Actor Jiiva Interview: With Aghathiyaa, we are looking to reach out to an audience who liked Pushpa | EXCLUSIVE

Time and again, actor Jiiva has reiterated how important it is for artistes to stay close to reality, even as the weight of stardom can envelope them in a separate bubble. 

Jiiva, says: “Sometimes, it tends to become a lack of exposure and we are put in a box. Whatever films that you have seen so far, they all have come from ground experience. Eg, whatever you have seen in Siva Manasula Sakthi is how I behave with friends, but the sad reality now is that you cannot be yourself. With technology and cameras, everything has to be recorded and becomes staged. Sometimes, we are not aware of ground reality. We are also in an era of complete shift and even to make movies, everything gets predicted so easily. I think going ahead, only sports is the only real thing.”

Also read: Aghathiyaa teaser out: Jiiva and Pa Vijay’s fantasy drama has magnificent visuals with mysterious conflict 

Having said that, the actor, who is expecting the release of his fantasy film Aghathiyaa, also makes sure he spends enough time with youngsters, his teenage son being one, to capture the emotions of today’s times. “I think only when we are making fantasy films that go back in time, we can tell stories. In today’s times, nothing can be staged. Everything is what and how people react naturally.”

Jiiva Interview: Genre based films can be made in lesser budgets

If one traces Jiiva’s filmography, genre-based films like Kattradhu Thamizh, Raam, Black, and 83 have always been part of his career. Even his films like Endrendrum Punnagai and Siva Manasula Sakthi capitalised on the genres of buddy comedies and romance dramas. “I used to watch a lot of Hollywood films a lot, back then. I am the one who did a lot of genre-based here. We cannot go to an Italian restaurant and ask for full meals. Earlier, genre-based films reached only a few sections of the audience. But with OTT booming, that section has increased and a lot of people want to see their kind of films. Back then, women never showed up in theatres alone to watch films, but now a lot of women are coming. We have a lot of multiplexes, and fewer single screens.” When coming to Aghathiyaa, Jiiva calls it a full-meal film and was slated for a Pongal release. “With Aghathiyaa, we are looking to reach out to the audience who liked Pushpa, who like larger-than-life films.”

Also read: Aghathiyaa first look poster: Jiiva and Pa Vijay join hands; Arjun Sarja, Raashii Khanna to co-star

Adding to this, Jiiva also points out that genre-based films can be made on lesser budgets. “Films like Raam, Black, Siva Manasula Sakthi were taken with minimal budgets. But when talking about Kamal sir or Rajini sir’s films, there will be many characters, and more songs. That is a celebration which is needed for festivals,” he adds.

‘Aghathiyaa is a vegetarian film’

When it comes to producing and acting, Jiiva understands what perspectives he has to have towards the scripts. “I hear narrations primarily when it comes to acting, and I prefer narration over script reading at first. But when it comes to producing, I relate to it as a film more than a character. For example, when we got 83, I went to Kabir sir’s office and he narrated the script and my role. If you don’t have the narration, you won’t have the fall and many cannot be lost in the difference between our imagination and what they have in mind,” he adds.

For Aghathiyaa, Jiiva calls it a film that will cater to kids, thanks to its grand visuals and aesthetics. He adds that it is the X factor, while calling it a “PG-13 film” that warrants popcorn on the side. “It is a film that needs joint watching, and a very vegetarian, good-boy film,” Jiiva says.

Looking back, Jiiva recalls the times when he did films like Nanban and Endrendrum Punnagai which were multi-starrers and how he became one of the first few to embrace the trend. “I think as the audience grew larger after a stage, there needed more characters. Black did not want more characters, but in Aghathiyaa, you will have multiple characters. I have said many times that it is always important for more than one actor to take up the responsibility of shouldering films.”

Noting the change in landscape of promotions that are taking place, and the growing paparazzi culture in south tricking from the north, Jiiva says that it does make him uncomfortable and if given an option, would turn up as he is that is required for the day. “We should be cool. We have summer all around the year, and I think we should a lot cooler and adaptive, instead of dressing up for every occasion.”

On his home banner Super Good Films and what’s the slate looking like, Jiiva says that for now they are “bleak. Apart from their already announced Maareesan which is the 98th project of the banner, Jiiva reveals that he will be starring in the 99th project. “It is a pressure, and we are yet to lock the 100th project. You never know someone like Chiranjeevi or a big artiste from Tamil will do. Dad is still deciding on everything. But after the 100th, we will be concentrating more on spreading further and looking at filmmakers from all spheres. We have given advances to Chidambaram, Falimy director Nithish Sahadev and others, but still haven’t fixed the projects. We have also spoken to Lijo Jose Pellissery. I am also concentrating on doing more Tamil films, because I am comfortable. Someone like Raj & DK who can blend in north and south seamlessly.”

Jiiva who is also considering to collaborate with Black director KG Balasubramani with Super Good Films, adds that they are looking to make more Originals for OTT platforms, with two-episode formats.

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