Bharathiraja’s lookalike
He could be easily mistaken for veteran director Bharathiraja. That’s only natural, for P. Jayaraj is his brother! “That’s not the reason for my late entry into films. I have not come across an ideal character or story to give acting a shot, till recently. Further, I have been busy producing films (which include Nizhalgal, Kathal Oviyam and En Uyir Thozhan directed by Bharathiraja). Mooch is my second film after Kathukutti which is into post-production. I play a doctor specialising in mental disorders in Mooch , while in the first film I play the hero’s father, a politician,” says Jayaraj who is in the process of finalising his third film this week. What about direction? “I have never been interested in that and now, at my age, it is too late. My son is getting ready to venture into direction and I will be content with doing some character roles to satisfy my inner urge,” reveals Jayaraj.
A melting pot of cultures
Director Don Sandy feels different parts of the state offer diverse backdrops when it comes to subjects tackled by films. “For instance, when a story is set in North Madras, it will have thugs and goondas. If it is in a village, it will have a rural flavour. When it is southern Tamil Nadu, violence gains importance. In the course of scripting this movie based on some real incidents in the city, I felt that Mahabalipuram offered the best backdrop for my suspense thriller of the same name. It had the essence of a village, the lifestyle of a city and an international outlook among the residents, especially the tourist guides and shops that cater to tourists. Most of them speak French and English fluently,” says Don Sandy who has cast Karna, Ramesh, Vetri, Karthik and Vinayak (also the producer) in the main roles.
Love transcends all
Set in a traditional family in a village, the story of Agathinai talks of the need to respect love without bringing religion or caste into play. “ Agathinai depicts a father-daughter relationship and how, when the girl falls in love, there is turmoil in the family. The screenplay will show love as an important emotion transcending all barriers. The story spans two generations of the family,” says director U. P. Maruthu, fresh from the success of directing a long-running TV serial Athipookal . Maruthu has cast Varma and Mahima in the lead roles in Agathinai.
