Manikandan talks about his next film, Kadaisi Vivasayi (The Last Farmer), and why Rajinikanth would be great for the lead role. He talks about how he uses realism as a tool, and how a director needs time to confirm his talents. He says you shouldn’t make issues too strong, and you shouldn’t have only entertainment, without any message. He says not everyone will get the layers in a movie. He says a director can create engagement value through image, sound, a melody. In a visual medium, he says you have to think of images rather than dialogue. He says he won’t allow anyone to affect the core story, not even the producer. He says a lot of films don’t need background music, and talks about the Indian tradition of using music right when the emotion begins, not just to underline it. He talks about lensing and colour palettes. He analyses why he is considered uncompromising. He talks about keeping a hero’s image in mind, about the use of film festivals. He says doors open more easily for commercial filmmakers.
QUOTES
I am not an activist or documentary maker or journalist. I am a filmmaker.
Someone who reads an article in a magazine is different from someone who shells out Rs. 500 to watch a movie.
If someone does not have the sensibility, then they won’t get the layers in a movie.
Most people do not get the politics behind it, or how we use pizza as a metaphor.
You can create that engagement value through image, sound, a melody… That depends on the director.
If I try to force broad humour into a film like Kutrame Thandanai, the core audience for the film will not like it.
My tool is realism.
When everything is fictional, you have to show the people as real.
My films have no duets, fight, comedy, or villains. So I need layers.
A man may do bad things all his life, but in his last years he’ll do many good things and our opinion of him will change.
This is a visual medium. You have to think of images rather than dialogue.
I won’t allow anyone to affect the core story, not even the producer.
A lot of films don’t need background music.
You participate in Kaaka Muttai. You observe Aandavan Kattalai.
Once Vijay Sethupathi was fixed, I removed the scene where the hero gets beaten up.
Doors open more easily for commercial filmmakers.
I got the idea for Kadaisi Vivasayi after finishing Kaaka Muttai.
Among the three main characters, we asked Yogi Babu to play one. And Vijay Sethupathi for another. These are characters people will like a lot.
The main lead in Kadaisi Vivasayi is about 75 years old. He is hearing-impaired.
If not Rajinikanth, then we can only cast a real-life farmer. There’s a certain build, skin tone… other actors don’t have that.
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Baradwaj Rangan 
Pavan
February 10, 2018
When everything is fictional, you have to show the people as real.
Gold! Thanks for the interview BR 🙂
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BTR
February 10, 2018
He seems to be really intelligent and articulate. Loved all his movies. And could see you thinking “namma aalu da ivan” when he said “I am not an activist or documentary maker or journalist. I am a filmmaker”. 😀
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Vivek narain
February 10, 2018
Even the real people are fictional,but you won’t know it unless you come very close to them. So people can be shown as real,though there is no such thing as reality. We are all fakes and alliterative.
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Jupaah
February 10, 2018
Loved the interview. Was very surprised to hear shooting for KV begins only in a month or so…if this is a story written after Kakka Muttai and he writes after meeting a lot of people and collecting all relevant info to weave his story and he already had his producer, why this delay? He probably shoots only for 30-40 days and this could still be out in summer but timelines were very confusing.
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Rohan
February 11, 2018
Interesting interview. But BR you seem quite obsessed with exploring how all he has compromised (bowed to mainstream constraints). Why the preoccupation with that? Do you not believe that there is a space that can be created for art cinema in TN? (you mention Kerala here). Specifically, questions to Manikandan such as “Will you make an all out commercial entertainer?” and probes along those lines seemed… unnecessary, unbecoming even.
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bprdbc
February 11, 2018
Nice article
http://vega2020.com/allu-arjun-stylish-star-and-successful-hero-from-mega-star-family/
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Maru
February 11, 2018
Brangan, thank you so much for this exceptional conversation, this may be my fave of all the interviews you’ve done so far. It gave me a real sense of how and why his films are shaped as they are and I think it evolved thanks to a mind meld (to use a pop phrase of our times 😀 ) between the two of you as BTR mentioned too. Can’t wait for his next film and your next conversation with an interesting filmmaker.
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"Original" venkatesh
February 11, 2018
Thank you for doing this in Tamil, BR.
Its clear how much more comfortable the director is with the local language.
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GODZ
February 12, 2018
There is a line in this interview “If you take the classic film, each one is like a book”. Each of these interviews are so much rich in content, Tips and Practical insights. These interviews have so many layers that anyone can take significant takeaways ranging from a casual moviegoer to say an aspiring filmmaker. I won’t call these interviews as just “interview”. I would title it as “Conversations with BR” as these are not typical interviews with some standard questions.
Coming back to the interview, Its just Wow. Manikandan speaks with Such genuine confidence and one can see so much organic thinking (depth of understanding and not on a superficial level) in him. I also liked when he said, “We cannot say they are the right audience only if they get it”. It’s really happy to see someone who respects mainstream audience as much he respects his work. I also liked when he compared his film content with Flavour and the thought that adding other things may dilute or make entire thing unuseful for anyone. I see him as a more refined version of Selvaraghavan
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Aadhy
February 12, 2018
This is going down as one of my favorite interviews BR, after Mysskin’s. Loved your in-depth questions and also Manikandan’s enthusiasm in answering those. Manikandan seemed visibly pleased at talking to someone who’s been following his work closely and had so much to ask/talk about in detail. I wish you do such interviews with filmmakers like Karthik Subbaraj, Ranjith, Raam, GVM and Vetrimaaran (the one with him already was only about Oscars), and hopefully Bala as well. They all make different kind of films and differ in craftsmanship, but still have a distinct, idiosyncratic voice.
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brangan
February 12, 2018
Thanks, all.
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Rahul
February 12, 2018
Terrific interview! I have not seen all or even most of BR’s interviews but I thought in this one, the questions sometimes were as long as the answers, which is a rarity (for BR)
Really liked the way Manikandan has made the point that realism is a device in the toolbox of the director, and it is not some aesthetic ideal that everyone should aspire for. Rosellini had also made this point in a terrific interview that I can’t find any more.
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Filistine
February 13, 2018
BR, how do you decide which language to interview in? Manikandan seemed very comfortable speaking in Tamil, and yet, some of the phrases he used suggested that he may have been proficient in English as well. Do you ask the interviewee about the language of comfort and then frame your questions in that language?
This interview really worked because it was in Tamil. Similarly, the one with Mysskin seemed right that it was done in English, as he seemed quite comfortable expressing himself in English
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gaya3arunn
February 13, 2018
This is the first interview I watched. My husband recommended it highly and said I would love it. Yeah. I did love it. I loved the way Manikandan expressed himself or not expressed himself. Words may not be his forte or I guess, he always thinks visually rather verbally like he mentioned. He is not trying to project himself an impressive director or anything. He portrayed himself as an ordinary and pleasant guy, just like his movies and looked that part too. Wow, he is not trying to prove anything to this world, he just likes to make films the way he wants. That’s the part I liked the most.
At least when interviewing niche directors, you should refrain from asking inane questions like do you want to make commercial entertainer. We really want to pick his mind on how he bring layers or depth visually rather than whether he wants to direct a mass movie or not.
Awesome interview BR and Manikandan is the most amazing, not just as a director but as a person too.
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brangan
February 13, 2018
gaya3arunn: At least when interviewing niche directors, you should refrain from asking inane questions like do you want to make commercial entertainer.
See, where I come from, a commercial movie is a very good thing. It is as hard to make a good commercial film as it is to make an Aandavan Kattalai. So I am very much interested in knowing whether a filmmaker with Manikandan’s sensibilities is (a) interested in making these films, and (b) if so, what kind it will be.
I would hate for filmmakers to get slotted as just one kind of director.
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Naveen
February 14, 2018
an excellent session BR. i loved the way the camera lingers on your face for a moment and you hold that child like inquisitiveness before the camera moves to the director’s face for the answer. this happens quite often. gives a very real feel.
further both of you are on the same plane and there is a great sense of relatability in your questions to the very things he would have thought about or would have liked to be asked about. this is unlike some of the sessions where the interviewee is put on a pedestal ( like MR or GVM ) by most of their interviewers.
yes, this seems to be the best interview so far in your series. it helped that this was a reasonably long interview.
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Srinivas R
February 14, 2018
Very nice interview, loved the line from Manikandan – “Iyalba irundha philosophy edhuvum thevai illa”. Loved your questions too. I really wish he makes a full blooded action movie soon. We need directors who think visually to be making full fledged mainstream movies. I am also eager to watch Kadaisi vivasayi
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shaviswa
February 15, 2018
This is such a wonderful interview. Manikandan comes across as an extremely thoughtful film maker. May his tribe increase.
It is sad that someone like him, despite the kind of films he has made and the credibility he has gained through those, could not even get to meet a star like Rajinikanth. With such a fence around him, the actor is losing out on wonderful projects. We are left to watch horrible movies like Kabali instead.
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arampesu
February 16, 2018
Superb Interview.
@brangan
Are his screenplays and script available somewhere to download and read
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Uma
February 16, 2018
This was an awesome interview. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hats off to you.
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