Directed by Pa.Iranjith, starring Vikram and produced by Studio Green KE Gnanavel Raja, ‘Thangalan’ is set to hit the theaters worldwide on 15th August.
In this situation, the music release ceremony of the film was held yesterday (August 5) in a grand manner at the Nandambakkam Trade Center in Chennai. In this, along with the film crew, many celebrities from the film industry participated as special guests.
Talking about the film and the artists and technicians who traveled with him in the program, Director Ba.Iranjith said, “This is a happy moment. This journey started with Gnanavel Raja in ‘Attakathi’. Gnanavel Raja, who supported me and gave me the opportunity to direct this film, played an important role in my development. I got many opportunities after ‘Sarpatta Paramparai’ and at that moment I decided to work with Gnanavel Raja. Then I said, “He has a lot of problems. Why are you with him?” They asked the question. At that moment in my mind I wanted to join him.
What he did to stand by him was no mean feat. When I wanted to direct a film called Tangalan, there was great hesitation regarding its budget. But the producer Gnanavel Raja completed the film without any small obstacle till its completion. He gave me great support to make a film that I envisioned without any compromise. I am grateful to him at this moment for this. I want to give that thanks as a win. I think the trust he placed in me as a producer and the trust he placed in him as a brother, to deliver a win. I hope this movie will be a huge success as you imagine. This work will give such success.
Cinema dominates our lives to a great extent. How to use that cinema? How is that cinema now? I entered cinema only after understanding cinema properly when I was studying in art college. It was only after I joined art college that they organized the first film festival. After that I watched many world cinemas at international film festivals. It was the many world cinemas that I watched that made me. That is why I am standing here now. Films like ‘Children of Heaven’, ‘Life is Beautiful’, ‘Cinema Paradise’ were a reflection of society. It fascinated me. Even though I am a painter, why not go into the film industry so I got into it.
I thought that if we direct cinema, we can express our problems. I thought that untold stories can be told in cinema. Even today, cinema is a powerful social medium. I decided to use this powerful social media as a tool to easily convey the untold or hidden history to the people and that’s why I chose cinema. Cinema did not choose me, I chose cinema. Because there are so many untold stories here. There are many stories that are not written in written form. There are many areas that are not mentioned in history. Who am I when I study history? A big question arises in me. Why was I like this in history? The question also arose in me. Such a great injustice has been done to my people. Why? There is so much discrimination. There are many questions like why the division still exists.. If we look to history for the answer, history is biased. Nothing in history is told from the perspective of the victims. There is no language of theirs. There are no references to them. Disappointment is overwhelming when searching.
Similarly, when you see what kind of films are being made in the cinema, no films are made from the point of view of the oppressed people. I came into cinema with a related quest, specifically Baba Sahib Ambedkar’s Who are the Untouchables? There is a book called It was while reading that book that I realized the need to create a hidden history.
Are the letters carved on the inscriptions history? How to recover the hidden history..? It states that the most important thing for this society is to recreate the feeling that a historian should have through imaginative strategy.
So I feel the need for that history and look for it through movies. As a student, as a historian, I am proud to exist. Does this cinema end only with the search for history..! not that. Cinema is a powerful medium here. It is very close to people.
I came into cinema thinking that I could make a revolution in cinema, but cinema was different. Tamil cinema was very different. Can you tell me what I think about Tamil cinema..? The fear arose. It was our director Venkat Prabhu who removed this fear. When I worked with him as an assistant, he had recorded Chennai’s identity through cricket in the film ‘Chennai 28’, which was a huge success. The movie was celebrated by the younger community. The biography of Chennai 28 and my biography are not different. Both have a lot of affinity. I learned from Venkat Prabhu that when we go through a celebration, a joy, untold stories, we can easily connect with the fans.
After that I started writing the story of the film ‘Attagathi’ leaving aside many stories I had already written. I took many incidents from my life and made it into a movie. We wrote a long letter to the producer of the film and submitted it. I was telling our belief in it. The film was accepted by fans. Once the fans accepted that lifestyle, I got a huge boost of confidence. Because of this belief, I directed the next film ‘Madras’. I was scared even during the making of that film. While making this film, the makers felt that it is a film for oppressed people. I had made it clear that this film is being made from their point of view. The producers and Karthi understood this and cooperated. The film was a huge commercial success. He offered me the opportunity of ‘Kabali’ because Madras was a success and Superstar Rajinikanth liked the film. I had an inner fear while working with him. He likes my politics very much. It was because of the success of that film that he again offered me the opportunity to direct ‘Kaala’. After that ‘Sarbhata Parambari’ ‘Moving Star’.. these are all my quests. Who am I in history? These were works in search of meaning.
It was at this moment that Vikram called me. He expressed his desire to work together. I like Vikram in many forms. I like many of the characters he has taken on. I have never seen Vikram like other commercial stars. Because he feels sorry for the role he is taking on. I liked the way he transformed himself for a small part in ‘I’. I could see his deep love for art. I was interested in working with a great artist like this. At first I was afraid to work with him. I have written a story as a director. I think this story should be like this. But Vikram has certain requirements. I explained all this while meeting him. He also fully understood and provided wonderful cooperation.
I couldn’t even tell him the story properly, but he totally understood what I was trying to say. I think he got into my soul and understood it. I don’t know the right words to say what I’m thinking. I am weak in that. Because I operate from my own world. It was from that moment when he agreed that the greatest challenge arose for me. An artist who devotes himself completely to his art, I know he is very difficult to deal with. The challenge was to transform him into that character. At the same time, I wanted it to be a popular work that would easily reach people.
After writing this story, it made me travel to many places. I learned many things. There was a great debate among the writers Tamil Prabha and Asaya Periyavan. There are many complexities within this story. In this film we enter a new world. I love Fantasy Magic World. This is a film I am directing in a new genre. Actors and technicians were the ones who supported me as I entered this new world. This gave me new confidence. Vikram made me work easily within that world. During the first scene on the first day of the shoot, Vikram appeared as Tangalan as I imagined. It is not an easy task. He surprised me even more when he appeared in the role of Kadayan, for which he even attended the rehearsals. From him I learned how to love art. A student can be tested, but how to test a teacher..? It was like testing a teacher.
When Vikram was told to reshoot after the shoot was over, he immediately agreed. His ribs were broken during the fight scenes. When the scene was over I immediately called my assistant and asked if something had happened to him. I will say ask. They ask Vikram and he replies that there is pain but I will bear it. So I shot the same scene again and I was a bit tough on him. I apologize to him at this moment for that. The aim is to somehow bring him on screen as Tangalan. Vikram also understood this and has been supporting me in all ways till date. He has high hopes for this film. His faith in me and this film should win. That is my preference. I am sure it is possible.
After choosing Vikram, when I thought of choosing someone to match him, Pashupati was the one who came to my mind. He is also a talented artist. I hope everyone will like his performance in this film. Both Parvathy and Malavika are important characters. There are many female characters in this movie.I follow Parvathy from ‘Boo’. I waited for him to be called only if the story suited his talent. In this movie it is possible.
I thought that only a ruthless man could make this film. All the actors in this film have performed with skill and dedication. I am happy to work on the set when I am directing other films. But I worked on this film by feeling sorry for myself. Till now, I am still depressed and in some kind of agony. I will be happy only after this film releases and the fans accept it and become a success.
Apart from writing the character of Malavika, I struggled a lot to bring it to the screen. Realizing this, Malavika also tried hard to act. Daniel He and I have a language problem. Then there is the cultural problem. But through it all, Daniel excels in his role. All the actors, actresses and technicians in the film have given their full cooperation. Working with Jee V was like working with friends. Above all, he understood my sentiments, understood my quest, and provided suitable music, which was a great strength. I would also like to express my special gratitude to him at this moment.
This movie will be enjoyed by all. I don’t always make films just for entertainment. I also think that there should be some benefit to the society. My vision is to be able to give something to this society beyond entertainment aspects. This society has created me. I have gained a lot from this community. There are pleasures in it. There are also sufferings. There is a lot to learn. I have absorbed many things in it. I have converted it into an art form and created it in front of you as a movie. I hope this movie touches that feeling in you. Through this this cinema will cause some debates and raise some questions. I hope that by searching for the answer to those questions, we can get the answer to many things that we have forgotten, hidden in history. I believe this is my strength. This is my politics. If it wasn’t for this politics, I wouldn’t exist. I am very thankful to my brother Baba Sahib Ambedkar for this. He was the one who gave the inspiration that ‘you should speak for your community, for your people’. I will continue to be his voice, his student, his disciple.” said.