Bazooka’s Gautham Vasudev Menon: My aim as a filmmaker has only been to…

Tamil filmmaker and occasional actor Gautham Vasudev Menon has been all over the Kerala media since the beginning of the year – first as the director of Malayalam superstar Mammootty’s latest home production Dominic and the Ladies Purse and then, as an actor in the Vishu release Bazooka. Gautham will be seen as ACP Benjamin Joshua in the film directed by debutant Deeno Dennis.

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The filmmaker, who debuted with Minnale and has films like Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, Khaka Khaka, Vaaranam Aayiram and Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, among many others, to his credit as director, has had cameos or more prominent roles in most of his directorials. But in the last 6-7 years, he’s also been doing exclusively acting gigs, like in Sita Ramam, Michael, Leo, Hitler, etc.

Gautham Vasudev Menon about building his brand

This week he has a major acting assignment in one of the big Vishu releases, Bazooka, during the promotions of which, Gautham spoke about his trajectory as a filmmaker and the objective behind it. Speaking to Cue Studio, the filmmaker-actor said that the glitz and glamour of showbiz has never been on his radar; instead, his focus has been on building a body of recognizable work that becomes a calling card for audiences for his future movies.

“Throughout my journey, I have not done anything for fame or popularity; in fact that thought does not cross my mind. I do not hail from a filmi family, and if you check online, you will not see anyone from my family at film events or other public outings. I don’t have a problem with that (the glitz and glamour side of showbiz), but we are not like that. Instead, what I have aimed for as a filmmaker is to create a brand name – one that people will recognise and come to the theatres for. That is very important and helps the film,” he says.

Gautham explains himself further, adding that if he were to do a film with an actor who is not a star, he would want audiences to come to theatres because of his earlier work. That is his driving force, he says, adding that while he doesn’t keep himself from the limelight as a conscious process, it’s just the way he is.