I understand the angst of a filmmaker.
— Gautham Menon
With Nani, what struck me was his confidence. It has been a revelation. Nani, the most confident actor and it is a pleasure to work with him. Will do a film with him anytime given a chance.
Minnale' was so earthy.
Back in the day, I was keen on working on a film with the superstars - Mammootty and Mohanlal. But they wanted me to make a film with them in Tamil.
I am not a singer.
Even bigger directors like Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma have faced flak, that doesn't mean they've shied away from filmmaking.
Nayakan,' 'Sathya' and 'Thevar Magan' are my biggest influences.
I try to be a friend to my boys just the way my dad was with me. Subconsciously that reflects in my writing.
If I know somebody's right about something I take it from them.
I put my heart into 'Vaaranam Ayiram.' I lost my father when I began the film, and the tragedy turned my entire script around.
I don't like to shoot on sets at all. As much as possible, I try to shoot on location.
The industry doesn't usually say nice things about my work. My films take a while till they are accepted as good and I think 'Yennai Arindhaal' too will go through that phase.
I would like to make a film in the four South Indian languages.
Today, most big stars want scripts to be written in a particular way, show them in a certain light. They want people to like them for various reasons. It's all about how much people will like me in this film than about whether it's a good film or not.
Vipul Shah wanted me to do the Hindi adaptation of my film 'Kaakha Kaakha.' I declined the offer.
One reason why I've taken 11 years to make my second Hindi film is because I am comfortable working with the stars in the South, as they are with me.
It is in college that one gathers confidence as the mind is open to ideologies.
Nadunisi Naaigal' is new age Tamil cinema. I have tried to break the rules of regular cinema with this film.
YVM' is a feel-good romance.
I like to show love in a way that will bring a smile or a tear to viewers.
Whatever the script demands, I do.
Though I have an idea about the climax, it always changes when we start shooting.
When I was approached to remake 'Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya,' I felt that it was a good way to reach out to a wider audience, every director wants that.
I sneaked out of school to watch 'Nayakan.' I must have watched it at least 15 times at Anand theatre.
I'm okay with suggestions but I want to do what I believe in, because I'm inspired by an idea.
Even when 'Kaakha Kaakha' was released, there were people who gave it an average rating and said they couldn't figure out what was happening. Three days after its release, the producer called me and asked me to remove all of Jothika's scenes from the film. I told him; in that case, you can also remove my name from the director's slot.
Unless it's a song and something fancy, I would rather shoot on location.
I would seriously love to do a Malayalam movie.
The initial response to 'Yennai Arindhaal' was that it didn't have all the quintessential commercial elements, though I consider it as my most commercial venture.
Bollywood is a different ballgame. I am quite used to Tamil and Telugu films.
The lead character in 'Yennai Arindhaal' is like an extension of the protagonists of 'Kaakha Kaakha' and 'Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.'
Ranbir was my first choice for 'Ek Deewana Tha.' I tried to get in touch in with. Forget about meeting Ranbir. I couldn't even meet his secretary. Yes, even the secretary refused to meet me.
Yes, I am nervous before a film's release and withdraw into a shell.
I don't read the reviews because it somewhere affects my work. If some critic doesn't like a movie, I can't keep his criticisms in mind the next time I am making a film. Even if someone writes a great review about my film, I don't want to be affected by it.
The Tamil audience is more receptive to unusual endings.
For a film like Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, I was particular that nothing should be revealed prior to release.
I am a romantic at heart.
It is difficult, but I definitely do want to make a film in Malayalam at some point of my life.
I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.
No matter how liberal or modern a family is, there will always be resistance when someone discloses that they are dating someone.
There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the characters are thinking are written. Once the film is shot and the lines are dubbed, I tone it down in postproduction if I feel it gets heavy.
I do a film because at that particular moment, I want to make a film. It is my attempt at moving away from the ordinary.
I may have got a little carried away and many critics found fault with some aspects of the film, but as a coming of age film of a character, 'Vaaranam Ayiram' worked with the audience.
I drove past one of the houses in Tiruvanmiyur and asked them if we could shoot there for 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya' because it seemed straight out of the pages of the script.
You need stars to create the buzz and bring audiences to the cinemas.
Even though I love Hindi films, I don't remember any backdrop visuals that are really striking.
Ekk Deewana Tha' will have a surprise ending to watch out for.
Though I'm happy with the response to the film, I've been hearing the feedback that 'Yennai Arindhaal' has traces of my earlier films. It was meant to be like that. Since it's part of a trilogy, hence the reference to the other two films in the franchise.
In Mumbai, I feel like a stranger.
I think I have made too many cop films.
