Part 69: Sethu; An unforgettable part of my life!

If 1987 remained as unforgettable in my life, same way 1999 remains unforgettable.

In 1987, I met my best friend Mala for the first time at the hospital after that accident and in 1999; I got my first hit film on December tenth after a continuous struggle of ten years.

Almost exactly 10years after the debut film. It was the time when I had almost decided to turn back to the film industry. Almost everything was ready. I had to set his mind to settle in a job of multimedia along with my friend in US or deciding to fly to Australia when his uncle called to join him in ample business.

I cannot forget 'Sethu' ever. For an artist the things like name, money, praise don’t matter should laugh at the jokes which he made on screen. They should cry for the scene on which he struggled a lot, should clap should enjoy the film till the last frame nothing can a great pleasure than the above for an artist.

In my life it happened for the first time in “Sethu” till that moment I was feeling if my film reaches 20 days it’s a big personal achievement for me. But till that moment none of my films were able to reach or run more than 20 days. Sethu also did not become a sudden hit but later it was a great hit. It brought out my capabilities to the limelight.

It was Bala who brought out the artiste in me. He is the person who has changed my prospective about cinema. I am very jolly kind of person who talks a lot and laughs a lot and makes fun. Even today I have not changed. I am still the same.

My main weakness is eating. Naa periya sappatu rama( I am an obsessed foodie). After having two full carriers meals still I look out for biscuits. Normally I eat up to twenty chapattis but I am completely dedicated when it comes to profession. If I committed myself to something I never step back. I won’t compromise. If you try to point out any loophole in my commitment you cannot even find out a single one. That’s me and I think this is my plus point.

It was the film where I gave my heart and soul. I fell in love with that character. It was so beautiful. Even if the film had not done what it did for me, I would have felt very close to it. It put me on the right path.

Director Bala brought the actor in me. Because of him I started experimenting with different characters. I started doing roles I loved acting. This is why I attach “Chiyaan” to my name

The movie itself was an experience. I remember how all of us rushed with the props to shoot a sunset. Then we had this old man from the 'Agraharam' who was picked up. Remember the scene where everyone runs around searching for the meaning of 'Chiyaan'. There was this shot that required this old man to tell. 'Ah…Chiyaan'. The camera, the lighting everything was ready and all of us waited for the man to tell his line. Suddenly he got up and walked away informing us that it was his lunchtime and his wife would be furious if he was late. Then he finished his meal, came back as though nothing had happened and said he was ready for the shot. You should have seen the faces of the director and the unit! It was so amusing.

‘Engey sellum intha paathai !’.It’s an excellent song and even the last song ‘Varte tavarivittal’.

But it’s not shot at original place. We cannot shoot at original place, you know. Disturbance for both. Them and for us. So we used to call beggars, gardeners and few others who look okay to act as and shaved their head. I too joined hand in shaving few of their heads. Someone else shaved my head. All of them were so involved and so interested in doing movie.

And hey! Did you notice a guy in the song ‘Enge sollum’ who keeps on lighting a beedi and look at a zero point. He is none other my assistant Kalai! In that scene he will be smoking a beedi. Though it was for five shots they used to clap for his performance.

That’s why I told cut and said, ‘You should not act hereafter, specially in my films. Haha. After acting with me if he gets credit fame it’s wrong, you see.

So I told, ‘Idu romba over acting (this is overacting). If you still want to act just turn your face aside and act.’

I was amply rewarded for my efforts in Sethu. The press paid rich tributes. ‘Sethu’ was called the ‘movie of the century.’ That’s enough for me!

My wife and father used to tell me, 'don't walk like that, don't look like that. Sethu used to be so irritable and look in a particular way. Even after shooting, I used to be like him, I just couldn't get over him. Even now, I cannot forget Sethu. It has become a part of mine.

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