Suriya: I sincerely want to be part of projects that are more than just entertainers

Ponmagal Vandhal, starring Jyotika in the lead, produced by herself along with Suriya under 2D Entertainment, was the first Tamil film which had a direct-to-OTT release (on Amazon Prime Video) during the first lockdown. Suriya-starrer Soorarai Pottru, which was also bankrolled by their production team, joined the fray after a few months, and went on to become a gamechanger with regard to revolutionizing digital release in Kollywood. 

The actor is now all set for the premiere of his movie Jai Bhim which will drop on the streaming platform on November 2. In a chat with us, he opens up about the movie which is based on a real incident, playing a real life character, the decision to release the film on an OTT platform, the reason why he admires Irrfan Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana, and the change in criteria with which he has been picking up films...  

Unlike your previous outings, this project isn't catered to movie lovers who belong to a specific region, thanks to the possibilities of OTT platforms. How do you look at it?

Every film is a new, unpredictable journey. With regard to Jai Bhim, we knew from the beginning that we are coming up with something which will attract the audience irrespective of language and regional barriers. I have known the film's director Gnanavel for quite sometime. I was surprised when he came up with this hard-hitting story based on a real incident which took place in 1995. It's about our system, it's about what's happening around us. Everyone will be able to connect with what we have tried to convey trough this film.  

Of late, many actors seem to be displaying social responsibility with the choice of their films. Do you think many actors are forced to follow the trend?

As far as this movie is concerned, we wanted to celebrate an unsung hero. I think that could be the intention of other artists, too. Our story deals with a tribal woman who fights for her basic rights. How one person can bring in a sea of change is what we have told in the movie. I believe that we can really initiate a lot of positive changes and create awareness in society through well-intentioned films. 

Is this one of those films which suggests a slew of things to revamp our political system?

Not really. We aren't coming up with any suggestions. We have laws and the media playing fantastic role to serve that purpose. This is all about an incident which a determined lawyer Chandru (retired Madras High Court Judge now) took up in the 90s in order to ensure justice for the underprivileged. His story is sure to inspire a lot of people. It will help us know a lot about our judiciary and its functioning. I'm glad to say that the movie has also stressed the need for judiciary and police department to go hand-in-hand to ensure a better living for citizens.  

You have played a lawyer for the first time. What were the preparations like to put yourself in the character's shoes?

Since I played a real life character, I didn't have to look for references else where. It was wonderful to know and spend time with Chandru sir. He used to come up with interesting stories during every interaction of ours. He visited the shooting spot and it was a wonderful experience to perform in front of him. He was all praise for the set we created; we were really elated receiving appreciation from him. He knows what the film is all about and the sequences and dialogues in it. But I'm still waiting for him to watch the whole movie.  

You are a big star who command good market across all south languages. How do you approach such issue based scripts despite the star baggage you are carrying?

Well, I'm a common man. It's just that acting is my profession. I meet and interact with a lot of people who belongs to different walks of life. I think it's the feeling of equality in mind which made me take up this role. When you come across people who are deprived of fundamental rights, like a basic ration card or a voter ID or electricity, you feel the urge to be the change you wish to see. I felt that asking complicated questions about the sufferings of the have-nots through a movie which will lead to solutions and debates is a good idea. The film deals with pertinent questions on why they have been ignored all these years, how they became invisible and why we weren't concerned about their lives.  

While attempting a sensitive issue like this, did you by any chance have a concern over the movie becoming preachy in its narration?

The director was a journalist who used to write a lot of cover stories about sensitive issues for popular magazines. I knew that he is aware of what to do and what not to do. I believe the dialogues are on point and we have asked the right questions.  

Don't you think a theatrical release for Jai Bhim would have done wonders considering the fact that it addresses a few relevant issues?

Times have changed; in fact, situations, too. We have examples of audience giving wonderful response to films which were released directly on OTT platforms. Jai Bhim went on floors 10 days before the first lockdown. By the time we were about to commence the third schedule, the second wave started hitting our lives. I personally got affected; I was hospitalized for five days. We were not sure about the potential of a theatrical release. Moreover, it was already a two-and-a-half year old movie. Also, the massive reach of Soorarai Pottru was an eye-opening factor for us; it touched new territories. We received overwhelming response from across the globe like never before. It is true that theatrical release has its own magic. But with Amazon Prime Video, we are hopeful of reaching to as many viewers as possible. 

What were the challenges you had while playing a lawyer that, too, a character based on a real life person?

Though I have had a lot of interactions with Chandru sir, I got to learn a lot about him through books. I collected several inputs from his wife as well. Talking about challenges, I think I had to come up with a different body language in the film. Since it is a courtroom drama, I couldn't use my hands freely like I used to in other movies. It wasn't my comfort zone, but we believed in the script. I think we have done justice with regard to portraying the proceedings in a High Court in a realistic manner. 

With the OTT boom, the number of audience who consume your content has increased. Has that realization changed the criteria with which your choose films?

The other day, I was watching Irrfan Khan sir's interview and I loved what he said. He mentioned that he likes to deep dive into any genre he attempts. I have been trying to follow that. I ask questions myself and try to get answer when I take up a character. I'm glad that the filmmakers these days who come to me with stories are also ensuring that they have answers for my questions. I sincerely want to be part of projects that are more than just entertainers. I like the way how Irrfan Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana dabbled with different genres. I can say with pride that Jai Bhim will have lot of takeaways .

Do you really hope that films like Jai Bhim will initiate some kind of changes in our society?

Many in our country truly believe that law is their only hope. People go to police station when they are denied rights, but if their complaint isn't settled there, they enter the legal system. I read somewhere that in 200 years of British rule, we had only around 400 laws, but within 40 years after we won independence, around 4,000 laws were introduced. However, the point is, we should know how to use our laws and get justice. It should be equal for everyone. I know many lawyers who don't take a penny for human rights cases. There is still hope left.