Karthi’s rugged charms to the fore

Karthi is gearing up with yet another experimental film Kaithi. The film will be locking horns with Vijay's Bigil this Deepavali. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj of Maanagaram fame, the flick is bankrolled by Dream Warriors Pictures and Vivekanandha Pictures.

Speaking of Kaithi, Karthi says, “When I was assistant to Mani Ratnam sir, I used to think about quirky stories and 'will such films come to me'? Kamal sir was a huge inspiration for me. Later after turning an actor, I got films like Madras, a script  based on a ‘wall’. I wondered could a story be narrated with a wall as the central character. I didn’t know there is so much politics involved with a ‘wall’. Then Theeran Adhigaaram… happened. Yet another new theme and you all know the incidents from Theeran…are still continuing in real life. Now, Kaithi! The genre and the milieu are totally different.”

Lokesh has done a lot research for the story. “I know Kaithi has a lot of challenges involved, but I still loved the characterisation and wanted to give it a shot. It is an ambitious film for me as well as Lokesh. The entire film unfolds in a night's time. After ten years, Dilli (name of the character) whose only exposure is the sky when he comes out of jail and wants to explore the world. The story gave me lot of scope to prove my mettle. I don’t have a female pair. Though an action film, Lokesh has added lot of poetic things in it.”

The actor reveals that his long cherished dream of driving a lorry has come true. “I have driven all kinds of vehicles except a lorry. This was fulfilled in Kaithi, where I drive a lorry throughout. It was not as easy as I imagined. You can’t apply the brake suddenly. And the ‘live’ action while driving a lorry was very demanding and exciting. Stunt choreographers Anbariv were stuck to the location and did not even go home. The emotional scenes were planned and canned in a single take because they were captured in low light and we are not allowed to make mistakes.”

Karthi modestly says that he is one among other characters in the film. “I would say Kaithi is a multi-hero film. Naren is my close buddy for a long and he has done a wonderful job. Similarly Ramanaas’ role though small, is significant. Mariam George is there. Every character has a role to play.” Sam CS has scored the music.