I am making an anti-caste film! I will continue to make it!! – Director Mari Selvaraj Open Talk!
Are the films we are making ruining cinema? – Director Pa. Ranjith is furious!
The film crew celebrated the success of ‘Bison’, which is being produced by Pa. Ranjith and directed by Mari Selvaraj and stars Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameswaran and Rajisha Vijayan and is set to hit the screens as a Diwali release to widespread acclaim and reception.
Director Ameer said, “They keep asking Maari why are you making a film like this? They say you want to create trouble in this society. How absurd this is. Films about invisible Sami and non-existent ghosts are successful here. But if you make a film about visible caste and the evils and atrocities it has caused, it is absurd to raise the question that it should not be done.
I understand that people from political affiliations are expressing their opinions and opposition to Maari and Ranjith films in public. We have been beaten for a long time, we have to continue to be submissive, where do you get this courage from? It may be the thought that what happened happened, why are you talking about it outside? I think there is logic when people from political affiliations and organizations say this.
But I find the opposition coming from the film industry absurd. In particular, when a director talks about this film, he sings a song. It is very disgusting and cruel, `Bisan bisan bisan, that Poison’ he sang in a disapproving voice. I hear, he has an opinion, and he is expressing it through art. If you really had an opinion, then you should also express it through art. That’s how you have to fight. If you don’t have the strength for it, if you can’t express it in that artistic form, don’t spread slander, don’t ask why he is taking it,” he said. Speaking at the pre-release event of the film, I had thought that Pasupathi should play the role of Siddappu, played by Saravanan in the film Ameer Parutthiveeran. But I had said that I couldn’t get him to play the role at that time. Speaking on this matter, Pasupathi said, “I haven’t spoken to Aamir sir much. There are no scenes between me and him in the film, so I couldn’t speak there either. But I feel like I should give him an answer but I will leave it. Now it seems like I have to say it.
It is true that they approached me to play me in his film Paruthi Veeran (in the role of Sithappu). But the day they asked me, I was on the first day of the shooting of ‘Veil’. We shot continuously for one and a half months. I had said that I would see if I got any cap in between. No, they said you have to come to the shooting next week, there is a two-month shoot. So I said I can’t. This is the truth.”
Actor Dhruv Vikram said, “I don’t know how Ranjith trusted me. Mari Selvaraj has given me such a film. Thank you for that trust.”
Actor Madankumar said, “No matter how many times I thank Maari sir, I cannot say enough. When he told me, the character he has given you is an important ‘soul’. I did not know then. The reception I got after the film was a huge success. The character that I played as a villain for so long has now changed. Only Maari can take the film seriously and make it the way it should be made. I did not see Dhruv as Vikram’s son or an actor. I saw him as a kitten who acted in the film, he said.
Director Pa. Ranjith said, “We are not going to give a wrong opinion to the society through a film. We are going to talk about people who have not been spoken about in the history of cinema for 75 years. I do not know why we get nervous when we do the right thing.
“Those who saw my film ‘Attakathi’ as a comedy criticized some of the codes from the film ‘Madras’. Even though the film Madras was a success, there were criticisms as to how someone could make a film in the name of Madras.
I don’t know if Rajinikanth would have given a chance to ‘Kabali’ if I had made a film like Madras. But every time I got criticism and questions like, ‘How did you make such dialogues with Rajini?’ In particular, they criticized me saying, ‘How can you speak an SC dialogue with Rajini? How can you bring caste into Rajini?’ They called me a caste fanatic. Then, they said, ‘Can’t you make such films? Will there be such a problem if someone comes to make it?’ There was a fierce debate.
Earlier, they would only criticize me. Now, Mari Selvaraj and Vetrimaaran have joined that list. Now, I am happy that two more people have joined us in dealing with the criticism. All three of us are Tamil. They say that directors are ruining the cinema. The film Bison has been a huge success. However, I am surprised and happy that how Maari is able to give such a series of successful films”.
400 films are released in Tamil every year. Are the films we make ruining the cinema? Our cinema is looking for answers to such questions. Even before the film ‘Bison’ came out, they spread hatred saying, “This is a caste film, don’t go. Go to ‘Dude’.” Those who went to ‘Dude’ believing this, its director Keertheeswaran did not say anything…”, he said. Although the film ‘Dude’ received mixed reviews, it is noteworthy that the film’s collection has crossed Rs. 100 crore.
Speaking, Mari Selvaraj said, “The film Bison has given me the strength to continue working. No matter how much opposition or contradiction comes, no one should think that they can turn me away or change my storytelling. It is not in my blood. I do not have the opportunity to leave it. The problems I face, if you listen to all the stories people tell, you cannot make any other film.
How is this society between one of my films and another? How do they live? What do they expect from us? I want to be stable. Journalists should avoid asking me questions like why do you make such films. It affects not only me but also my work a lot. Especially, it affects my thinking.
If you ask, is Mari Selvaraj making a caste film? That is your language. Mari Selvaraj is making an anti-caste film. I will continue to make it. I am not saying this arrogantly, I am saying it emotionally. I believe in art. I turn my life into art. My art has everything from madness, helplessness, tears, questions, and love.”
