A scene from ‘Chutney Sambar’ and director Radha Mohan | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement and Shiv Raj S
It was a pleasant surprise for director Radha Mohan when I told him that it has been 20 years since he started with this film. Azhagiya Theeye (2004). “I wouldn’t have realised it if you hadn’t mentioned it. It’s been very eventful and I’ve learnt a lot. Being a part of this industry for so long is a big deal in itself and I’m happy about it,” smiles the filmmaker, who is making his OTT debut with Disney+ Hotstar. Chutney Sambar starring Yogi Babu in the lead role.
Excerpts from the conversation:
What inspired you to debut in a web-series at this stage of your career?
Web-series have become an indispensable medium in the world of entertainment and I have been wanting to do this for quite some time now. Unlike a film, a series needs a big story. When this story came up, the idea of making a film on it came up. It is a story that only Yogi Babu can lead and if he was not there, I would have left the project. When he said he liked the story, I started developing it and then the tie-up with Hotstar and Vels International happened.
When they put forward the idea of turning it into a series – a format I had been eyeing for a while – I jumped on board. We also felt that while there has been a flood of murder mysteries, something fun and humorous would be a welcome change. Since the script structure is different, we worked on the story, added more characters and made sure there was a hook at the end of each episode.
A scene of ‘Chutney Sambar’. Photo Credit: @disneyplusHSTam/YouTube
You said that you would have left the project if Yogi Babu was not involved…
I couldn’t think of anyone else for this role. Whether it’s his look or the backstory of his character in the series, only he could play this role. Not all comedians can play the lead character. The idea was not to make him a hero; he is apt for this role and I have done that before (in these) uppu karuvadu) I have always believed that Yogi Babu is not just a comedian and can also present serious emotions in his own unique style. He is a spontaneous actor who improvises with dialogues on the set, so the way he presents emotional scenes is also unique.
How different is it to write for a series as opposed to a film, and given that it’s easier to write episode-wise cliffhangers for a thriller, how did you approach that for a comedy-drama?
In films, there is only so much we can write for supporting roles, but in a series there is space for each of them to have their own arcs and goals that impact the overall story. Writing such characters was challenging. We also have to arouse their curiosity at the end of each episode and this is something that has to remain relevant to the story; it cannot be deliberately confusing as we often see in crime thrillers. Thankfully, it all came together well.
When you made ‘Malaysia to Amnesia’ (2021), which had a direct streaming release, you said that you usually shoot keeping in mind how films are viewed on the big screen. But this time, you had to do it for the small screen; how different is OTT content from a making perspective?
This is the biggest learning curve. The idea is to create content that makes an impact when viewed on a mobile phone. For example, for an emotional scene, a mid-take shot might not make as much impact as a close-up does; especially if it is a performance-heavy scene rather than dialogue-oriented.
Directed by Radha Mohan | Photo Credit: Shiva Raj S
You are known for your feel-good films, though you have tried to shed this tag with films like ‘Payanam’ and ‘Gouravam’. How do you look at it?
For me, it depends on which story I am confident of working on at that moment. It doesn’t matter if it is out of my comfort zone or a different genre. I don’t set out to make a feel-good film or a comedy film. If I have four stories in different stages of development, they could be a romantic story or even a fantasy story. To develop a project, there are other criteria too like finding the right production house. So depending on whichever is shaping up well, I go with it.
Speaking of this topic, filmmakers are now also expected to learn the commerce behind filmmaking and how to package the product…
Irrespective of the medium or the scale of the film, keeping an eye on the budget should always be a priority for filmmakers. If a film needs a big budget to be made, there should be a plan on how to recover it. Similarly, if it is a small film, you need to know how to work within the limitations. If a project needs a big budget, there should be patience to wait for the right cast and producer.
You have often worked with actors like Prakash Raj, MS Bhaskar and Elango Kumaravel and given us some memorable supporting roles. Is it just that you are comfortable with such artistes and that is why you have got the opportunity to work together so many times?
If I am doing a big film with a star, it will have many elements including a villain and the focus will be primarily on them. In my films, most of the time, the main characters’ conflict is often their villain. I have always believed that I need strong supporting characters to carry the plot forward.
Maybe because most of Bhaskar’s roles become so memorable, it seems like he is the one in all my films! But I never write characters keeping actors in mind. But somewhere, I have a lot of respect for these actors; if I know they fit a character well, I don’t hold back.
A scene of ‘Chutney Sambar’. Photo Credit: @disneyplusHSTam/YouTube
Unlike the Malayalam film industry, where big stars play lead roles in big as well as medium-budget films, we don’t see this happening in Tamil cinema.
Apart from the audience who watch the film for the content, we have a huge number of fans since the 60s who watch films for the stars in it. Producers want to take advantage of this and actors also don’t like to do small films. Big stars doing small films often end up being failures because the audience doesn’t want to see them in such projects. In Kerala, I think the mindset of the audience allows them to watch all kinds of films. Here, big stars are becoming bigger thanks to pan-India films which is good for the industry.
What has been your biggest achievement in these two decades as a filmmaker?
What I am learning today is what will take me forward, not the experience of 20 years ago. I am not active on social media, but I should know how people use and misuse it. If I stop learning, observing and updating myself, I will become extinct. If I am saying something, it will be taken one way by someone of my age group and another way by the youth. Their perspective is important and I surround myself with young ADs. It is important to keep yourself updated and learning is the way to move forward.
Chutney Sambar will stream on Disney+ Hotstar from July 26
