Interview: Aravindan

CHIDAMBARAM:

The two films CHIDAMBARAM and ORIDATHU are commercial successes too. Is it due to the changing tastes of the audience or is it because your own films have changed?
Compared to my other films the above two had a sustained story line, especially CHIDAMBARAM. Then there were well-known cine artistes appearing in these films. These may be some of the reasons for their popularity.

Compared to my other films the above two had a sustained story line, especially CHIDAMBARAM. Then there were well-known cine artistes appearing in these films. These may be some of the reasons for their popularity.

You are one of those who firmly believe that cinema is a director's medium and hence have denied the role of popular actors. Also you are one of those directors who is articulate about the aesthetics of 'New Cinema' as opposed to commercial cinema. In CHIDAMBARAM for the first time you have introduced popular actors and actresses as also a linear narrative structure. What could be the reasons for this change?
I liked this story written by C V Sriraman. There were a few specific reasons for making it into a film at that point of time. After spending three years without a producer, I decided to produce this film on my own, which meant that I had to cut down expenses to the minimum. CHIDAMBARAM has only three characters. The village, Mattapatty provided a good backdrop for the film. There were also many friends to help me. Smita Patil had expressed her desire to act in one of my films much before this. Gopi was also willing to come. When they learned that it is my own production, many artists came forward to help. No one acted in the film expecting any financial returns from me. They did it for me. The story is intense and provided roles for good performances. All these are the reasons for CHIDAMBARAM.

Well, when you employ busy actors, would there not be a problem of their familiar mannerisms, style of acting, expectations of the audience etc.?
Yes, but it is different for actors like Gopi or actresses like Smita Patil. The expectations are different. They don't fall into the category of 'popular' as it is understood in the context of popular cinema.

When the film started it seemed refreshingly different. However after a while one began to notice the intrusion aspects of commercial cinema - for instance building up a climax and then breaking it - the audience is almost led to participate that something is going to happen between Shivakami and the superintendent. But we see suddenly that the relationship is actually between Shankaran and Shivakami.
(Silent for a moment). The film can be divided into two parts. One is the wedding of Muniyanti and Shivakami, the intimacy between Shivakami and Shankaran, the suicide of Muniyanti and the disappearance of Shankaran. The second part is Shankaran's response to the events. Shankaran is a very ordinary man - almost a simpleton. But he is very compassionate towards the lower castes - and mixes well with them. Shankaran's affinity to Shivakami at best is an infatuation. May be that is why he was unprepared and unable to face up to the eventualities. As he runs away he has some unusual experiences like getting frightened by the milk boy, the psychiatrist advising to him to read the Bhagavad Geetha, the liquor shop owner advising the people not to drink etc. There are some flaws in this film.

What are the differences between the original story and your film?
The main change is in the location, which shifted from Eerchamill location to the cattle farm location. Then, the protagonist of the story attempts to murder his senior officer after becoming aware of his relationship with his wife. In the film, Muniyanti kills his wife and commits suicide.

Didn't these changes invite criticism?
Yes, but the changes were introduced to make the story more visual and cinematic. It was not meant to be a socio-political film.

CHIDAMBARAM has received good critical acclaim in India. Many have written positively about the film, like Iqbal Masud, Ravindran etc. What is your assessment of this film?
CHIDAMBARAM is not really one of my best films. It makes me wonder why many people like it! I don't think the film is that great…

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