Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Baba Bhaskar talks to us about his debut venture Kuppatthu Raja, which has GV Prakash and Palak Lalwani as the lead pair and Poonam Bajwa in an important character. Bhaskar says he had veteran Raj Kiran for the powerful antagonist role in mind when he wrote the script, but replaced him with Parthiban instead.
“Having worked in many films, I also have a passion for writing. I had an idea and told it to my close friends who said ‘it is a good idea and if I developed it well, I can make a commercial movie out of it’. Then I narrated it to GVP who was too happy to come on board as the lead protagonist named Rocket,” Bhaskar reveals.
For the villain role of a local bigwig, I had only Raj Kiran sir in mind, he adds. “Though he liked the script and was ready to work, things did not work out in terms of budget. I could not afford him. Later, I approached Parthiban sir, since I loved him from Pudhea Paadhai days and he liked the script and came onboard. It was heartwarming to note that big names like Raj Kiran and Parthiban appreciated my script. I felt like I have crossed the first level in direction.”
While GV Prakash plays a jobless youth from the slums, who steals bikes for a living, his character is also fond of taking part in kite flying competitions. Palak Lalwani plays his romantic interest in a de-glam look.
“Poonam Bajwa essays a girl from the same place, who one-sidedly loves GVP. There is a suspense factor in her role,” the director says.
Since it was difficult to shoot in real locations with the artistes, Bhaskar created a huge slum set in Mohan Studios and shot most part of the film there.
Ask him what was challenging in directing the film, he says, “There is a fight sequence which happens at night in rain. I had to finish it on a single day due to call sheet constraints for some artistes. We did it under a lot of pressure. That was the toughest part in the film.”
Baba is equally busy with his choreography in films like 2.O, and a Sivakarthikeyan’s film.
