I couldn't sleep when I was shooting 'Visaranai', says National Award-winner Samuthirakani

Samuthirakani is a talented director who has now proved to the world that his acting skills are even better. Director-actor Samuthirakani came to the Tamil film industry, from Sethu village in Virudhunagar district, wanting to don the greasepaint. But fate had other things in mind. He became an assistant director to legend K Balachander and went on to become a successful director.

Today, Samuthirakani has won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor for director Vetrimaaran’s Visaranai. In an exclusive interview with dna, he talks films and more:

How do you feel having won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor for Visaranai?

I feel very happy. I must thank God and my friend Vetrimaaran for this honour. It was Vetri’s energy that inspired me for this performance. I was really hoping that he would get Best Director for Visaranai. It gave me heartfelt satisfaction to see TE Kishore bag the award for Best Editor. Kishore is such a hardworker and so talented that he deserved an award for each and every film of his. 

What did your family say?

My mother lives with my sister in the village. I am going to see her now. She doesn’t know much about these things. When I called my mother and told her I won the National Award, she asked me, “What is that? Is that something very prestigious?” (Smiles)

Watch Visarani trailer here:

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When you played Inspector Murugavel did you think the role was tough?

Not at all. Director Vetrimaaran called me and I just went along with it. As we were shooting, the movie actually started to direct us! The director used to say that frequently. Vetrimaaran lived and breathed the film. When we were shooting the climax over the last ten days, I got cold feet – when we were discussing the scenes where we had to kill those boys, I felt guilty acting in those scenes. That’s when I told the director that I was feeling uneasy and I was only dreaming about the scenes we shot, the film, etc. I would have shot for 45 days for the film but I don’t think I slept for 35 nights. Even now when I see a still of that movie poster or shot, my hands start to shake.

How was the experience of screening the film at Venice?

It was an unforgettable experience. The director told me that the theatres won’t be full don’t worry but the theatres were full and people kept applauding. I didn’t know how to face them. When we were eating at a restaurant, a lady walked up to us and said ‘Murugavel’ looking at me and ‘Pandi’ looking at Dinesh. I said that we do not need any more praise than that.

Samuthirakani as Inspector Murugavel

How do you choose your roles?

When I hear the script and I like it, I accept it. Dhanush has done a lot for me. When he thinks I suit a role, he calls me and I just say yes.

When you came to the Tamil film industry, you wanted to be an actor.

(Laughs). Yes. I still remember those days (1992-93) of carrying that album of photos of me in different poses and roaming around the streets of Chennai. As soon as I heard I won the National Award, this is what came to my mind. 

So how did you become director K Balachander’s assistant director?

In 1994, I joined Sundar K Vijayan and I did TV serials for three years before I moved to the film industry in 1997. Kavithalaya Krishnan took me to meet Balachander sir and told him that I was hardworking and was enthusiastic. At that time, Balachander sir was going to Kodaikanal for three days for location-hunting. He asked Sundar K Vijayan sir to send me with him and I went along. And that’s when life changed. I spent every minute next to him there doing everything he asked me to. And that’s when the bonding between Balachander sir and me started.

What was the first Balachander film you worked on?

Parthavale Paravasam was my first film with him and then I worked on Poi, two tele-films and small screen serials. I worked with him for three years (1997-1999) and we used to work on something every single day. In fact, in Parthale Paravasam, he made me act in one scene. He told me that since this is why I came into the film industry, I should do that scene. In 2000, he gave me the serial ‘Anni’ and told me to direct it. Whether it was direction or acting, it was K Balachander sir who brought me into both fields.

What did K Balachander say when he gave you ‘Anni’?

Balachander sir said, “I trust you.” He gave me so much of freedom. I have seen him as a guru, mentor, father, friend, brother….in so many avatars. We used to discuss so many things. When he was on bedrest in the last few years, his manager Mohan called me and said, “If you come and meet him, it’ll be different.” When I met him, he was lying down on the bed. I sat next to him and we started talking and laughing and he got up and sat. The nurses told him to lie down so he shooed them out for a while. He said, “I’ll be fine if I talk to him.” For one and a half hours we joked and laughed like college kids. He always told me that I will win a National Award. The fact that I have won it today and he’s not around makes me sad.

So why did you make this shift from directing to acting?

My first film Unnai Charanadaindhen won four state awards but my next film Neranja Manasu failed. When a film is a success everyone will take part in the happiness but when it fails, the failure is pinned on one person. The failure of this film disturbed me a lot and I decided to go back to being an assistant director and joined Ameer for Paruthiveeran. That was when Sasikumar and I became good friends. He called me for a role in Subramaniapuram and then I directed Naadodigal with Sasikumar. I acted in his Easan and then he did my Poraali. It just took off from there.

Watch Easan trailer here:

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Now you are a full-fledged actor.

I have done 33 films with eight films in Malayalam also. I can speak all the languages in the world – there is no language barrier for an artist! (Laughs) Even if you leave me among tribals, in two days I’ll be speaking their language. 

You are directing ‘Appa’ now. How do you balance your acting career with direction?

Even today, I have some six stories. When I have free time, I keep writing stories or reading. If I have a month or so of free time, then I wonder 'why not make a film?' I took a sudden decision to make Appa.

Do you feel pressure now having won the National Award?

Not at all. I am the kind of person who wants to work 18 hours a day. My direction will be the same but I will be more responsible where my films are concerned. I don’t look at making films with awards in mind. When I feel tired, I’ll go to my village and farm. Then I’ll come back once I am rejuvenated. I am not the kind of person to sit and say, ‘In those days when I was…’. If I feel I need to go, I will.