R Madhavan, star of the Amazon Prime original Breathe, talks about his 20-year-old career (his first major role, in the Kannada film Shanti Shanti Shanti, was in 1998). He laughs about being too “mature” for romantic roles, and discusses opting for quality over quantity, and his biggest reality check. He speaks about upcoming projects like Chanda Mama Door Ke, a sci-fi film about an Indian astronaut landing on the moon, and Savyasachi, his Telugu film with Naga Chaitanya. He talks about whether a Rajinikanth or a Shah Rukh Khan is possible anymore, and about the differences between Bollywood and the Tamil film industry — including Dhanush’s role in Raanjhanaa. He speaks on Pushkar-Gayatri’s Vikram Vedha, and about his experiences of working with Mani Ratnam, Anand L Rai, Rituparno Ghosh, Kamal Haasan and Rajkumar Hirani.
Copyright ©2018 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
Aravindan R
January 18, 2018
Such a delight to listen to Madhavan! Thank you! Btw, do you have the source of the demography data that he mentioned? About more thirties consuming movies than the early twenties?
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Vidya Ramesh
January 19, 2018
As one of the 18 year olds who had watched Alaipayuthey and was completely taken by this man I just loved this interview! I had not seen the photo that broke the internet ,I just did and it just brings all those 18 year old memories rushing back 😉
Alaipayuthey was the first movie I had seen after my post 12th entrance exam with a kannada speaking friend. My dad would not let me go watch movies with friends before that. The memory of it is so vivid and good that I can write an entire piece on it.. confessions of a late teen who discovered the movies!
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shaviswa
January 19, 2018
This guy speaks well and was speaking from his heart. Some of those statistics that he threw were a bit hard to believe though.
It was interesting to see your eyes widen and go bright when Madhavan says something and is a cue to your next question 🙂 – good to see both the interviewer and the interviewee being excited to talk and discuss, 🙂
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arampesu
January 20, 2018
Early observations.
1) You are perfectly dressed in that checked shirt (classy middle classy shirt) which works very well given context of who Madhavan is appealing to (The family man who is taking his family to a movie and Maddy doesnt want him/her to lose face)
2) Your interviewing (on video) is improving a lot. I thought of writing a note to you on how you do not have eye contact and instead in a intellectual-clerical manner keep looking at your notes (your earlier interviews had some “moments” lost due to this. ManiR is explaining something and right when he wants you experience the joy you look down to your notes. And I felt bad as I am vicariously playing your character : ) )
Lesser you look at your notes, the more joy is in your face (and without distraction of “hair” you actually show your emotions very well on your face)
(Note to myself: That ended up with way more words than planned)
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arampesu
January 20, 2018
Interesting about Raanjhnaa
//Kundan Shankar (Dhanush) is the only son of Tamil Hindu Brahmin parents settled in Varanasi. //
from wikipedia.
however when I watched the movie I didnt see any justification and I do not even remember this Tamil Hindu Brahmin-ness of this character.
I have seen lot of lean and dark people in North india and especially in UP / Haryana.
So I thought it is more a smart aleck from the street (lower middle class) character.
interesting to see Madhavan talk about Tamil-ness. I am sure he didn’t pick it from the movie but from talking probably to Anand L Rai.
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arampesu
January 20, 2018
Funny:
When you started the 5 directors, and opened it with “Maniratnam” for a few minutes Madhavan looked like he was trying to mimick Maniratnam with that heavy set tone and voice.
(it might be my imagination)
i think this is your best interview. Maddy being so excited and you being so excited made every single moment jump out in a good way.
Congrats!
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Anu Warrier
January 21, 2018
BR, just watched this interview. What can I say? I’ve been a fan of Madhavan’s ever since I watched him in Banegi Apni Baat . (I watched the series just for him and Irfan Khan.)
I found him articulate then and I found him so genuinely endearing in this – his excitement about his work, and his sheer groundedness (is that even a word?) was really good. And I really think this was one of your best interviews – the questions were intelligent, you gave him the space to speak (which is something I have appreciate in all your interviews), and you came across as excited as he was.
Thank you for this discussion (it seemed more like that than an ‘interview’).
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MANK
January 25, 2018
i have always felt that Madhavan is just too overenthusiastic a talker. remember watching a TV interview with the full cast of Rang de basanti at the time of its release and he was trying to upstage everybody else. but this was great. he seemed to have mellowed a lot . as usual , you asked all the right questions. how he described Kamal’s commitment to cinema was wonderful. i cant believe that such a man wants to leave films and join politics.
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Thupparivaalan
January 25, 2018
Loved the interview. Superb questions and Maddy was earnest enough. Looking forward to breathe.
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