Kamal Hassan opens up on working in Mani Ratnam’s “Thug Life”
Kamal Hassan opens up on working in Mani Ratnam’s “Thug Life”
In the midst of the lavish musical launch for the First Single of “Thug Life”,Legendary actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan paused to consider his long-standing bond with legendary director Mani Ratnam. They shared cinematic aspirations, and the creative energy that still fuels their collaboration.
Adding nothing has changed amid Mani sir and him. When they met, whatever they spoke of—parked motorcycles on Eldams Road—used to sit on them and talk about those things. They have done about 25% of what they spoke of. One is Nayagan and the other one is Thug Life.
Further adding they have a long way to go. Because they didn’t get to realise all their dreams in any film. He is for sure that will be the case in the future films that they do. They dream so big and then are constricted to fit their market and their budget. So certain ideas—we have to bow before the public.”
Haasan was candid over the delay in reuniting with Ratnam. the reason being didn’t get together all this time—the mistake is with them.The reason why they are together now is because of the Media. Because in the world of cinema business, most of them are only concerned if the movie title would gain profit on the books. And the calculation is a probability. It might gain profit. It might lead to a loss. But the ultimate judgement is given by the audience, for which the producers, exhibitors, distributors, and everyone else would stand. And that’s how new, budding artists evolve. That’s how STR has also evolved and is rocking—his father, me, and Rajini…”
Reflecting on Mani Ratnam’s work ethic, he shared, “He has had this habit since the days of Nayagan. He will come at 5.00 for the 6 o’clock shoot. If he had thought about it all night, he would have come without an alarm… When he sees all that, he remembers Balachander sir. He knows how big a compliment that is.
On the warmth of his Thug Life co-stars, Haasan revealed, “These two heroines have never said ‘I love you’ to him in this film… the only person who says ‘I love you’ to me is Jojo. He says, ‘I love you, sir.’ He says ‘Good morning’ after that only.”
He fondly remembered the early spark he saw in his co-star Ashok Selvan, saying, “I used to have a doubt—when to bow down and when not to bow down. That was the beginning of my doubt… If you understand that, you are a good actor.”
Finally, he described his deep artistic alignment with A.R. Rahman: “Together, they saw a cinema. And then went to the cinema museum… For them it is only what they do… What Kamal learned from them is—he should talk a little less. Apart from that, thinking like that—he isn’t able to do it.”
News Edit KV Raman
