Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2001 3:16 am
Posts: 4259
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It was to be released in December, but ARR didn't have the songs ready, so now it is supposed to be released by the end of February.
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/Intervi ... Surya.html
S J Surya...Producer, Director & Hero Of Film 'New"
SJ Surya looks dazzling. He is not only the producer and director of the film, but he also plays the hero. His heroine? Simran.
The film is half ready. We wanted to know how the film is shaping up. So we met SJ Surya at his office.
He talked a lot. It was fun.
Tell us about 'New'. How is the film shaping up?
'New' is shaping up newly and fine. Why do I call my film 'new'? that's because the story is new. The film has been borrowed from an English film named 'Big', but it isn't a shot by shot replica. In that film, an eight year old boy suddenly grows up into a big man. In 'New', Manivanan is a scientist. I have shown how he makes an eight year old boy become a big man. There is a sentimental note in 'Mrs Doubtfire'. He dresses himself as a woman because he wants to be near his wife and child. There is no sentiment in 'Big'. But, I have brought in a sentiment in the story and rewrote the screenplay and story. There's nothing else common between the films. The deaf and mute character in 'Vaali' and the clash of egos in 'Kushi' haven't been borrowed from any other film.
I always approach my films from a psychological point of view. I take up a subject that suit an art film and make a commercial film out of it. An elder brother lusting for his younger brother's wife is a subject that suits an art film. Everybody has negative thoughts. That was 'Vaali'. There's ego in everybody. That's 'Kushi'. There's a child in every grown up man. That's 'New'.
You have become a hoer. How are the transformations and change?
I'm like an alligator. The power of an alligator is at its peak only if it is in the waters. If there is no tension, I become too lazy. I was settling down comfortably in directing. I was afraid that it was going to destroy me. So, I became a hero. There was a search in this. Being a director, producer and hero at the same time was a big responsibility. I loved it.
If you ask me, I would say that it is riskier to make a film with no risks. I take risks. So, my films turn out well.
Then why did you get Ajith to play the hero first?
Just when I began 'New', I got the offer to do the Hindi version of 'Khushi'. So, I was caught up for two years. Ajith got busy with his other films. And, I wanted to do this film myself. I asked Ajith. He gladly accepted.
There is news that there is too much of glamour in 'New'.
There will be glamour. (Laughs) I cant make films without glamour. Human beings cant live without glamour. Without glamour, why have entertainment at all? In five star hotels, they add a dash of coriander leaves on your dosa. Why? To make it look more attractive and glamorous. Life is not worth living without glamour.
What is Simran's role in the film?
She is a 28 year old woman who is in love with a man who is actually an eight year old kid.
For example- Girls expect that their lovers would take them to the beach or to the films. But, here, Simran's lover takes her to MGM and Kishkintha and plays on the merry-g-rounds and slides. She is annoyed at this.
Is Simran okay with acting with new heroes?
She is India's Julia Roberts. She looks good in any combination. She was the heroine in the film that I had directed. She is the heroine of the film that has me as the hero.
Simran usually is concerned only about the story. There is a change of trends among the audience. Hero, heroine or the director is not important. If the story is good and if everybody works for such a story, the film succeeds. If the story is bad, it flops even if the director is a big shot. These days, the audience makes up its mind by just watching the trailers alone. They listen to the audios too. So, these should be very attractive too. Only then do they come to the theatres.
How many heroines do you have in this film?
Excluding Simran, there are 5 other heroines- Devayani, Kiran and three other heroines for my opening song alone. One heroine for the 'pallavi' and two more heroines for each stanza. But, the main heroine is Simran.
New heroes are succeeding today. Is this good news for you?
It is. It wasn't so when I began shooting this film. But, the trend has changed. These are good things and are going to help me with my attempt.
You had strong screenplays in both your films. How did you get so good at screenplay?
It's a gift. When you are talking to me, a part of your mind asks your question and another part listens and nods your head. In all instances, my mind works in two parts. This helps me with the screenplay. Its better to experience it that explaining it. When I fight with another man, a part of my mind fights with him, another part observes the way I fight and says, "hey, I was fighting really well!" this helps a lot in writing screenplay.
It has been more than three years since you had a Tamil film released.
All I want is the faith of the audience that my films would be good. I cant simply complete the shooting and hand over the dubbing and editing to someone else. I enjoy what I do. I'm making this film in Tamil and Telugu ('Naani'). The, it will be remade in Hindi too. That's why it takes three years to complete a film.
Gaps are no big deal. I was here for 28 years before I made 'Vaali'. It took me 28 years to make 'Vaali'. So, three years don't look too big. But, I have a feast for the audience for waiting for three years.
Why did 'Kushi' not do so well in Hindi?
The timing wasn't right. We had released the film during World Cup Cricket. That was the problem. Even the film was made in Tamil and Telugu, it was a flop in the first week. Even 'Vaali' had a similar fate. The films picked up only gradually. It should have been the same way in Hindi too.
In the first week of its release, they said that 'Kushi' didn't have a story at all and that Jyothika was overacting. Soon, they began appreciating me for making a film without story at all and began praising me for making Jyothika perform like Shivaji Ganeshan! I have heard these with my own ears. The film has to sustain for one week atleast. But, during this crucial time, the young crowd was watching Cricket at home. That was why the Hindi 'Kushi' flopped.
Let's hear something about your heroines.
I have told you about Simran before. Her greatest plus is the way she maintains her body. She makes you feel as if you were working with Saroja Devi of yesteryears.
If only Jyothika had Simran's figure, she would have been an international star now. She is such a talented actress. She has some shades of Savithri in her. Her huge eyes are her greatest assets.
Bhoomika has a beautiful face. Hough she didn't know the language, she was very sincere to her work. She can't overact. That's her gift.
Kareena Kapoor is the smaller version of Raj Kapoor. She has a very lively body language. The problem with her is- she hasn't had a good story to suit her personality yet. She has the potential and energy to be another Shivaji Ganeshan. Her acting talents haven't been as recognized as her looks and glamour have. That's her plus and minus.
You had a kissing scene in the climax of 'Kushi' in Tamil. Why didn't you have them in the Telugu and Hindi versions?
I had changed the climax in Telugu. I didn't even show Bhoomika uniting with Pavan Kalyan. But, I had a title '8 years later' appearing and showed them with a series of kids. So, I didn't have the kissing scene.
Kareena Kapoor refused to kiss on the lips. I tried to convince her, but she wouldn't agree. So, I dropped the idea.
There are lots of gossips about you. Why, Surya?
I don't know either. I don't behave like a director in my Unit. I'm their friend. So, there's no director-artist boundary. Maybe that's why there are so many gossips about me.
Marriage?
Let me achieve something with 'New' first. Only then am I going to think about my personal life. If I succeed, I might even go to Hindi as an actor. Anything could happen.
Why did you shift to AR Rehman in 'New'? Deva is your permanent music director, right?
For a long time I wanted to work with AR Rehman. It kept getting postponed. Once I was on my way from Mumbai to Chennai by plane. AR Rehman was sitting in front of me. I told him that I wanted to work with him in a film. He asked me to tell him the story. I agreed. He was surprised that I was ready with the story. The journey was I hour 25 minutes long. By the time the plane landed at Chennai, he had signed up the film.
I haven't seen a genius like that who is immersed 24 hours in music with his keyboard. I'm happy that I got to work with a genius like that. It's because a Tamilian Indian who lives in Subbarayan Street, Kodambakkam is a world known celebrity now. This is not an ordinary achievement. I hope that our relationship continues for a very long time. Songs have come out very well. AR Rehman is like an ocean. You just have to equip yourself with a good oxygen tank and be prepared to go real deep to come out with treasures.
But, AR Rehman seems to be synonymous with delays these days…
He is very clear about it. If you have patience, you can approach him. Else, don't confuse yourself. He is the goose that lays golden eggs. If you harass it too much, you will get into troubles. He is very sincere with his work. I have seen him sleep only three hours a day. Directors keep repeating him only because he is good, right?
The posters that had you and Simran kissing each other deeply made big news when the film was launched. Does the film have such scenes?
(Laughs) The film didn't need those scenes. It has even bigger bonuses. The film has everything that a man runs into in his everyday life- glamour, sentiments, sex, comedy, action…My films like 'Vaali' and 'Kushi' appealed only to the younger crowd. This film is going to be liked by the whole family.
I hope that the name that I had earned in 'Vaali' and the pleasure that 'Kushi' gave me continue with 'New' too. Usually, when the audience sees a film for Rs 50, they get pleasure worth Rs 250. If the distributors are willing to buy the area rights of 'New' for Rs 50 Lakhs, I can assure them that they would get returns worth Rs 150 Lakhs. That's why I had spent more than 3 and ½ years on the same story. I'm not saying this out of overconfidence. I say this out of the extreme hard work that I had put into it.
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