Your
association with Pushkar-Gayatri- Oram Po and
Va-QC
Va-QC is my second film with Pushkar-Gayatri
after Oram Po which was one super fun ride.
Working with Pushkar-Gayatri is like a holiday;
it’s not like working at all. I like their
dialogues and the way they write and their whole
approach to a film. On top of all this, they
are very good friends. Oram Po was a fun film
to work with and so was Va-QC. It was like going
to a party. The film has fun elements and it’s
not like we were shooting something serious
and are partying outside. The film itself was
like party.
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Working with Pushkar-Gayatri is
like a holiday
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You will see different facets of
Madras in Va-QC
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Your
special touches in Va-QC?
I
hope the comedy is coming through to the audience.
The film was shot at nights as the entire film
was set in one night and shot all over Madras.
You will see different facets of Madras in Va-QC.
We have slightly given it over the top look.
There is one chase sequence which I really like
which would surely be the highlight of the film.
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Experience
with Ajith in Billa
Working with Ajith was like a breeze. He has
absolutely no hang ups and does not behave like
a star. Ajith is one of the kindest human beings
I have ever met.
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Working with Ajith was like a
breeze
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Plans for Billa
2?
Right now, I am not even thinking of it. It is on
and we would be starting work next year. We have not
decided on what kind of a look or anything like that.
It is too early to talk.
You got state
award for Billa. Do you think this would have pressure
on you in Billa 2?
There is no pressure because of this. I was not expecting
an award for Billa and it was a pleasant surprise.
I don’t think the award is adding any pressure
on my work. We are just going to do what is right
for the film.
Working with
Vijay in Pokkiri
Working with Vijay was a good experience and it was
fun. I liked Prabhu Deva’s brand of humor and
his way of making a film.
I was committed to Vishnu
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Endhiran
had come to you first, any specific reason for
not selecting it?
I
was committed to Vishnu and Sarvam. Endhiran
and Sarvam were supposed to be made during the
same time and as I wanted to honor my commitment,
I could not take up Endhiran.
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You
have worked quite a lot with Arya. Any comment?
I have done around 5-6 films with Arya and I
am tired of him. I don’t want to work
with Arya anymore. But, personally, I feel he
is the best looking actor in the industry right
now and he is got an amazing physique. From
Arindum Ariyamalum, we have been working together
and now I think we will again be teaming up
for Lingusamy’s film. It is going to be
more of the same for both of us.
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I don’t want to work with Arya
anymore
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Who is the most
beautiful actress today (through your lens)?
I think all of them look good not just through my
lens but even otherwise. To name a few, Chithrangada
Singh, Priya Mani, Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen.
I had a big problem shooting
Tamizh Padam
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Most
challenging project
Every
project has been a challenge which has come
out with its own set of problems. Problem solving
has been fun though. A huge challenge is yet
to come, something that cannot be solved or
something I need to really work on. I had a
big problem shooting Tamizh Padam because I
had to keep the camera steady while I was laughing
behind it. Besides that, everything can be shot,
there is no big issue.
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You have worked
in Bollywood and Kollywood. Can you compare?
In the films that I have worked, the working styles
have been very similar. In Bollywood, they give a
little bit more importance to looks, costumes and
make up. This trend is slowly filtering over here
too. Otherwise I don’t see any big difference.
A director you
want to work with
Mani Ratnam.
Favorite contemporary
cinematographer
There are many. I like the work of Ravi Varman, Randy,
P S Vinod, Balu, R D Rajashekhar, Kadir and so on.
Which movie
had the best cinematography in recent times?
I like the look of Eeram and Pasanga.
How is the overall
scene in Indian cinematography?
It is very good and it is getting there. In Kollywood,
there are specialized people working for every aspect
but here, the cameraman takes charge of everything.
However, the specialization is slowly coming in here
too. I think in terms of cinematography we have always
been there. Subrato Mithra was an awesome cameraman
who has got fans all over the world. V K Murthy is
an out of the world cameraman.
What should
an aspiring cinematographer do?
I think they should watch a lot of films and start
shooting on their own.
Any
good training institute in Chennai?
Of course there are good training institutes
and one should go to the right one. It certainly
makes a difference. And one should also get
a field experience. After that you are on your
own. But personally, I feel, one day of shooting
can teach you more than two years of training.
So if you get a chance to shoot something and
make mistakes, go ahead. But make mistakes as
early as possible and then keep eliminating
them.
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Make mistakes as early as
possible
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What about
the film studio that you are building?
It is on hold and there is no movement right now.
On the still
photography emerging today in the film world-Venkat
Ram and Dream cast Karthik’s work
Oh, it is very good and industry is a very welcoming
place. Venkat and Karthik’s work are very good
and we should very definitely attract the best talent.
Any direction
plans?
Right now, there are no plans to direct.
Is there a difference
between the terms -cameraman, cinematographer and
director of photography?
It is just the name; in Kollywood, they are called
Director of Photography. Here it used to be cameraman
and now it is cinematographer. Finally, the job that
is being done is the same and the name does not matter.
How do you prefer
to be called?
I don’t care really! I only care about my films
running and I want people to like my films. I don’t
care even if my name is not there in the title.
How do you feel
when the film that you have worked so hard does not
do well?
I get extremely disappointed and angry and go into
bad mood for months. There is so much of work put
together by so many people for so many months. And
this is not a job that you report every day. The amount
of passion and commitment that goes into a film is
huge. And after investing much energy and being emotionally
involved with the film, if it does not work, that
upsets me enormously.
Special look
in Va-QC?
We have gone for a very over the top look for Va-QC.
We did not want it looking real. It was a big departure
for me. We have gone for strong reds and greens through
out the film. We have gone for mad people in the film.
Everyone is mad and every person they come across
is also crazy. And Va-QC also has a strong message-
if you like and want something, go behind it and you
will get it. Even if what you like is not available
on a dry day, you can still try it and you will get
it.
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