'Dhanush never interfered with my decisions'

This Labour Day (May 1) was an absolute treat for Tamil movie lovers. Three big films released—director Vasanth's Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal, Vijay Sethupathi's Soodhu Kavvum and the much anticipated Ethir Neechal directed by R S Durai Senthilkumar.

Ethir Neechal is in the limelight for being the maiden production venture of popular actor Dhanush under the banner of Wunderbar Films. Its sensational songs have become a massive hit with the young.

Sivakarthikeyan, Priya Anand and Nandita play the lead roles in the film.

R S Durai Senthilkumar, a former associate of noted Tamil filmmakers, Balu Mahendra and Vetrimaaran, makes his debut as writer-director with Ethir Neechal. Here he talks about the film and what he expects from it.

The songs of Ethir Neechal have already become a huge hit.  People are eager to see the movie. Will the film live up to their expectations?

Yes, the songs do seem to have created quite a buzz.  Though we expected a good response, the reception we got was incredible. It surpassed all our expectations. I believe that the film will be received with equal enthusiasm.

A lot of hard work has gone into the making of the film and everything has clicked perfectly together, so we do expect it to do well.

The film also has gained attention due to its being Dhanush's maiden production venture.  Tell us about your association with Dhanush and how you landed this project.

Dhanush is definitely one of the main reasons for the hype surrounding the film. He is a very popular actor and this being his maiden production venture fans are bound to be excited. This was expected.

My association with Dhanush goes back a long way.  During my days as an associate director, I worked with him in three films—Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam, Aadukalam and Polladhavan.  So we have known each other for a really long time.

Actually, director Vetrimaaran is responsible for giving me this opportunity.  Dhanush was keen to sign Sivakarthikeyan for his new home production, Wunderbar Films. When Vetrimaaran suggested my script, he readily agreed to a meeting.  

I narrated the story to him in just 30 minutes and he was really impressed.  The next day we met Sivakarthikeyan and then within a day everything was finalised.

Tell us about the film; how is the title Ethir Neechal relevant?

The film is essentially a romantic comedy, but we have also given an important social message in the film.  It is about fighting against all odds to achieve success.

As to the title, we wanted something with a positive vibe and in keeping with the concept of the film. Ethir Neechal (Swimming against the tide) seemed to be apt for our story.

You have chosen the same team of technicians as Vetrimaaran uses in his films.  Are you happy with the outcome?

Since I had worked with Vetrimaaran in Aadukalam and Polladhavan, I was familiar with all the technicians and also felt comfortable working with them. So I decided to retain the whole team – cinematographer Velraj, editor Kishore T E and of course I wanted Anirudh for the music.

I am very happy with the way the film has turned out. Everyone has put in their best and the result is amazing.

How was working with Anirudh?  Kolaveri Di became international news, so was Anirudh under any pressure to deliver yet again?

I have known Anirudh since his college days at Loyola.  A bunch of us played cricket together, so working with him was like working with an old friend.

Anirudh is a very simple and down-to-earth person. The success of Kolaveri Di did not change him in any way.

A different perspective is what sets him apart.  He knows exactly what he wants out of a composition, be it the tune, the lyrics or the vocals.

As far as he being under pressure is concerned, it was never evident, at least not to me.  

How was Dhanush as a producer?

We were very lucky to have Dhanush as our producer.  Being an actor himself and part of this industry for a long time, he had a very good understanding about the hardships, the unpredictability and the complexities that go into the making a film.

Our past association ensured a certain comfort level and a mutual understanding. He never interfered with my decisions and I greatly valued his opinion.

Dhanush has an uncanny ability to judge what will appeal to the masses. His insights have been most helpful, especially during the promotion of the film.  

As this is your first film, did you have to face any hurdles? 

As a director, the biggest challenge you face is handling the pressure of decision making. There are so many different elements to filmmaking, and the director is at the centre, co-coordinating and bringing them all together. This is a huge responsibility.

Since this was my debut film and I was working with some really senior technicians, there were instances when they doubted my judgment. But as the film progressed, they learnt to trust me and as they say, all's well that ends well.

Do you think more and more directors today seem to be targeting only the youth, whether it's the story or the music?

Targeting youngsters certainly seems to be one of the winning formulas that work for a film. Since they are the ones who throng the theatres to watch their favourite actor or director, we do try to cater to their interests.

With the number of releases every week, the first few days are the most crucial; they can either make or break a film. Most of the crowd on these days is definitely the youth, so there is a tendency to target them.

Were you worried that Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal and Soodhu Kavvum were releasing on the same day?

No, I was not particularly worried about other films being released on the same day. I believe that there is no fun in winning a fight without tough competition, so it really does not bother me. 

But I am nervous. Ethir Neechal is my first film and waiting to see if it will be accepted by the audience is absolutely nerve-wrecking. These last few days, I have had no sleep at all!