Can't cry like Sivakarthikeyan: Gautham Menon

Gautham Menon was in an emotional mood during the press meet, on the eve of the release of his much-awaited flick Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada. Talking about the undue delay in AYM’s release, he says, “I truthfully don’t know why this happened — but I can’t cry on stage like Sivakarthikeyan did, can I? We got to move on.” He even addressed his earlier interviews on Simbu coming late to shoots. “He did not come for the Thalli Pogathey song shoot which was pending,” he reveals, adding, “I wanted it to be filmed and featured in the movie. I felt that unless I talk about the situation and point out that his fans would love to see him in the sensational number, he wouldn’t have joined the shoot.”

But GVM was still all praises for the actor — “I was very comfortable working with Simbu. Even if I gave just the outline, he would pick it up and finish it off effortlessly. He’s brilliant! And it’s not easy to work with actors of such calibre. What he’s done for the film is more important than what he’s not done.” Talking about the genre of the film, he added, “For the first time, I have tried two different genres. The first half is full of friendship and romance, while it progresses into a thriller in the second segment. I would say that I have attempted what you call ‘mass’ in Tamil cinema.”

Gautham also attributed AR Rahman’s music to the mammoth expectations for AYM. “His outstanding music has elevated the film to a different level. I had a humbling experience working with him on this project.” He also praised lyricist Thamarai and actress Manjima Mohan. “I had the good fortune of introducing Manjima to Tamil cinema. She is here to stay,” he signed off.