Senior actor Sarathkumar has played a character with negative shades in 'Parampara 2', which is streaming on Disney+Hotstar from today (July 21). In this interview, the acclaimed actor talks about his role in the web series, how the series is engaging, the OTT culture, his views on the changing nature of villainism in movies, his future projects, and more.
My character Nagendra Naidu in 'Parampara 2' is not a villain per se. He has a grouse with his half-brother Mohan Rao (Jagapathi Babu). It was very interesting to do the character. Mohan Rao was an orphan as a child and Naidu doesn't like the fact that he was saved from being drowned in water by Mohan Rao, whom his father later adopted and gave the pride of place in the family. The battle is between Mohan Rao's son Gopi (Naveen Chandra) and Naidu in the second season.
In terms of look, this looks authentic and stylish. I have been sporting this beard for the past 4 years. The costumes, too, are modish.
It was great to work with the entire team, be it the artists or technicians. Naveen Chandra, Jagapathi garu, Aamani and others were easy to work with. Although three different makers have handled the series, it was not chaotic because the scripting part was tight. The characters and story were written in advance and only the treatment changed during the execution.
The film is patriarchal and strictly controlled by the eldest one (Naidu). He is not democratic. When someone revolts, then the order collapses.
People in the film industry are now occupied with thinking about how to attract the audience to theatres. When it comes to OTT, promotions focus on how to make the viewer log onto your content in the comfort of their homes. Feedback about your performance in an OTT series is got from film critics, reviewers, and the audience's reactions (on social media).
There is a certain amount of villainy in everyone. But it doesn't come to the fore because the good in us stops it from rearing its ugly head. Villains are soft these days! In the old films, villainous roles used to be exaggerated. Back then, to show someone as a cruel guy, they used to make him rape. A villain is anyone who messes with someone's life. This idea has been brought out in films these days. That's why villains are looking realistic these days.
The cinema ticket prices have gone up. For a family of 4-5 people, tickets, snacks and commuting take Rs 1,500 in Tamil Nadu. How many movies will they watch given this reality? They are waiting for movies to arrive on OTT to watch them.
Definitely, new actors have an advantage because they have references from other films while playing a role. Even in my case, I have the advantage of learning from the likes of NT Rama Rao garu. There is so much content across the globe for newcomers to fall back on. They can learn by watching the numerous actors, practice lines/expressions by standing in front of the mirror, so on and so forth.
Viewers get attracted to who is acting in a web series. You can draw stars only if the budget is huge. Without a high budget, you just can't ensure the best quality. Any business is profit-oriented. Producers expect a 20% return at the least. Nobody is here to do service to art.
A performance is a performance, be it film or web series or some other format. In the olden days of theatre, the artist needed to use his lung power. In the age of cinema, technology changed the dynamics.
The only time I get angry is when my parents are abused. My father Ramanathan worked at the All India Radio before joining the Press Information Bureau of India. He later worked as a lawyer after retirement. When someone abused him while I was in college, I thrashed the abuser. I was taken to the court for a trial. I told the court that I hit the person because he had abused my parents. The court let me off with an admonishment. If someone abuses my parents, I will hit him or her no matter what.
I am a politician. If you are voting, you are participating in the electoral process. You are powerful enough to make your voice heard.
I have a powerful role in Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan I'. My character doesn't believe in kings but he believes in protecting the Chola Kingdom. The film is a fictionalized version of history. The film's disclaimer will make it clear. If someone makes it a controversy, the CBFC is there to look into the matter. If you want to overrule CBFC, why is there a censor board? Once a film is certified to be good to be watched, nobody should have any business opposing it. It's for the audience to decide.
I am doing 'Vaarasudu' with (Thalapathy) Vijay. Its shoot will be over by October. There is another project and it will be a two-character movie that will be shot in 35 days. We are working on a script with Gautham Menon. I am doing a thriller. I am doing 'Rudhran' with Lawrence Raghava. I have a completely negative role in it. Why he becomes a villain has a rationale. It's about how a lot of old parents in India are left in the lurch because their children, who have migrated to other countries, don't care for them.
