6 de maio de 2021 13:39:55 ART
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On a recent afternoon, Tamil actor Yuvan’s excitement about his new set of dreams came out. He was speaking to his friend Vadivel who also happens to be a film producer. He is busy wrapping up the second schedule of his upcoming film, even as he catches up with his friend.
Yuvan had originally wanted to be a writer. “I have done what I can do,” Yuvan had told me when we spoke over the phone. “But in the past couple of years, I have been writing plays and stories. I used to read a lot, but I didn't have the guts to send them to anyone. It was only after reading a few articles that I began writing. They had a lot of influences but were created by myself. I read a lot, but I don't have an opinion. I cannot decide what I should watch. But once I start watching something, I get hooked. I have no qualms in admitting that I know very little, or what to write about.”
My friend who makes films and does Tamil videos on YouTube wished to become a film producer. At a time when Tamil film producers have spent over a crore to promote their own films on social media, and on Whatsapp and Facebook as well, he wished to create his own content. His is a similar story to the likes of Jisnu, Mohini, Saroja Devi, Vijayalakshmi, and Thirukuralara, who were the names of some of the first Tamil films producers.
Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu films, in particular, have given many people a big dream, and an opportunity to create a following. By watching Tamil movies, people gain a chance to get a glimpse into a world that is very different from what they have. There are a few Tami film producers who have done exactly that and given us dreams of a better Tamil, about one where movies are made in Tamil, directed by Tamil, produced by Tamil, starring Tamil actors, taking us back to the days of yesteryears.
To begin with, Jeeva – one of the best filmmakers in Tamil today – was a film producer for a short time. “I had dreams to work on films and I wanted to be a film producer when I was in college,” Jeeva said to me. “The idea of a Tamil filmmaker was still not a reality for a lot of people. But the idea of a Tamil film producer was slowly becoming a reality. I could see that the production of Tamil films was being given more attention. There were many people working in different capacities. It was becoming popular to make Tamil films and to make movies in Tamil.”
A part of his dream came true – when he directed the 2005 film Mohini.
The story of Mohini is very interesting. A socially active woman is married off to a man who lives in a wealthy neighborhood. The husband's family is very socially active and has a close tie with many politicians. One day, Mohini runs into a group of people, while walking her son to school.
While looking at the passersby, she sees a very talented musician playing music on a guitar, who is in a group called the Winds of Change. He is one of the most talented musicians she has ever seen, and he dreams of making it big. He will be playing at a festival in Kodaikanal. The young musician's parents had promised to buy the guitar that he plays with. Mohini immediately decides to offer the money that they were promising in the bargain of buying that guitar.
But what is the cost to Mohini, who did not work in the entertainment industry, and who was no more than a housewife? Did she do it for a popular actor? Or did she do it for the aspiring musician who was working hard to get better, and was working in a band of musicians?
Was the decision she took a selfless one, just to send her son to a good school? Or did it have something to do with her being in love with a music producer who would probably be able to provide her with a better life?
These are the kinds of questions that are important for a filmmaker, and a person who makes films in Tamil – what does she actually do? Why did she get involved in this particular movie, in this particular project, in this particular project? When did she know about this project? What was the thought process behind doing it? What was the discussion that happened in the group, during that one day of shooting? Was it her idea? Was it her group, or was it the producers? Was she involved in the project as an actor?
