A film’s release date determines our deadlines and timelines: Rajkumar Periasamy | Tamil Movie News
It’s not every day that we see the names of Dhanush, Mammootty, Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela together in a film’s ensemble cast. Director Rajkumar Periasamy tells us that they were all on his wish list for OM Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood.In a conversation with us, the National Award-winning filmmaker talks about how he put the cast together, the possibility of a franchise, and the current hit streak of Tamil cinema.“OM is an emotional drama set in the true-crime genre. It’s about friendship, and it’s a universal film that’s not restricted to one region. All the actors have stepped into roles that are outside of their comfort zone. Though it’s inspired by a few real incidents, it is set in a fictional world that will also be grey and gritty,” he begins.‘Dhanush sir suggested we push our release out of respect for Rajini sir’Om, initially scheduled to release on October 16, was postponed to November. Explaining the decision, Rajkumar shares, “In August, Dhanush sir hinted to me that we might have to push the release out of respect for Rajinikanth sir since his film was also releasing around then. Since we had committed a release date to the OTT platform, if they were agreeable to the change, Dhanush sir was very particular about postponing the film.” He points out that deciding a release date is crucial. “With so many films releasing, we need to ensure that every film gets as much space as possible. The film’s release date also determines our deadlines and timelines.”
‘Dhanush sir asked me if I had a story for him during Amaran’“I had a wish list of actors for the roles, and fortunately, they also liked the parts,” says Rajkumar, who also adds that he began talks about OM with Dhanush during Amaran’s shooting. “Halfway through Amaran, I got an opportunity to meet Dhanush sir. He was looking to put together a team for his next and asked me if I had a story. I pitched an idea I had been thinking of during Rangoon (his film before Amaran). He liked it and was impressed with the script as well. After he came on board as producer, he gave me a lot of creative freedom. I could choose the actors, and we shot at real locations.”‘Mammootty sir said ‘If I’m fine, I’ll meet you for the full narration’Recalling how Mammootty came on board, he says, “I contacted him around March last year and sent him a synopsis. Within 15-20 minutes, he replied, ‘I like what I read. I want to listen to the full narration, but that can’t happen now. If I’m fine, I’ll meet you.’ I didn’t hear from him for four-five months, for he had taken a break from acting. Then, one day, his manager asked me to come over for the narration, to which he responded positively.”
When I first shared OM’s concept with Dhanush sir, I told him that it could be a franchise, with recurring characters. However, Chapter 1 will be a complete story without a cliffhanger
Rajkumar Periasamy on the possibility of a sequel, as OM is billed as the first chapter
‘Sai Pallavi makes everything look easy; the natural performer in Sreeleela will come through in this film’Also part of the cast are Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela. “I approached Sai Pallavi for a specific character. Though there are two female characters in the film, she also liked that role that I had wanted her to play. Working with her is comfortable. She makes everything look easy, but a lot of work goes into achieving that. There’s a natural performer in Sreeleela. That side of her will come through in this film.”‘It’s encouraging that not just one kind of film is succeeding’Ask him about Tamil cinema witnessing a string of hits lately, and he opines, “I think it is just a phase. The industry goes through different phases, and we tend to sum things up based on how the market behaves at a particular point in time. That said, it feels good to see people coming to theatres. What is encouraging is that each of the films that have worked recently is unique. It is not just one kind of film succeeding.”‘Aditya Dhar said his father-in-law was very emotional watching Amaran’Rajkumar recently won the National Award for Best Direction for Amaran. On attending the ceremony, he shares, “It was special because I went to the ceremony with my mother. I also met many directors there, like Nag Ashwin and Aditya Dhar. I had a good conversation with Aditya Dhar for almost 40-45 minutes about Amaran, and he said his father-in-law was very emotional watching the film.”
