I am inspired by the films of Mahendran sir: Balaji Tharaneetharan

Everything that is known to delay a film, delayed Oru Pakka Kathai,” says Balaji Tharaneetharan in a chat with DC about his film upcoming film, which has been in the making for quite sometime. Starring Kalidas Jayaram and Megha Akash in the lead roles, the film is finally up for release. “The film is about normal people we see in our day-to-day lives,” he says and adds, “But it explores what happens to those people when they are put in an abnormal or extraordinary situations.”

He admits he likes to make films about ‘real’ people — “I grew up watching Mahendran sir’s films which inspired me a lot. So, naturally, I am more attracted to scripts set in reality. But I would like to see some surrealistic elements in such realistic stories; akin to films of Woody Allen.” When asked about the title sounding similar to his debut film Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kanom, he says, “I don’t have any such sentiments. In fact, the first dialogue of my first film is Neramae seri illa! Oru Pakka Kathai is an apt title for the film; you will know when you see the film.”

About his actors, he says, “This was the first film Kalidas signed up for. He has done a good job, and the same goes to Megha Akash. She had just completed her college when she came on board for the film.” The shoot of his other film Seethakathi, starring Vijay Sethupathi, is currently on going and about 25 per cent of the film has been wrapped up.