is very ordinary yet he had the skill of acting. He is very down-to-earth and natural, something I liked in him in Chennai 28.

" Jai is

very ordinary "


How do you find him as an actor?

I think it was fun to work with him. I never expected him to be so down-to-earth and we instantly clicked. He was more of an assistant director to me. Our chemistry was good. I did not have to explain beyond a point; it was smooth-sailing.

He has told the media that only your film would work?

To start with, I don’t think he has said that. This was some misinterpretation by the press. I guess nobody would want his other films to flop because everybody is spending so much of money to produce films especially in these hard days. Nobody would want their own films to flop. I don’t think Jai has told anything of that sort.

" Lakshmi Rai is a

very glamorous

yet sensitive girl "


What about working with Lakshmi Rai. What was her role?

Lakshmi Rai plays a supermodel in this film. She comes from Mumbai. Apart from modeling, she is into dance. Lakshmi Rai is a very glamorous yet sensitive girl and she’s played her role brilliantly. The entire storyline revolves around her.


What about Priya Anand? Why did you choose her?

Priya is the love interest of Jai and the reason why I chose her was that she fitted the role like a glove. Priya’s body structure is a good match for Jai.

What kind of genre does Vaamanan fall into?

It’s an out-and-out action thriller with a little bit of romance.

" Priya’s

body structure

is a good match

for Jai "


You have worked with Yuvan Shankar Raja earlier. How different was it working for this film?

I don’t know how different the music is going to be. However as I know Yuvan for more than a decade, we share an extremely good working relationship. This really reflects in the output. The songs have come out really well and are topping the charts. They are fresh and melody-oriented.


How did you feel working with Arvind Krishna?

Arvind is a very good friend of mine and I have known him for a long time. I have worked with him earlier which gave us an extra edge. He has brought in more style and slickness. He understood exactly what I was looking for and this shows in the way he has framed the film. He has done a wonderful job in trying to create the magic and the visual design I wanted.

" He has brought in

more style and

slickness "


Can you share your experience working with Director Kadir?

" We used to

lie and escape "


Director Kadir is an extremely energetic and task-oriented perfectionist. He is all the time into movies. After college, my friend Srinath of Muthirai fame and I joined him. At that point, we were not so focused and were very playful. There were many instances where we used to lie and escape. We were not very serious about our work. When I was there I used to think that he worked like he was possessed, but now when I am in his shoes, I realize that this kind of dedication is required to give a good film.


What is the difference between the Singapore audience and Indian audience?

The Singapore audience and Indian audience are pretty much the same. In Singapore, there’s a lot of exposure to international cinema and here our culture is so strongly deep rooted.

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