Rakshasudu is releasing this week and Suriya is patiently giving interviews to the media and obliging selfie requests too. His genteel demeanour and clarity in speaking, leaves listeners totally impressed. O we begin with the reason behind setting up 2D Entertainments and if Jyothika’s latest film will be released in Telugu. He answers: “Studio Green belongs to Gnanavel Raja, he is family to us but 2D wants to have its own identity. ‘2D’ is synonymous with my kids Diya and Dev and we want to do films that are closer to us. I can’t force my ideas on the other banner. Jo and me felt there is a big void in family-based films.Content for such films has not beem marketed well. Being a father of eight and a four year old, I am not able to take them to films that they can enjoy. So it is my effort now to bring in content they can see.” He goes on “Before 36 Vayithinile , we realised that lot of women haven’t been coming to the theatres for the past 10 years. Though distributors and theatre owners have been saying that in Tamil Nadu, 20 lakh people watch a film, there are a lot of people who are yet to come to theatres and there are those who stopped believing such films will come some day. This film 36 Vayithinile will be released soon here, there is no need to make it with another actor as Jyotika is a known person here.”
Ask him about the children-based Haiku , and Suriya reveals that he had actually wanted to begin 2D with a newcomer, but after 50 and 60 scripts narration, he felt it was going nowhere. Meanwhile, Pandiraj came up with a bound script and he being a national award winner twice, Suriya didn’t think twice. He avers, “I dubbed for Taarey Zameen Par and I have also been part of that script and I connected with it . Pandiraj sir’s story was entertaining and had a message. I also play a small part in the film.”
We move on to Brothers which had been dubbed by him. Wouldn’t he release his films as bilinguals? “We have been talking. There are a lot of things that go behind making a script — a producer coming on board, director and me coming in at the right time. We were supposed to start towards the end of this year and it got pushed. I promised the director I will be in touch with him soon. Meanwhile, Karthi’s and Nag sir’s film began and I am very happy with the association. Vikram Kumar who made Manam came up with a wonderful script 24 . ”
How different are Tamil and Telugu audiences? “I hear that the Telugu audience want more happiness, not hard-hitting stories like the Madurai-based stories from Bala and Vetrimaaran. People do appreciate reality-based subjects but the segment is small. If you take theatres in Tamil Nadu, there are about 400 good screens but here it is 1,500 screens. In 300 theatres it will be appreciated but that is again a small audience. We don’t want to disappoint the 1,500 single screen audience.”
Suriya says Rakshasudu is a feel-good entertainer. It is a new idea that Venkat Prabhu has planted in the film which he wouldn’t want to reveal now. He adds, “I also believe in what I was excited as a child. More than the love and action, certain elements stayed in my heart. ..how did the director get this idea, what if it happens in real life. I am sure that if it connects with elders it will connect with kids too. It is true that the film is releasing in multiple theatres. With every film the market for an actor keeps growing. Multiplexes keep coming up, that is not an achievement for an actor. I always value my story and that is of utmost importance.”
Suriya adds, “We had another script as exciting as Singham 3 but I go with the gut feeling of the director. I also do stories that come to me, I will do what best I can to make it better and watchable. I am happy I did 7th Sense. I like to do films with content that people will remember for a longer time and hasn’t been seen before. Such stuff excites me.”
Finally there is good news for Suriya and Jyotika’s fans — a film starring them together. Says Suriya, “I just want to make a proper announcement. We had four or five sittings with two directors who have pitched good scripts. Both of us liked them but asked for ten months time. So whoever comes first, we will take it up; maybe next year,” smiles Suriya.
