There’s no pretence about Suseenthiran. He accepts his failures and is sportive about everything. Most of his films, be it Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009), Naan Mahan Alla (2010), or Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer (2013) — have fared well at the box-office. He sounds confident as he awaits the release of Maaveeran Kittu. He tells City Express, “I do what the story demands.
Paayum Puli (2015) was the only film which I wrote for a hero — Vishal. Otherwise, I pick heroes for my scripts. I have always believed that the script is the real hero. Moreover, for many years now, I watch movies based on who has directed them.”
Speaking about the Vishnu Vishal-starrer Maaveeran Kittu, he says it’s an emotional action thriller with a social message. “The story is based on a real-life incident that happened in my village near Palani. Of course, I have added my own imagination to it,” he adds.
Ask him if the script revolves around the controversial LTTE subject, he denies it. “Just because my movie has Kittu in it, doesn’t mean I have dealt with Eelam issue. The hero of my film fights for a cause. There are many Kittu(s) in the society like him,” he smiles.
Suseenthiran feels that the film would work well with the audience. “Maaveeran... is set against a 80s backdrop. I have attempted a village-based script after Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu. I don’t want to open up much because often there are people who say, ‘Dei idhu yen kadha da’ (It’s my story),” he laughs.
After a short pause, he adds, “The last three films I made haven’t been commercial hits, though the critics praised them. Wherever I go, I keep hearing that I am capable only of doing ‘art house movies’. I am sure that Maaveeran...would give me a huge break in terms of collection. It will cater to all kinds of audiences.”
So why are most of his films deal with controversial social subjects? He grins, “No social message can be conveyed without controversy. I’d like to make more people-centric films. I have had many asking me ‘do you think your films are going to make a difference?’ I tell them that we are like farmers. We’re sowing the seeds of awareness. It’s for the people to pick them up.”
It was his confidence in Vishnu that made Suseenthiran’ pick him again for this film. “I have been seeing his career graph since 2009. He’s my boy and I’m confident that both of us can deliver a hit together. I want my actors to trust me. He and Soori both do that. He’ll be in my films mostly,” he says.
Does he know why his films didn’t do well at the box-office? “You’re talking about Rajapattai (2011)? Vikram and I had many differences of opinion. The script was not in my control, but it was a huge learning curve. I was back on track only after I realised it was a failure. Let’s be practical, every film can’t be a success. At the same time, I know my strengths and weaknesses as a filmmaker. I have clarity in what I am doing. And I’m the only filmmaker who has had eight releases in 10 years. I am calculative,” he elaborates.
What’s next? “I don’t understand where people pick up rumours from. Vijay and I met a few years ago, and it was only a courtesy call. Someone tweeted that we’re both are doing a project together. Similar reports were carried in newspapers as well. As of now, I have finalised my next — Tamil-Telugu bilingual with Vikranth and Sundeep Kishan. I want to work with actors who are willing to push themselves hard for the film,” explains.