The cast and the crew of Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai attended its premiere at Galleria cinema at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dubai on Friday. The director, Mani Ratnam, said it’s a special film for all of them and that they put their best foot forward to make it.
Ratnam, music director AR Rahman, lead actors Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari, and the thriller’s producer Suhasini Mani Ratnam addressed a press conference before the show at the hotel.
Suhasini said the team has done all the hard work and as a producer, it’s time for her to enjoy the fruit of their labour.
Rahman, who performed live at Sharjah Cricket Stadium last month, said he was happy to be back in town after the great support he got for the show. “The memories are still lingering,” he said.
Mani Ratnam and Rahman have worked together for several movies over the past 25 years, and when asked what’s the secret of their successful partnership, the former said, “He is the secret of success,” referring to the music maestro. “From his studio you do not get any piece of music without [it] being perfected,” he said.
Rahman reciprocated by singing paeans of the director. He said Mani Ratnam sets high ideals. “He starts with a best idea and throws off everything and then starts trying to beat that.”
Thanks to fans
He also apportions a part of credit to the discerning audience. He says “People’s expectations scare us and we have to live up to[them].”
When asked how he stays ahead of times, Ratnam said, “Art is something in which you are never an expert at any point of time. It’s something you hone all the time and something which is elusive all the time... as long as you are attempting [something] sincerely, you will be on your toes.”
About the high production values in filmmaking in Indian cinema, the director said technical finesse is only an aid to tell a story. But that alone doesn’t make a film. “It’s still what you say and how you say matters. The fact that technology has developed so much gives you the liberty to tell the stories, which were difficult to say earlier. It allows you to tell it more convincingly, more elaborately and more beautifully. Actually it makes you work more harder as there is more details that you have to put in.”
Regarding the backdrop of war in Kaatru Veliyidai, Ratnam said: “I wish I made a full-fledged war film, that’s why it comes in bits and pieces in my films.”
Mirror, mirror
About his themes, the director said: “I am just reflecting the time we are living in, I have no intentions of giving any information or lessons through the film.”
Hero Karthi said he was thrilled as it was his first premiere abroad. Regarding his role in the film, he said it’s definitely not a character he could imagine playing. He said it’s one of the most challenging roles he had ever done and had great time discussing the character daily with Mani with who he had earlier worked as an assistant director.
He said the character has shades of grey.
“When I read it [the script] I could not imagine myself doing this film. I have an image about myself and I couldn’t imagine being that role because, I feel easy with what I am wearing and what I am doing but here I had to play an officer who has been in the army for 10 years.
“I never did a fighter pilot’s role before, so everything was new to me...You will see how complex it is and wasn’t easy doing it.”
Praising Rao Hydari, Karthi, he said he had a great co-star.
Rao Hydari said working on the movie has been a dream come true.
She said when she saw Manisha Koirala in Bombay dancing in lehnga choli amid those arches, she wanted to be there. “But in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be an actress, because I had no connection with the film world. After eight years of doing roles in Mumbai, I got an offer from Mani sir. When a blessing comes into your life you don’t question it. You just open your arms and say, ‘Thank you’,” she said.
“Karthi is a dream co-star, he never laughed at my Tamil. We made this film with love and it’s all about true love,” she said.
