Cheran doesn’t mince words. Ask the actor-director about the National Award his Thavamai Thavamirundhu bagged for the Best Family Film, or the Best Regional Film honour Malayalam maker T.V. Chandran’s Tamil attempt Aadum Koothu (in which he played hero opposite Navya Nair) received, he is piqued. “Nobody here even acknowledged the achievements. It was Amitabh Bachchan’s pictures that were flashed everywhere. When Sreesanth captures three wickets in an innings, entire Kerala is in raptures. Photos of the cricketer are splashed in newspapers and magazines there! They take pride in their newsmakers. But Aadum Koothu wasn’t even considered for recognition at the State level.” (Aadum…, which is still to see the light of day, is Cheran’s fourth film as an actor.) Cheran looks completely at home in the Chettinad household in his recent release, Pirivom Sandhipom. “Naturally,” he laughs. “I belong to Melur, which is near Karaikudi. So I’m familiar with the lifestyle of the folks there.” The positive public response to the family drama isn’t a total surprise to him. “The narration appealed to me. Director Karu Pazhaniappan was confident that the story would sell, and so was I. We felt it would touch men and women above 30. When films are being made mainly for youth, why not a family-oriented subject for the next age group?” The team’s confidence is reaping dividends.
Though the adept technician is steadily turning into a hero who can deliver, he doesn’t believe in rigorous workouts or a robust physique. It is yoga which he practises. “I understand what suits me best. Flexing muscles isn’t my line. I’m more the ordinary man you come across in life. When a person is investing money in me, it’s only fair that I stick to characters that are a safe bet. Of course, within the parameters I try to lend variety. My next film, Raman Thediya Seethai will be in the same league.”
Then why did he try to be different and burn his fingers in Maya Kannaadi? “Mark my words, 10 years from now, the film will be well received. Yes, commercially it was a disappointment. People couldn’t accept me as a hairstylist. We’d worked hard … When it bombed I was shocked. Till then I hadn’t realised I have an image, and even after the first week of release I was sure it would pick up. The sad part is the media too didn’t understand the film properly. Maya … was a costly eye-opener.”
Cheran’s endeavours as a filmmaker, such as Bharati Kannamma, Vetri Kodi Kattu and Autograph, which he had written, produced, directed and acted, are proofs of his potential. Yet these days he seems satisfied with playing hero. “Financial and family commitments stalled matters on the production and creative fronts. But things are back on track and I’m already working on my next script.”
“Meena has acted in three films under my direction. Her talent amazes me. She lives the roles and brings in admirable nuances to her portrayal. Next it’s Navya Nair. The genuineness of her emotions in Maya … left me dumbstruck! Sneha, of course, was the Divya I had visualised for Autograph. She lived the role, and now, with more experience, she has scored again in Pirivom … The entire story revolves around her and she has done justice. Again Rajkiran is a fine actor. Sad that he’s so under-utilised …”
Cheran’s association with filmmaker-actor Thankar Pachan is intriguing. One moment you hear about their verbal attack against each other and the next moment you see them working together! In fact, it was in Pachan’s Solla Marandha Kadhai that Cheran first played hero. “Thankar is like a child, always impulsive. True, I don’t like certain things about him and vice versa. But he’s also a friend,” he laughs, as you gape at the response, because it’s just a few months since the two almost went to war in print! “But that’s how I really feel,” he smiles.
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