Vineeth Sreenivasan was studying in Chennai when Dil Chahta Hai released. Like every youngster of that time, the entire movie was a novel experience to Vineeth. He was blown away by the craft and decided to be a filmmaker.
“I watched the movie at Sathyam Theatre in Chennai.
Everything about that movie — sound, costume, music and cinematography — caught my fancy. I wanted to know those who worked on this. When I came out of the cinema hall, there was a standee of Dil Chahta Hai and I looked straight at the bottom of it where credits were written. There I saw 'written and directed by Farhan Akhtar'. Till then, I wasn't much concerned about credits in films. That was a defining moment in my life. I realised that I wanted to be a filmmaker.”
However, destiny has its own plans. So Vineeth became a singer first, then an actor and only after that did he get to making films.
“I had been singing continuously during that time. I couldn't put it on hold and assist in a film. I had actually asked Lalu ettan (Lal Jose) if I could assist him in Arabikadha. He agreed but I couldn't join as the shooting got postponed,” says Vineeth.
This is when the movie Cycle, written by James Albert, happened. Vineeth, who loves thrillers, liked the script and signed it. For him, Cycle was also an opportunity to watch cinema at close quarters.
“Later, I did Makante Achan. During its shoot, I would stay back at the location to observe the process and clear my doubts with Manoj ettan (cinematographer). Then, I decided to write a movie and that's how Malarvadi Arts Club happened,” says Vineeth, who directed it. It was a huge success and earned him fame.
Meanwhile, he continued with his acting career and became a part of a bunch of movies like Traffic, Chappa Kurishu, Ormayundo Ee Mugham, Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Kunjiramayanam, Oru Second Class Yathra, Aby, etc. The latest one is Oru Cinemakaran directed by Leo Thaddeus, where he plays Alby, an assistant director.
“I didn't have to prepare much for Alby. Leo chettan had briefed me that I just needed to be myself for Oru Cinemakaran, except the portions where dramatisation is required. His guidance was there throughout. He is good at conveying the mood of a situation. This is one movie that I was quite relaxed doing,” says Vineeth. However, for Aby, where he plays a special child, he had to prepare before each shot.
It was the thriller aspect of the film that pulled Vineeth to Oru Cinemakaran, a gripping family drama. “Before Leo chettan narrated the story, Lalu ettan and Vinod ettan (Vinod Shornur) had told me about it. I found it interesting when I heard the first narration itself. And, Leo chettan has succeeded in executing it well. The same excitement was there while we watched it on screen,” he says.
Vineeth sports a bearded look in Oru Cinema-karan, which was adopted from real life. “That is something very common among assistant directors in their mid-20s. They grow the beard to get a serious look. Hence, we picked that,” says Vineeth. “Leo chettan and all his assistants have a beard. If everyone in the direction department stands together, they all would look same,” he smiles.
Though Vineeth didn't have to struggle during his early days in cinema, he had to deal with the creative process like all filmmakers. He says his interactions with assistant directors on sets gave him a good idea about their life.
“They would be our friends on sets and we wouldn't be discussing work all the time. A bond would develop over time and sometimes, their problems would affect us too to some extent,” says Vineeth, who believes in the power of friendship. “It has helped our cinemas. Even if we are not part of their movies, we would give our opinions.”
Oru Cinemakaran says that everyone has a story. How does Vineeth find his ideas? “What we read, impact of certain movies we watch and travel stir ideas. I also get ideas after a successful stage performance and I record them. We would be so happy and content after a stage performance,” says Vineeth and narrates two such incidents.
“In 2011, Shaan and I went for a US trip and did around 14 shows. It was after one performance in that loop we composed the song Thattathin Marayathe Penne. Another incident occurred during the climax shooting of Malarvadi. “The last scene shows a stage performance. Instruments were arranged on the set and Shaan was there. Suddenly, he went to the keyboard and played a note. We liked it, recorded it on the phone and used it as background music in Malarvadi,” says Vineeth, who will be next seen in Aana Alaralodalaral by Dileep Menon.
A singer, lyricist, actor, director and producer, what did cinema teach him? “Cinema keeps changing. If we don't adapt to the changes, we would go back,” he signs off.
