“I’m sti ll looking for my heroine!”

“I’m sti ll looking for my heroine!”

Known for his amazing films and his keen eye to spot talent, director AL Vijay talks to Pavithra Srinivasan about Thandavam and why his linkup with actress Amala Paul is ‘just a rumour’

Talking to director AL Vijay is like trying to catch a whirlwind in a bottle: he’s in Chennai one moment, flying out to Delhi in another, and in the middle of a dubbing session in the third. Cacophony might reign where he is – but it’s obvious that, like any good artiste, he’s in his element. And he has reason to be happy: his Deiva Thirumagal has won acclaim, and set him on the path to another blockbuster-in-the-making: a movie with his namesake, Ilaya Thalapathi Vijay himself. “Yes, it’s a dream-come-true. I’ll be starting work on that next year,” he confirms, “Right after my current project, of course.” Which happens to be Thandavam, where he teams up with a star-cast composed of favourites: Vikram, Anushka Shetty and Amy Jackson. “It’s an action thriller, something I haven’t attempted before. You see, I never repeat genres if I can help it.” Well, what about Kireedam, his first film, a remake of the Malayalam classic Kreedam, then? The film starring Ajith was well spoken-of. “Kireedam had lots of elements to it,” he explains. “I wouldn’t quite class Thandavam with it. And no, I won’t be making a historical any time soon, either,” he grins. A pity because Madarasapattinam, a period film that had an Indian-English romance set in 1947, won a great deal of appreciation for its painstaking research and authenticity. “We had to put in months and months of work to get that right, so, I don’t know, 5 or 6 years later maybe? Or even ten?” he laughs, “We’ll see.” Talk of historical, and the conversation moves straight away to his heroines. His movies have always boasted of strong female leads, like Amy Jackson, the 17-year-old Miss Teen World winner who arrived with a bang in Tamil cinema. Or the glamorous Anushka who performed admirably as a dignified lawyer. Let’s not forget, the beautiful Amala Paul who was a school correspondent in Deiva Thirumagal? Was there any truth to the claims of love blooming between him and the pretty actress? I prod gently and ask. “Well, thanks for calling it right, a rumour. You’re the only one to. Everyone else just assumed we were seeing each other,” he laughs uproariously. The basis for these stories is the fact that she attended Vijay’s parents’ wedding anniversary celebrations. “She’s a great friend, and nothing more,” he clarifies. He is, understandably, proud of Amy’s accomplishments as well; she’s busy with Gautam Menon’s film now, not to mention his own. 44 January 2012 | Southscope “What I liked best about her was that she might have been only 17, but she displayed the maturity of a 30-year-old,” he enthuses. Time for some grilling: what does he have to say about the numerous accusations of being ‘inspired’ by Hollywood films? Madharasapattinam had distinct shades of Titanic, while Deiva Thirumagal has come under fire for taking its theme from I am Sam. “We are all inspired by what we see, the stories we hear,” he says carefully, after a pause. “Yes, the father-daughter relationship did come from I am Sam, but the rest, like the second half of the movie, was my own inspiration. It’s my version and I think that’s fine.” What with all the romantic liaisons and movies making a mark, aren’t his family eager to get him married off? “Maybe a year, or a yearand- a-half? Frankly, marriage is the last thing on my mind – there’s so much going on. Mine is not a 9–5 job, and the last thing I want to do is put pressure on anyone else to adapt to my lifestyle. I mean, why should I ruin her life, you know?” he laughs. “I guess I’m still looking for my heroine!”

A Ladies ’ Man

Director AL Vijay talks about his leading ladies...

Trisha Krishnan (in Kireedam): I’ve known her for a really long time – from the film Lesa Lesa, which was her introduction to Tamil cinema. We’re great friends; she’s a thorough professional and performs very well.

Piaa Bajpai (Poi Solla Porom): ‘Dedicated’ is the word I’d use to describe her. She fit the role I had in mind perfectly.”

Amy Jackson (Madharasapattinam): We were looking for the perfect blend of a foreigner with an Indian touch, and Amy was exactly what we’d picturised. She had won the Miss Teen World contest in UK, and her role in the film is a very powerful one. She was just 17 when we found her but her performance, considering that she didn’t know the language or anything here, was great.

Anushka Shetty (Deiva Thirumagal): What a fantastic personality she has. Such presence too. She filled the role of a lawyer so well.

Amala Paul (Deiva Thirumagal): Again, I’ve known Amala for years. She’s a complete professional, and I was really impressed by her work in Myna. The first thing that struck me was just how much she’s improved over time. She’d be like a child, playing around with Sara, when we shot Deiva Thirumagal – and when the camera switched on, she’d turn serious. It was really marvelous.

Sara (Deiva Thirumagal): She’s an angel (laughs). What else can I say? She’s someone I’ve known for a long time as well, right from the time I worked in ads. She made her debut with me, in fact. So I’m very happy for her success.