2024-04-07 05:47:16
# P. Prajith
07 April 2024, 11:17 AM IST Vineeth Srinivasan | Photo: B.Muralikrishnan | Matrubhumi
The movie Sarankarpuri directed by Vineeth Srinivasan, recreating Kodambakkam of the 1970s, is ready for release. The director talks about the details of the film
The waves of Kodambakkam are rising again in Malayalam cinema. Vineeth Srinivasan’s new film ‘Varashankarpuri’ is about the lives of two young people who drive to Madrasi to try their luck in cinema. The crew has recreated 1970s Kodambakkam in all its glory for the film. Swami’s Lodge, the erstwhile theater of filmmakers, streets full of beedi smoke and theaters drowned in shouts, all came up again as sets.
Once upon a time, Madrasi was the dream city of those who dreamed of cinema. To become an actor, to become a director, to sing, to tell stories… and to become filmmakers, thousands came to the metropolis on the Madras Mail. People who spent their entire lives around cinema with big dreams, wandered around looking for opportunities and ended up as junior artists or light boys. Those who transplanted their lives as suppliers in hotels in Kodambakkam to fight hunger. Even today, there are many people sitting in the tea shops of Kodambakkam who narrate the old movie journey and the leaps made at a young age. And those who got off the train would become eloquent when telling the story of those who escaped. Vineeth created the characters for his new film from this land of memories. So, in this film, glimpses and shadows of life can be seen as much as the author’s imagination…
Vineeth Srinivasan is not a director who finds it difficult to find producers and actors. Then why so much delay after one movie to the next
Writing begins only when the idea of a film is formed in the mind and the desire to proceed is strong. Once you start writing, things get faster, but you can only write when the urge is strong. There will be times when you will say that this is the next film. By then a lot of the thoughts are in the mind and the flow of the story is voice-recorded (and often self-recorded) on the phone. The gap between movies is often due to the time it takes to start writing. A film is born from the feelings of the mind, and the idea in the mind waits to mature. My method is not to make the first project after confirming the producers and actors.
I have heard that the story that Vineeth has been carrying in his mind since his college days is that of ‘Vasarangan Sesha’.
There are stories that lose relevance over time and stories that don’t. Some stories have been abandoned altogether. But two or three stories that came to my mind during college can be made into movies even today. All of them became stronger with the new era. One such story was made into a movie called ‘Varashankarpuri’. Some stories are like that they travel with us and never leave. When this story first came to mind, only scenes from the 1970s came to mind. Significant changes have taken place in the last four to five years. The movie you are going to watch today starts from 1970 and travels through the eighties and ends in 2024.
The 1970s Kodambakkam and that era were recreated for the film. Isn’t it unusual for Vineet films to tell stories from big sets…
A film cannot be made without preparing what the story demands, and life in Kodambakkam in the 1970s is a major part of the film. Fifty years ago, the sights cannot be pictured anywhere today. It was understood from the beginning that sets would be needed to tell this story. It was postponed for so long because it was known that the film had to be made on a big screen and budget. The set was prepared in many places. Kodambakkam’s Swami’s Lodge, shops and hotels have all been recreated in Arur. Priya uncle (director Priyadarshan) came to the set one day and he commented that he got a feel of old Kodambakkam. YG came to act. Mahendra also said that the old Kodambakkam is standing before his eyes. The shooting of the film was completed in forty days, but two months were needed for the set preparation.
Two young men who drive to Madras to try their luck in cinema, 1970s Kodambakkam scenes… How close is the son’s film to the father’s life…
The film is inspired by two screenplays written by his father. Their story is once upon a time. The story of the city where they arrived in the 70s and studied cinema. I have heard about this time and many events of that time since my childhood and all of them are deeply imprinted in my mind. All that has added to the story. In this film, we can see the shadows of not only father’s, but many lives who came to Kodambakkam with the dream of cinema. We have only heard of those who jumped into becoming filmmakers without any preparation, those who survived, and there are many more who lost their lives. I have heard such stories from my father. Friendship is the core of this movie. I have told the story of this movie to my father, and after hearing the story, he replied that it would be fine. It is said that there is life and humor in the story and stories that have both are good. Those were words of confidence.
Nivin, Pranav, Dhyan, Basil, Aju, Neeraj, Kalyani…Vineeth’s team is coming together in one film. When I started writing, I had all these people in mind…
At the initial stage, it was felt that without Dhyan, Pranav and Nivin, this film would not happen. Basil, Aju and Neeraj all came to mind as characters while writing. After hearing the story, everyone in the team suggested Kalyani’s name. Some have substitutes in mind. But it didn’t matter. All who wanted came. Shooting in Munnar where everyone was together was a great experience. The set was full of noise, jokes and bursts of laughter. Dhyan and Basil were the main villains. In a way, the shooting was carried forward all that day. It’s nice to be able to bring all those who love to watch together in one frame.
Dhyan is coming to the cinema with ‘Tira’ directed by Vineeth himself, how big is the change when Anian is put in front of the camera again after many years.
Dhyan has changed a lot as an actor. He was a complete novice when he came to ‘Tira’. Learned to handle things easily today. Once told the situation, he knows how to absorb it and present it. The tension was not when I was standing in front of the camera and shooting the scene, but when I was sitting with him for the movie promotion. One cannot imagine what he will say in front of the camera of channelers and online media. The promotion was called by saying that the story of the film should not be told, the surprises should not be revealed, and the climax should not be explained. He has a special ability to remember everything he was told not to say.
Another highlight of the Vineeth Srinivasan film is the songs. Vineeth is coming as a singer and lyricist in this movie. Movie songs…
After many years, it is the film where the song is important. Although there are not so many songs in the heart, there are nine or ten songs that come and go in this film. Amrit Ramnath is the music director. Initially, a senior was in mind to compose the song for the film. Amrit arrives just as he is about to call him. When I listened to some of the songs he did, I felt that the style suited the context of the film. It was only later that I realized that Amrit had approached me for a singing opportunity. It was decided to hand over the lyrics to Manumanjit. He roughed up the lyrics to give, and those efforts later turned into songs. There are three songs written by me in this film.
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