Tales from Subramaniapuram

Fortune favours the brave. At least in Kollywood, it does. If you still aren't convinced about this fact talk to Sashi Kumar, the director of the hit Subramaniapuram, and you'll realise the adage makes sense.
Says Sashi, ���Honestly speaking, I never expected the response to be this positive. I decided to produce this film as I didn't want to compromise on any of the essential elements.I knew for a fact that most producers wouldn't be happy with my story, in which the hero and the heroine don't even touch each other. Many would have termed it raw.���
And the director continues to narrate about the tough decisions he had to make. ���We did have some tight calls to make. After I decided to make the film, my team began erecting the set at Madurai. Shooting was to begin but I still hadn't chosen the heroine and there was a lot of tension as to what would happen. I had seen Swathi perform in Aadavari Mataluku Arthale Verule in Telugu and liked her performance. So, I offered the heroine���s role to her. However, she didn't accept as she said that she didn't know about the Tamil film industry.���
So, what made Swathi change her mind, we ask him. ���After making up her mind to say ���no��� to my offer, Swathi thought it would be impolite to refuse the offer over phone. So, she made it a point to come in person and inform me of her decision. However, after she came to my office, she was impressed with the blow up of Subramaniapuram in my office,��� he smiles.
���She came here expecting to see people over 45 years but was pleasantly surprised to find the team full of youngsters and then I played the song Kangal Irandal. She liked it. After speaking to me for a few minutes, she agreed to play the role," he discloses and goes on to explain why he chose to play the role of the hero���s friend in the movie.
���Actually, I had selected another newcomer for this role. However, this person told me that he was to act in three other movies and that he would have to change his ���get-ups��� frequently. For my role, I needed the artiste to retain the 80s get-up till the film was completed. Moreover, this newcomer also laid down the condition that he could give me only 20 days. After considering all these factors, I asked myself the question, ���Why shouldn���t I play the role myself?��� and that was when I decided to play the role,��� he says.
Were there funny incidents during the shooting of the film? ���Oh yes,��� he says. ��� There were incidents that left us annoyed and angry then but thinking about it now only makes me smile.��� We prompt him to share one such instance which he does instantly. ���We were shooting the theatre scene in Madurai and we provided costumes (Bell bottom pants and Bobby collar shirts) to close to 500 artistes who played the role of the audience. Some of these artistes liked these costumes so much that they left without returning their dresses. They didn���t even mind the fact that they were leaving behind the clothes that they came wearing. Poor Natraj (the costumer) had to stitch costumes overnight,��� he laughs.
Ask him why he named the movie Subramaniapuram and he says, ���Subramaniapuram is a name that is common in all parts of the state. So, we thought people would be able to relate to it.���So, has success changed him?���Success hasn���t made me haughty. In fact, it has now induced fear in me,��� says the director.