I like dreams and imaginary things – Simbudevan’s interview
- 30.12.2009
By Ram
Dubbed as dream trade the Tamil cinema industry prefers reality films over imaginary ones. Director Simbudevan is someone who blends dreams and history is involved in huge productions. He is directing the film ‘Irumbukottai murattusingam’. Simbudeven spoke to the press persons during the audio release function of the film.
How come you chose an outdated cowboy story in a context in which even reality cinema has failed?
My passion is to create films out of imaginary things. I am still wonder struck at the comic books read in my childhood. I hope others will share the same feeling towards them. All stories told by elders when we were young were imaginary stories. I like that feeling of fear blended with thrill and anticipation.
My passion for the cow boy stories of black and white era drove me to direct this film. It is 38 years since a cow boy film was released in Tamil. I hope that a film of that kind will be liked by the audience now.
Isn’t the title of the film unusual?
I always finish the film and look for the title later. I expect my title should relate the story. People asked me if the title was too long. Didn’t both the films directed by me (‘Imsai arasan 23m pulikesi and ‘Arai enn 302il kadavul’) relate the story and that is the reason for the title also?
Several stars have acted in the film…
Lawrence is the hero. Padmapriya, Lakshmi Roy and Sandhya are three heroines. Since the story demanded others Saikumar, Nassar, Ilavarasu, S.S.Bhaskar have been made to act.
Is the whole film shot in sets?
No. Only 80% of the film was shot in the sets. The balance was shot in forests without human population.
Cow boy film needs to be shot in sets only. The art director of the film Muthuraj had done a lot of research before erecting the sets. His work will be talked about after release of the film.
What is so special of the film?
Producing this kind of film in today’s context is itself so special. It will give a very different experience to the audience from the films seen in the present time. Yet another speciality is that this is a cow boy film he like of which is never seen before. More than the shooting, scouting locations took more time.
Is Irumbukottai murattusingam’ a reverse of Hollywood films?
The origin of cowboy films is Spain and they have spread the world over from there. It is difficult to produce a cowboy film without getting influenced by Western films. But screenplay and content of the film will reflect our land. This is the story of a young man who rebels against slavery.
Will the dialogues of the film reflect politics and society like that of ‘Imsai arasan 23m pulikesi?
Of course, it will. Many scenes will have dialogues relating to politics and society of today”.
Asked if the film is the reverse of Hollywood films, many directors would disagree and assert that they have been thinking about the film for many years. Or otherwise they will claim that the film will be very novel to Tamil cinema.
But Simbudeven openly conceded that there are influences of Western films and this is something to be noticed and followed by other directors.
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- 30.12.2009
