The film crew celebrated the success of ‘Bison’, which was produced by Pa. Ranjith and directed by Mari Selvaraj and stars Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameswaran and Rajisha Vijayan, which was released as a Diwali release and received widespread acclaim and reception.
Director Ameer said, “They keep asking Maari why are you making a film like this? They say you want to create trouble in this society. How absurd this is. Films made about invisible Sami and non-existent ghosts are successful here. But if you make a film about visible caste and the evils and atrocities it has caused, it is absurd to raise the question that it should not be done.
I understand that people from political affiliations are expressing their opinions and opposition to Maari and Ranjith films in public. We have been beaten for a long time, we have to continue to be submissive, where do you get this courage from? It may be the thought that what happened happened, why are you talking about it outside? I think there is logic when people from political affiliations and organizations say this.
But I find the opposition coming from the film industry absurd. In particular, when a director talks about this film, he sings a song. It is very disgusting and cruel `Bisan bisan bisan, that Poison’ he sang in a disapproving voice. I ask, he has an opinion, he is expressing it through art. If you really had an opinion, then you should also express it through art. That’s how you have to fight. You don’t have the strength for it, if you can’t express it in that artistic form, don’t spread slander, don’t ask why he is taking it,” he said.
Actor Pasupathi said, “At the pre-release event of this film, I had thought that Pasupathi should play the role of Siddappu played by Saravanan in Ameer Parutthiveeran. But he had said that I couldn’t get him to play the role at that time. Referring to this matter, Pasupathi said, “I haven’t spoken to Ameer sir much. There are no scenes between him and me in the film, so I couldn’t speak there either. But I think I should give him an answer but I will leave it. Now it seems like I have to say it.
It is true that they approached me to play me (in the role of Siddappu) in his Parutthiveeran film. But the day they asked me, I was on the first day of the shooting of the film ‘Veil’. I continued shooting for a month and a half. I had said that I would see if I got any cap in between. No, they said you have to come next week for the shooting, there is a two-month shoot. So I said I can’t. This is the truth.” He said.
Actor Dhruv Vikram said, “I don’t know how Ranjith trusted me. Mari Selvaraj has given me a film like this. Thank you for that trust.”
Actor Madankumar said, “No matter how many times I thank Mari sir, it is not enough. When he told me, he said that the character he has given you is important ‘soul’. I didn’t know at that time. The reception I got after the film was a huge success. The character I played as a villain for so long has now changed. Only Mari can take the film seriously like this. I don’t see Dhruv as Vikram’s son or an actor. I saw him as the kitten who played the role in the film.” He said.
Director Pa. Ranjith said, “We are not going to give a wrong idea to the society through a film. We are going to talk about people who have not been talked about in the history of cinema for 75 years. I don’t know why we get nervous when we do the right thing. People who saw my film ‘Attakathi’ as a comedy criticized some of the codes from the film ‘Madras’. Even if the film Madras was successful, there was criticism that how could someone make a film in the name of Madras.
I don’t know if Rajinikanth would have given a chance to ‘Kabali’ if I had made a film called Madras. But every time, criticism and questions came, saying, how did you make such dialogues with Rajini? Especially, they criticized Rajini, how can you speak an SC dialogue? How can you bring caste into Rajini? They called me a caste fanatic. At that time, couldn’t you make such films at all? If someone came to make such a film, would there be such a problem? There was a fierce debate.
Earlier, only I would be criticized. Now, Mari Selvaraj and Vetrimaaran have joined that list. I am happy that two more people have joined us in dealing with the criticism. All three of us are called directors who are ruining Tamil cinema. The film Bison has been a huge success. However, I am surprised and happy that Mari is able to give such a series of successful films.
400 films are released in Tamil every year. Are the films we make ruining cinema? Our cinema is looking for answers to such questions. Even before the film ‘Bison’ came out, they spread hatred saying, “This is a caste film. Go to ‘Dude’.” Those who believed in this and went to ‘Dude’, its director Keertheeswaran did not tell them…” he said.
Director Mari Selvaraj said, “The film Bison has given me the strength to continue working. No matter how much opposition or contradiction comes, no one should think that they can turn me away or change my storytelling. It is not in my blood. I do not have the opportunity to leave it. The problems I face are that if people listen to all the stories they tell, you cannot make any other film. Between one of my films and another, it is like, how is this society? How do they live? What do they expect from us? I want to be stable. Journalists should avoid asking me questions like why do you make such films. It affects not only me but also my work a lot. Especially, it affects my thinking.
If you ask, is Mari Selvaraj making a caste film? That is your language. Mari Selvaraj is making an anti-caste film. I will continue to make it. I am not saying this arrogantly, I am saying it emotionally. I believe in art. I turn my life into art. My art has everything: madness, helplessness, tears, questions, love.”
