I can't wear a facade and playact a script in real life

Ace Bharathiraja needs no introduction. In the late ‘70s, he brought about a revolution in Tamil cinema, taking cinematic experience beyond the four walls of a studio and capturing village life with rare sensitivity and insight into its reality. 

The auteur, who has launched hundreds of fresh faces in K’town, is back to donning his director’s hat with the movie OM in which he also essays the male lead and introduces Tamil speaking girl, Nakshathra, as the heroine.

Besides being busy with his acting ventures like Kurangu Bommai, of late, the 16 Vayadhinile filmmaker is equally active in championing social causes, especially after the Tamizhar Kalai Ilakkiya Panpaattu Peravai was formed. In an exclusive to DC, Bharathiraja speaks about his new film shot fully abroad, on how had he wanted he would have become the CM of Tamil Nadu by now, why he wants to be remembered only as a creator and his dislike for white skinned heroines.

First things first! Throwing light on his new movie OM, he says, “People ask me if OM reflects the scared sound or spiritual symbol of Hindu religion. No! OM is an acronym of ‘Old Man’, which denotes me in the film. I play a writer and my pen name is OM. He goes to London for some work. He chances upon a young girl who is about to commit suicide. How he saves her and asks her to travel with him for 10 days so that she would understand what life is all about. Their subsequent journey forms the crux of this beautiful film.”

The director who has a penchant to discover dusky girls with ethnic looks for his lead lady has once again found one. “I always prefer women with native looks for my visionary roles. That’s how I go about choosing Tamil girls. But, of late I don’t see many Tamil speaking girls in Tamil cinema. These days, directors opt to import white skinned girls from Mumbai and even from Kerala, but they are not ‘my’ ladies. Nakshathra is my friend’s daughter and I felt she was apt for the lead in OM. Moreover, I always like to mould raw talents to suit my script. Because, I live with each and every character for months together and chisel them in my script. That way, I would say I am a ‘dictator’ (laughs).”

Ask him if he wants to direct any of current crop of actors whom he likes, and he responds with “I like Dhanush, he is very intelligent and a simple person. Simbu is a great technician. All said and done, I feel it is very difficult for me to work with them now. Even I like Nayanthara who has all the qualities to fit into any kind of roles.”

Is forming the Tamizhar Kalai Ilakkiya Panpaattu Peravai platform with likeminded filmmakers and raising a collective voice on several issues to be seen as his way to enter politics? “Oh no! I have been protesting for various causes from those days including the Neyveli rally. Had I been in politics, by now I would have become the CM of Tamil Nadu.  I had plenty of opportunity to get in to politics. Even last month, a big party called me to join them. But, I am not interested in politics. I lack the diplomacy that is needed for a politician. Also, I can’t wear a façade and just playact a script in real life. I want to be identified as a good creator when I die rather than a politician” and he gets emotional as he says this.

Bharathiraja also affirms he is not a fan of remakes or sequels. “A cult classic like 16 Vayadhinile cannot be remade, or even a sequel or part 2 to it is something inconceivable.”