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Interviewer:
Inian, Jyothsna | Camera: P.Ganesh Babu
| Text: Jyothsna |
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Arun
Vaidyanathan, the NRI director of
Achchamundu Achchamundu is highly
animated about films and as he was
getting ready for the release of his
debut work, Jyothsna Bhavanishankar
and Inian met him wherein he spoke
at length about his film, Hollywood,
Prasanna, Sneha and many more. Now,
over to Arun Vaidyanathan |
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BW: What do you like
in behindwoods.com?
Arun
Vaidyanathan : I am
a regular visitor of behindwoods.com.
One cannot find the pictures
that are uploaded in your site
in any other site. That’s
how I got hooked on to your
site and I am impressed by it.
I am a regular visitor. I like
your reviews and find them apt
in most occasions as they are
very daring. I am not saying
this because I have made a film.
I like your updates too. Every
morning, first thing I do, is
to read your website. I like
your columns, super slide shows
etc. It really makes me happy
that someone is following the
industry so closely. It is one
of my favorite websites.
A brief introduction about yourself
I was born and raised in Sirkazhi
and did my schooling and under-graduation
there. Right from my childhood
I was interested in music, dance
and other such activities. In
Sirkazhi, there were no malls
or theme parks and the only
source of entertainment was
the four theatres where I used
to watch films regularly. I
was good in writing and have
written for many magazines too.
My mimicry skills during the
college days fetched me a job
in a television channel after
my graduation. After I started
working there, my desire to
pursue a course in film making
strengthened further. I graduated
in Physics and wanted to do
D.F.Tech but my parents felt
I could go for such a course
later on. Meanwhile I got admitted
to M.C.A. During the interim
period between B.Sc and M.C.A,
when I was working for the channel,
I was in a dilemma whether to
pursue higher education in the
designated field or to do a
course in film making. Finally
I took up M.C.A, completed it
and got a job in Polaris. Subsequently
I went to USA and got myself
all the details about New York
Film Academy and enrolled there
for a three month course. The
main objective to join this
course is to acquaint myself
with aspiring film makers of
the world. I also met many of
them. The best thing about New
York Film Academy is that they
allow us to make short films.
I have made around eight short
films. Then I started writing
film scripts and I am here right
now.
How was Achchamundu Achchamundu
conceived?
Not only Achchamundu Achchamundu,
but all films are conceived
taking inspirations from the
real life and the happenings
around us. The root of Achchamundu
Achchamundu is from such an
event in our society. Although
I have shot the film in USA,
the problems that I have addressed
are global. When I say it is
a global issue, please don’t
jump to conclusion that it is
on terrorism. I have taken a
small nucleus family as my central
theme and have woven a story
around them. Initially I toyed
with the idea of writing this
film for American audience but
decided on an NRI family later.
Achchamundu Achchamundu will
break all the myths about the
image that Indians have on NRIs.
It will be close to realism.
All along, Tamil films have
portrayed Indians living in
America as someone with an attitude.
But it is not so. I have been
living in the US for eight years
and I have many friends who
watch Tamil films, play cricket
and do many things that a normal
Tamilian will do here. So Achchamundu
Achchamundu is about one such
Tamilian Senthil Kumar.
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What is the USP of Achchamundu
Achchamundu?
There is always a yardstick
in our life. If we say
cars, we look to Japan;
for mobile phones, it
is China and so on. Similarly
when we say films, we
look up to Hollywood.
Though Iran, Korea and
other countries are also
giving good films, Hollywood
has set a benchmark especially
in techniques of film
making. Achchamundu Achchamundu
is filmed there. I completely
agree that just because
a movie is filmed in America
does not credit |
"I
can guarantee for
Achchamundu
Achchamundu"
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itself
to be the best. However the
crux is, I have used the techniques
there to convey my content.
Technicians from both Hollywood
and India have worked in this
film. Karthik Raja has scored
music, Kunal Raj from America
is responsible for sound effects,
and Marty Humphrey has worked
with us. Besides these, you
can see and enjoy a film with
good story and screen play.
I can guarantee for Achchamundu
Achchamundu and can confidently
say that you can come and watch
this film.
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"
Live sound is
possible here also"
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Why Prasanna and Sneha?
Generally in our films,
we shoot the scenes and
later complete the dubbing.
Somehow I am not for this
method. Today, in many
countries live sound is
the standard norm but
it is not practiced here
owing to various reasons.
However it is only from
this place, a Resul Pookutty
won an Oscar using live
sounds. So, live sound
is possible here also.
Therefore I wanted someone
who can speak good Tamil.
Although Sneha was born
in Mumbai, raised in Dubai
and is a Telugu girl,
she speaks Tamil
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very
well. Next, my film has no heroism
in it and I did not want someone
who would ask me to change the
script for image sake. I also
wanted my film’s realism
to reach the audience. Sneha and
Prasanna fitted all these parameters
perfectly. Secondly anyone can
relate to the characters of Senthil
Kumar and Malini and I felt Prasanna
and Sneha would do justice to
the characters. |
Experience working with
Prasanna and Sneha
If you ask them, they
would say Arun is a task
master. Jokes apart, both
of them are fun loving
and extremely dedicated.
Shooting in America is
a bit different and difficult
as it is a 12 hour shift
there and not an eight
hour shift like here.
Secondly shooting with
live sound is not very
easy. As I am a Tamil
fanatic, I expected Tamil
words to be spoken perfectly
and they also cooperated
very well. In America
the usual procedure is
to have rehearsals unmindful
of one’s experience.
Sneha was much
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"
I am a Tamil fanatic
and expect Tamil
words to be spoken
perfectly. "
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willing
to rehearse although she is
an experienced artist. Prasanna
is very natural and both of
them have given in their best.
Most of all, as an artist, they
were excited by my script which
was what I needed. When someone
works only for money, there
will not be involvement but
Prasanna and Sneha were not
like that. They were extremely
supportive and happy to work
in my script. In fact, Sneha
called me an hour after she
saw the script and gave her
assent.
Did
you try any other artist?
I did try a few artists and
all of them liked my script.
But the problem is there are
only a handful of Tamil speaking
artists. More over I wanted
bulk dates which was not possible
with some of them. As they say
in Hollywood, when the casting
is done, half the job is done.
A good script brings good artists,
producers and everyone together.
And I am happy that I zeroed
in on Prasanna and Sneha. There
was a time when shooting got
stalled for a while and people
suggested that I replace Prasanna
and Sneha. I was not for it
and they have justified my faith
in them. The entire experience
was very good for all of us.
About
John Shea?
Usually, in our films, when
we need a foreigner, we would
just cast a white skinned artist
and go about shooting. However
I did not want that, as the
role that John Shea plays in
the film is very prominent and
features throughout the film.
As regards Hollywood, casting
directors are very central to
a film and the script will have
to be liked by them. When I
handed over my script to the
casting director, I also gave
my wish list for the role of
Robertson and they in turn gave
a list with ten names. We short-listed
a few and handed over the script
and all of them liked it. John
Shea was last in the list and
I met him finally in New York.
He was very enthusiastic about
the story and had many suggestions
to play the role. Whenever I
see excitement in an artist,
I am thoroughly convinced. This
passion cannot be faked. Further
on, he started talking about
India, Tamil Nadu, Bollywood
and our film industry. John
Shea is a renowned artist and
when he was excited about my
script, it boosted my confidence.
Although he does not have much
to speak in the film, his actions
would be fearsome. I had visualized
his role and he has done a wonderful
job. I hope Tamil audience also
would like him.
On
filming with Red One camera
I have spoken a lot about this.
At this juncture, I would like
to say that a student is assessed
by a teacher for what he is
written rather than with what
he has written. His writing
tool could be a Parker pen or
a Reynolds pen. Similarly whether
I shoot my film with red one
camera or any other apparatus,
it does not matter to the audience
as content is the key word here.
Live sound and red one camera
are advantageous for technicians.
Red one camera is a high definition
camera and is just an enhancing
factor. In a usual cinema, we
shoot in a film roll, change
into high definition, do the
color correction and then change
it back into film roll again
and then screen. Whereas in
red one, you shoot in high definition,
do the color correction in high
definition and then release
it. There is no need to expose
in the film roll. You can completely
shoot in hard drive and can
edit the film then and there.
These are the some of the advantages
of red one. Of course there
were some disadvantages which
are corrected and it has become
very stable now. I am glad to
have chosen red one because
the colors are vibrant always.
It was very useful in dark moods.
As the camera is very small
in size, I was able to shoot
in small enclosed spaces like
a rest room or a lift. The smaller
the camera size, greater are
the options to shoot in various
places. These things like the
camera or the sound matter only
to those who are very deeply
in love with films perhaps like
Viscom students or film technicians.
For general audience it is the
content which is significant.
When I saw Achchamundu Achchamundu
at Shanghai or in Chennai, people
were moved only by the story
than anything else.
What
are the firsts of Achchamundu
Achchamundu?
It is Arun Vaidyanathan’s
first film. Apart from Red One
camera and live sound, carnatic
musician Sowmya has sung a song
for the first time for a film.
Hollywood and Indian technicians
have worked in the film. For
the first time we have done
color correction in USA and
for the first time, a Tamil
film has been entirely shot
in the US. Usually, films will
show either the aristocratic
New York or San Francisco, but
for the first time, we have
shown the suburbs of New Jersey.
We have shown that there exists
a different world within the
US. And we are doing many digital
releases.
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Karthik Raja’s music
Music and sound effects
play a crucial role in
a thriller film as it
enhances the mood. Hence
it was a challenging assignment
for Karthik Raja who has
done a remarkable job.
I had also given him enough
freedom. I just told him
to do whatever he likes
and if I also like the
same, it would be retained
otherwise he can give
me something else. We
never had any major arguments.
I wanted to formulate
a theme music which he
did and I think it has
come out fabulously. As
a director I am very happy
with Karthik Raja’s
music and wherever the
film was screened be it
in the US or in China,
it has received good response.
I am sure Achchamundu
Achchamundu will be a
comeback vehicle for Karthik
Raja.
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"
We never had
any major
arguments"
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About Achchamundu Achchamundu’s
awards?
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"
If someone is
reading
behindwoods.com, I
am very confident that
they are more
knowledgeable"
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Here
people are terrified when
they hear the word ‘award’
and treat it like an untouchable
phrase. In the 80s, in
Doordarshan, award films
will be telecast on Sunday
afternoons which were
extremely slow moving
and depressing. Hence
this kind of an image
is set in the minds of
viewer that award films
are slow and melodramatic.
But when we step out,
we realize the diversity
of films that receive
awards. In my opinion,
audiences are more educated.
If someone is reading
behindwoods.com, I am
very confident that they
are more knowledgeable
than the so called business
people. When a person
is educated enough to
browse the net and read
behindwoods.com, he would
also know what is happening
around the world in film
circuit and what awards
mean. In the Shanghai
festival, Achchamundu
Achchamundu poster stood
along with a Will Smith’s
film on one side, Revolutionary
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Road on one side and Danny Boyle’s
film on the other sides. How
do we get such an opportunity
if we don’t partake in
such festivals? It is not a
bad thing after all. We got
Homegrown award for the best
feature film in the 7th Garden
State Film Festival. Then we
got selected to screen our film
in Shanghai International Film
Festival which by itself was
a great feat. I got to meet
distinguished film personalities
like Danny Boyle, Quincy Jones
etc. Watching the film with
Chinese audience was a revelation.
My conviction that a film transcends
language, country and other
barriers was reiterated in China.
Cinema is a visual medium. When
we hunt for an Iranian film
or a Korean film and watch it,
our Tamil films also should
reach that stage. This is my
dream. I think Achchamundu Achchamundu
is my first honest step towards
that dream. In the US, an elderly
couple came to me, held my hands
and appreciated my work. Skip
City Cinema film festival has
given me a certificate for good
film. These awards definitely
motivate a film maker. Mostly
producers and directors are
keen to achieve profits. There
is nothing wrong in it. However
these awards encourage the creative
minds immensely. As regards
Achchamundu Achchamundu, my
producers were also excited.
Hats off to them for having
trusted me and my script! I
am sure Achchamundu Achchamundu
will win more awards.
Why was the release delayed?
It was not delayed. I wanted
my film to go to all the film
festivals before it is released
as I view this as a kind of
marketing technique. In case
Achchamundu Achchamundu was
released in March, people would
have watched it and forgotten.
The film’s entry into
festival circuit may not have
had the desired impact on the
audience. I wanted to promote
the film well before its release.
That’s the main reason.
In
what other languages Achchamundu
Achchamundu will be released?
As of now, we will be releasing
in Telugu as Bhayam after a
couple of weeks of Tamil release.
Then I have plans to take the
film to other languages. The
reasons are pretty simple. The
content of my film can be related
by anyone beyond countries and
languages. For instance, an
old man walking along a road
meets with an accident. The
feeling of sympathy towards
him will be universal whether
he is an Iranian old man or
an Indian old man. The same
thing holds good for Achchamundu
Achchamundu. Feelings and emotions
are the same all over the world.
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Future projects?
I have just completed
one. As Mysskin said,
release of one film is
equal to that of the pain
felt during six deliveries.
This is my first delivery
and let me get over it
slowly. I also have scripts
and I am clear on what
kind of films I will do.
I should also get supportive
producers to translate
my dreams. As of now,
I am eating, drinking
and breathing Achchamundu
Achchamundu. Let the film
get released and let me
wait for the response
from our audience. At
the end of the day, recognition
from my folks is more
important than anything
else. I want my film to
reach my Tamil audience
as they welcome new attempts
with open hands. I am
eagerly awaiting their
response.
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"
I want my film to
reach my Tamil
audience. "
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About
producers
Producers play a crucial role
in the making of any film and
especially to fund a film like
Achchamundu Achchamundu, one
needs immense courage which
was ample in Anand Govind, Asma
Hashmi, Srinivasan and Ramzan
Lakhani. My heartfelt thanks
to them! There could be many
things in the script, but to
translate that into a visual
medium, we need finance and
efforts of many people. Fortunately,
I had four such understanding
producers who were extremely
supportive of my endeavor. An
interesting aspect here is Asma
Hashmi and Ramzan Lakhani do
not understand Tamil. Anand
Govind is a huge Tamil film
buff. Srinivasan has worked
with Kamal sir in many of his
ventures. At this juncture,
I would also like to point out
that there is not much of recognition
for producers here. After all
they are the actual film makers.
Another important thing is that
though a film is produced well,
it needs to be released. Ananda
Pictures Suresh sir is releasing
our film as he liked it. My
thanks are due to him also. |
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