For
Friendship Day
, today, we went searching for the zaniest bunch of friends in town. But we didn’t have to look too far, for the band of boys from Chennai 600028 with their backslapping camaraderie, their inside jokes, their playful banter, and their bond of friendship had everything we were looking for to make this story a fun, breezy read.
At the shoot, there was almost filmi-style emotion, love for each other, and big-time ribbing, too. Their friendship shone through it all—real and very strong. This interview, in fact, took its own course. Director
Venkat Prabhu was the first to arrive. “Pasanga varaanga,” he chuckled, after waiting for a while. But once all of them got together —
Premgi
Amaren, Aravind Akash, Vaibhav, Ajairaj, editor Praveen KL and Kayal Chandran — it was fireworks!
Lots of memories, secrets and stories came tumbling out amid banter and loads of siruppu...
How did you all become friends? Venkat Prabhu: Premgi is my brother, but still, we got close only when he came to London to study with me. I have known Vaibhav for a long time, much before I knew the rest of them in the gang. Vaibhav and Prem were classmates, and I was their senior. Vaibhav, too, came to study acting in London. We were all staying in the same room. He comes from a big filmi family. Later, came Ajai master and Aravind Akash. We worked together in Kadhal Samrajyam. I met Praveen in Singapore for a local television programme. He was working as a freelance editor. He used to complain saying, ‘Enna eduthirukaan ivan, waste’ (laughs). But I love the way he works. I wanted him to be a part of Chennai 600028. And yes, I was supposed to launch Vaibhav in Chennai 600028. At that time, his father had signed him for a Telugu film and he couldn’t give me dates. So, I got Jai and he became the hero.
Vaibhav: Slow claps... this should come in the paper (laughs).
Venkat Prabhu: But seriously, I really wanted to launch him in Tamil. I eventually roped him for Saroja. Chandran and I got close during the set of Party. He is the youngest and the kid in the gang. He comes to me for everything — from discussing stories to what he puts on Instagram — everything.
Praveen: He and his brother Raghu are a part of our gang now. They work the same wavelength as us.
So, who keeps the gang together?Venkat Prabhu: Prem dhaan. Indha gang onna irruku na, he is the reason. He is the only guy who ensures that all of us are there whenever or wherever we meet.
Vaibhav: Yes, Prem is the reason. But whenever we get together, we don’t call him (laughs).
How did the friendship survive for so many years?Aravind Akash: I have known VP (Venkat Prabhu) from 2002. From then, it has carried on for so many years.
Venkat Prabhu: After Kadhal Samrajyam, he heard that I was making a film. Rinku (Aravind) wanted to be a part of it. I told him that I was launching all new boys. He then told me that none of his earlier films had released (laughs). Ajai is close to cameraman Rajesh Yadav and he came in as a choreographer first for the film.
Ajai: Rajesh asked me to go to Charan sir’s office. I was under the impression they are calling me to choreograph for the film. But when VP saw me, he asked if I am willing to act. I asked him who was the hero and he told me 10 people. Pathu peru hero va? I took some time as I didn’t really think of becoming an actor. Later they again called me and Charan felt I would suit the ambulance driver character perfectly. And that’s how it all began.
Chandran: I might have joined late. But there was an instant connect when I joined these guys. Now, we have become so close that I am there for every single outing, which happens almost thrice a week.
Premgi: See, all of us became close during the rehearsals of Chennai 600028 itself. Whenever there is a party, I call all of them. Until now, I religiously call them. Party naala dhan naanga onna irrukom (laughs).
VP: Adhu naala dhan, avaru Party padam music director.
We are curious… Why are there are no girls in your gang?Ajai: ...that is why the friendship is strong for so many years (laughs).
Venkat Prabhu: Hmm…they all come and go.
Aravind Akash: They are scared, I think.
Venkat Prabhu: Scared laam illa!
Premgi: Prechana aagum. If they come, we will have to look after them. Pasanga bittu poda aasa paduvaanga (laughs). We fear they might break us apart. We are happy being the boy gang.
Vaibhav: Just because you asked this question about women, they both are fighting (pointing towards Venkat and Aravind).
Do you guys fight?Vaibhav: Naraaya.
Aravind Akash: We fight like how couples do by being possessive and all that.
Venkat Prabhu: A relationship won’t be strong if we don’t fight. If you say OK for everything, it is a lie. You need to pick the faults and tell when they are wrong. What are friends for, then? We like each other, love each other and move among ourselves with no expectations. If you have expectations, you can’t be friends. Whenever Praveen and I sit for editing, we fight a lot. When he tells something, I know that he has a point. That way, even Vaibhav told me he didn’t like the first half of Mankatha. He said he didn’t have many scenes, only Ajith sir is there (laughs).
Vaibhav: Haaan? I didn’t say all that. I just said there was a lag in the first half.
Praveen KL: We all care for each other. We take career advice and are genuine. That’s why we stick together.
Venkat Prabhu: We have professional and personal fights, too.
Vaibhav: See, we are like any other normal gang of friends. We didn’t become friends for the sake of cinema. But for the bill, we all fight (laughs).
Aravind Akash: We go for each other’s family functions. We attend kids’ parties — both at Vaibhav and Praveen’s place.
Vaibhav: Ippo sanda irruku. We told you that we are like friends, no? I don’t know why he had to talk about wife, kids and all now (laughs).
So, what keeps you together?Premgi: Alcohol.
Praveen KL: We are too close to hold back anything. I think that is what keeps us together.
Vaibhav: We don’t carry our background with us. Everyone is big in their fields. That keeps us ticking.
Who do you all go to for advice?Everyone says: VP.
Praveen KL: Even our wives, go to him for advice … to talk about their husbands (laughs).
Venkat Prabhu: Vaibhav’s wife Sadhvi is our childhood friend. She, too, asks me for a lot of advice. We are very close as a family. But when I need one, I go to Praveen or Vaibhav.
But Venkat doesn’t cast all of you in every film he makes. Does that bother you?Venkat Prabhu: They do get pissed off.
Ajai: Of course, it will be there…that small tint of anger, but it quickly fades.
Venkat Prabhu: I get calls for Tamil Padam and Meyaadha Maan. They think I am part of the project. I am happy that my boys are doing well. Sometimes, when I write a script, I immediately see their faces for those characters. But yes, I will work with other actors, too. When they are working with other directors, why can’t I work?
How long does it take for you patch up?Venkat Prabhu: Maybe, one day.
Praveen KL: One day is too much... just a few hours.
Premgi: We finish off by saying sorry.
Aravind Akash: Oh, I have to say this now. There was a common friend of ours who said that this team (Chennai 600028) won’t be together in 10 years. He even kept a bet for one crore. We even did the sequel after 10 years, but we didn’t get the money.
Do you have mini groups among yourself?Premgi: Oh, yes. There is a spiritual group that has Ajai master, Yogesh and I. Jai, Vaibhav and I are part of one group. We even had a fight once. Vaibhav and I didn’t speak to Jai for a year.
Venkat Prabhu: Oh, they are too close. Jai is very possessive about them. But yes, all of us are part of most of these groups. But there is one WhatsApp group that has me, Premgi, Jai and Vaibhav. All our deepest secrets come out in that group.
What are some of the craziest things you have done?Venkat Prabhu: Only Aravind can do weird things.
Aravind Akash: It will be adult-rated stuff that we can’t talk about.
Vaibhav: Ey, naanga mokka group.
Venkat Prabhu: Oh yes, Aravind drove a bus in London. He became friends with an Indian guy.
Premgi: We did a Pondy trip, booked a forest house. We do karaoke. Isaignani’s songs get us together.
Venkat Prabhu: Aravind is the dada of the gang. He fought for us (smiles). We call him whenever we are in adi thadi trouble.
Start a Conversation
Post comment