Tamil movies offer a larger canvas to work on: Shaheed Khader

Helming a debut directorial venture in a different film industry with an experienced cast might faze many young filmmakers. However, Shaheed Khader, who is directing the Tamil version of Traffic titled Chennaiyil Oru Naal, has responded well to the challenge.
The director, who was Rajesh Pillai���s associate in the original, has wrapped up filming the flick in Chennai and is currently all set for the film���s post-production work.
While Shaheed says direction has always been his dream, he claims this offer was definitely unexpected. ���I had always thought that my debut would be Malayalam. What worked for me was that I knew producer Listin Stephen even before Traffic. So when Rajesh became busy with the Hindi version, they thought I was the obvious choice to helm the movie,��� says Shaheed.
On the experience of working in Kollywood in his debut feature film, he says, ���There���s not been much difference, industry-wise. I think what made my job easier was that all the actors were supportive mainly because most of them are directors as well. Be it Sarath Kumar, Prakash Raj or Cheran, there were close to seven actors-cum-directors in the film; also, I didn���t have to convince them as much as a debutant director might have had to because they have all seen the Malayalam movie.���
While a Tamil remake adds more possibilities in terms of upping the commercial elements, Shaheed says the team has made no deliberate attempt to stray away from the original. ���However, when you are working in a Tamil film, you can afford to make the film on a bigger canvas. Also, the Malayalam and Tamil projects are helmed by two directors; so that difference would show in the making and the treatment of the movie,��� he says.
Shaheed says he���s now waiting for the film to release by January end before he signs up any new project, be it Malayalam or Tamil.