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Posted in: Cinema: Tamil, Interview
Interview: Vasanth (30 years of Keladi Kanmani, 25 years of Aasai)
Posted on September 9, 2020
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Baradwaj Rangan 
H. Prasanna
September 9, 2020
For me, it is hard to believe that Keladi Kanmani and Aasai were only five years apart. I watched them both as a child, and it seems so distant, yet similar, in aesthetics, storytelling, and approach to the “mature” content. Curious to hear Vasanth’s take on how they are similar/different.
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rsylviana
September 10, 2020
This should be good! Vasanth had a ear for good music, hope there were questions surrounding that too… Looking forward.
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brangan
September 10, 2020
Part 1 is up.
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Bala
September 10, 2020
Wow, the best video I have seen in this space so far.
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Madan
September 11, 2020
Agreed with Bala. Watched only half of it so far but the behind the scenes for Niveda and Mannil Intha Kadhal were brilliant.
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brangan
September 11, 2020
Thanks, Bala and Madan.
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Macaulay Perapulla
September 11, 2020
His music instincts are terrific. I loved how he brought new music directors for Yeh Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke. One of my favourite album of his. He had a penchant for carnatic, like KB. Can you imagine a song like “Konja Naal Poru thalaiva” with ajith in today’s context? During my school days, I remember the excitement that was in the air, when we were in the music scene. During Yeh Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke shoots in Mylapore, I interacted with him. Found him to be very amicable.
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Madan
September 11, 2020
The part from where I paused yesterday is even better. That Thatha-peran example to explain how Rahman was different from Raja was brilliant. It’s not accurate if you get down to details but the point is more about the broad directions and emphasis of the music.
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Guru
September 11, 2020
BR, I would like to know why he turned down directing Annamalai. I don’t know if you raised this question in part 2, if not then request you to ask this if you get another interview with him.
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madhusudhan194
September 11, 2020
His films were always crafted well. Unlike other directors popular in the 90s like KS Ravikumar and Suresh Krishna, Vasanth still seems to have an eye for a good visual style. Even some of his lesser films aren’t exactly bad films. It’s surprising that he’s made very films in the mainstream after Rhythm.
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brangan
September 11, 2020
Part 2 is up.
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abishekspeare
September 11, 2020
Long live the BR
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Aravind Sethuraman
September 11, 2020
what an interview, such an unassuming director, it is unbelievable such a director did Keladi kanmani , aasai and rhythm.. thanks for this gem, BR
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N Madhusudhan
September 11, 2020
This is such a lovely lovely interview. I have always liked his films but i have a newfound love and respect for Vasanth. Hope Sivaranjiniyum releases soon on OTT. Thank you BR.
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Enna koduka sir pera
September 11, 2020
Watched part 1 – so enjoyable to listen to him! So unassuming, and in love with music and movies.. Took us down a memory lane which many of us have not tread (about how movies were made in the 80s, 90s)
Rhythm is one of my favorite movies in Tamil… Such a sensible movie would have only been directed by a sensible person like him..
And BR – what a great interview 🙂
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praneshp
September 12, 2020
Ha, I was annoyed you didn’t mention rhythm in your preview, but he brought it up almost right away.
Thanks, this chat was really good; you are awesome at letting the interviewee talk.
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brangan
September 12, 2020
Thanks, all.
Aravind Sethuraman: such an unassuming director, it is unbelievable such a director did Keladi kanmani , aasai and rhythm..
Can you explain why you feel this surprise that an “unassuming” person had made these films? Serious question.
praneshp: you are awesome at letting the interviewee talk.
Haha, thanks, but it’s also that me and my terrific editor work very hard to remove all my prompting and all the extraneous information (from both sides) and sometimes even swap/switch entire passages so that the interview appears as seamless as possible. It’s a technique I learnt through constant practice while editing the Mani Ratnam book 🙂
So these interviews have a pre-prod, shoot, and post stage 🙂
I am really happy with how this interview has turned out. Watched it again, and my unscripted question at 41.50 is so satisfying. I have other questions here that make me wince and wish had been worded better, but I am not saying which ones those are 😀
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H. Prasanna
September 12, 2020
@BR Looking at the process, these are becoming more and more like documentaries 🙂 Hopefully, you and your editor will find a line to make a full-fledged one soon featuring inputs from different artists.
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Guru
September 12, 2020
Wonderful wonderful interview. Thank you BR!
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Eswar
September 13, 2020
This is a beautiful interview, BR. Thank you. Over the years I think I had developed some respect for Vasanth. Don’t know how, but partly to do with the way he handled love rejection in Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! So I was looking forward for this interview. Totally enjoyed it. The last twenty minutes in part two where he philosophises failure is a life lesson. Thank you 🙏
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gsriram72
September 13, 2020
Excellent interview BR.
I am not surprised that these ADs from the school of KB are well read and have a great ear for music. I think they believe in logic and closure of loops. They are not favourites of open endings….
I had an chance (brief 2 word) chat with him at Alankar (Mount Road) during a night show of Roja.
As someone tweeted, all these ADs have been influenced by KB (Stories & Themes) and Ananthu (Screenplay) who was a pillar to KB. He was the go to screenplay guy for many of these people (including KH) in the 80s and 90s.
Thank you for the wonderful interviews.
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