Exclusive! Thu Pa Saravanan: I couldn't have pulled off my debut film without Vishal sir's help

Debutant filmmaker Thu Pa Saravanan is quite elated and confident about Veeramae Vaagai Soodum which is hitting the screens today. The Vishal-starrer is the first major Tamil film to be released in theatres post the third wave of COVID-19. The trailer and promo videos of the movie were quite intriguing.
In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, the director opens up on the challenges he faced while directing his debut vehicle, working with a star hero in the first project, other artists in the movie, shooting during the pandemic, OTT plans and more. Excerpts...

It was your short film Edhu Thevaiyo Adhuve Dharmam which helped you bag your debutant feature film Veeramae Vaagai Soodum. How did Vishal come on board and what made him bankroll the project?

I have been working as an assistant director for small films for a while. I have been wanting to do an impressive short film to prove my mettle in the industry. But doing short films has become one of the common things among aspirant filmmakers. That's how I came up with Edhu Thevaiyo Adhuve Dharmam, which I felt had a unique story. 

I approached Vishal sir to release the short film on social media, but I had no idea that he would ask me to come up with a story for him. He said he liked the short film, and hence, wanted to know if I had any interesting story in hand. I went to him after a month's time with a script and he was quite impressed. Vishal sir suggested that the movie could be produced under his own banner; that was more than what I could have asked for.  

From your experiences, how difficult do you think is the journey of a debut director in Kollywood?

To be honest, I was scared to make a film with a bankable for my debut film. I had apprehensions while interacting with a star like Vishal sir. We had planned shooting for a crucial scene on the first day in Hyderabad. I was not sure if I was explaining things properly to the crew. 

But Vishal sir made me quite comfortable which was one of the reasons why I could pull off the movie according to my plan. He never treated me like a debutant and gave better performance than my expectations in every scene. He was so involved with fights and emotional sequences that he would call me up in the middle of the night and discuss scenes with me.   

What do you think impressed Vishal in Veeramae Vaagai Soodum?

It is a commercial potboiler with an intense conflict between a hero and a villain. But the story is devoid of cliche sequences and typical hero characterization. Moreover, the emotional angle in the screenplay goes hand in hand with action sequences. The protagonist isn't a superhero, he is a common man who starts fighting when a few situations demand. How an unanticipated incident brings a middle-class family to a standstill forms the crux of the story.  

Going by the trailer, the film is likely to be an action-oriented flick. What according to you is the film's USP?

It is an emotional family drama loaded with organic action scenes. Vishal's towering screen presence and screenplay will be highlights of the movie. There is an interesting contrast between his portrayal in stunt sequences and emotional scenes. He appears quite powerful in the former, while he will be seen vulnerable and crying like a baby in the latter. 

The three major fight sequences are likely to garner attention from movie goers. A fight set in a liquor shop which has been choreographed by Ravi Varma, an intense stunt near a bridge helmed by Anl Arasu and the climax action sequence will be a treat for fans of the genre. Yuvan Shankar Raja's background score is another backbone to the film.  

Dimple Hayathi plays the female lead in the film. How important is her character in an action-packed movie?

We felt that the story did not require a female lead just for the sake of it. Moreover, there aren't any duet songs or other exaggerated romantic portions in it. We wanted someone new with a girl-next-door appearance. The heroine doesn't come across as someone who goes behind the hero. She has a meaty part to play in the story. It is she who motivates the hero during his tough times. Dimple's character has a crucial role to play in one of the pre climax sequences, which will stand out.  

Marimuthu, Raveen Ravi, Tulasi, Elango Kumaravel, George Maryan...the film seems to feature many character artists in pivotal roles...

All of them are extraordinary actors and I didn't want to offer them below par characters. George Maryan is an actor with unique body language and expressions. Kumaravel has proved his mettle in the past. Marimuthu, though plays a middle-class man as the hero's father, is different from the usual characters he essays. 

And the same goes for Raveena and Tulasi as well who play the hero's sister and mother respectively. Similarly, Yogi Babu, who plays the protagonist's aide, has more to do than being a regular comedian. He travels along with the hero during his tough times. It was good to see him understand the requirements of the character and act accordingly.  

Malayalam actor Baburaj has been chosen to play the antagonist in the film. How did he come on board?

We were looking for someone hefty who would look convincing while fighting with Vishal's character. But we didn't want to rope in someone from Bollywood. The character demanded a Tamil face. Finally, we zeroed in on Baburaj; we felt he was apt for the role.

What was the most challenging part while shooting for the film?

Undoubtedly, it was the pandemic that posed several challenges to us. Vishal sir has been taking extra care in ensuring that the entire crew members work in a safe environment. We had many people and their family members depending on our project. It was quite a gratifying experience to offer them work during the tough times.  

Did you ever think of going the OTT way, especially during the third lockdown?

Not at all. From the beginning, our plan was to release the film in theatres. The content is such that you need to experience it along with other audiences. We were particular about its theatre release even before the project went on floors.