“Script writing need not stick to any grammar. It is a writer’s experience and can be about anything,” says filmmaker Naveen. Pragmatic to the core, the Moodar Koodam - fame director wants to break free from the stereotype. “If you try to follow successful writers then the story is not yours,” he says.
Every individual is a story writer and it starts early in life. “In school, when a student attempts to give a reason for his absence from the class, he spins a yarn and his creativity comes to the fore. Many of us don’t nurture the talent and drop out midway,” he says.
Naveen says he developed the storytelling skill in school. “I decided to become a filmmaker when I was in ninth standard. I used to narrate stories and tell my friends it was from a film popular at that time. It took them years to find out the stories I told were my own and not from the film,” he chuckles.
Inventively staged scenes of Moodar Koodam speak volumes about his potential. Naveen’s grasp over the script is total. “Content is the key that takes you to great heights. When I started the project, I was not in a position to offer even coffee to my friends. But the content brought like-minded friends to me and we bravely ventured in. I saw obstacles as opportunities and stuck to my strengths,” he says.
Naveen’s uncompromising attitude towards his project landed him in financial problems as there were not many takers. “When I narrated the script to producers, many rejected, some wanted corrections and many questioned the narrative style. But I did not budge as I trusted the audience,” he says. Finally, Naveen decided to go on his own and the result is there for everyone to see.
Coming from Kavundapadi town near Erode, Naveen joined Chimbudevan as an assistant director and worked in films like Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi and later joined director Pandiraj and worked in the award-winning film Pasanga . It was a good learning experience for him.
“There is no harm in making films with a message but an entertainment element is required to attract the audience. It can be either in the content or in the treatment. It is like a sugar coated pill,” he says.
Naveen also packs his content with humour. Even when he narrates the struggles he faced while making the movie Moodar Koodam , he tells humorously how his team made up with a waist coat for the character of Salim Bhai in the movie when the scene warranted a full suit and coat. Naveen also scores with the dialogues. It won him an award.
Talking about the craze for films in Tamil Nadu, Naveen feels the digital revolution is a big boon for many aspiring youngsters. “Now, everyone can become an independent filmmaker and short-filmmakers are on the rise because of this. It has provided a platform to identify talents,” says Naveen, who is busy producing his next project ‘ Kurinji ’, which is directed by his associate Dhanaram Saravanan. “Set in a village backdrop, the film will be a full-length entertainer,” he says.
