"180 Is A Story That Needs To Be Told"

A few words about ‘180’…

‘180’ is a bilingual film produced by Sathyam Cinemas and directed by Jayendran. It is a special movie to me as I am performing in a Tamil movie after really long. Although many scripts were offered to me I didn’t have the kind of start in Tamil like what I had in Telugu. It has given me one awesome opportunity to come back to Tamil cinema and Tamil audiences. It’s also the first time I have acted in a romance filled movie; I am excited as it’s a visually spectacular movie. Jayendra is an ad film maker and he has done a wonderful job, they have given so much importance to the heroine and cameraman Balu has shown us all as such beautiful people (smiles). And Sharreth is our music director; every song varies from the other in terms of shooting, composition and the concept. I am sure everyone’s going to love the music as it is very timeless and people of any age group can appreciate it, they are all awfully romantic. Jayendra is one of the most romantic people I know; every single concept is so very unique. If you look at the montage, they speak a story for themselves. I am really looking forward to watching the film for that.

What is it that you had expected from Jayendra and vice versa?

I had started off my career as a model, I had acted for a ‘Prince Jewellery’ ad. Barathiraja had done the voice over for that ad. Speaking about Jayendra, he has done over five hundred films, he and PC Sriram have an amazing partnership going. What’s interesting is that, for my first ad, Banu had done the make-up and she was the make-up artist for ‘180’ as well (smiles). Banu is Mr. Rajinikanth’s make-up artist and she has given me a fresh look in this movie, there wouldn’t be much of make-up at all if you notice in this movie. It hardly took us ten minutes for make-up each time, but it’s such a different look. If you ask why ‘180’ is so important for me, it’s because it’s the first time, in a project that I had signed, there is so much importance for the heroine. Be it in looks, characterization, costumes, characterization or anything! That way, I have a lot to look forward to in ‘180.’

Please share your experience working with Siddharth…

As I watch a lot of Telugu flicks, I have always loved his films. I have always enjoyed watching him on screen. To tell about him, he is an amazing actor to work with. I don’t have formal training in acting, so there’s so much to learn from someone like him as he has mastered the art. He’s from the theatre background, so I had a lot to learn from Siddharth and Jayendra. I have earlier done two movies in Telugu, I have done four movies so far on the whole but ‘180’ felt like my first movie. A lot of credit goes to Siddharth in helping me, as an artist it is not enough if I alone perform, a co-star’s cooperation is equally important. I have watched all movies of Siddharth so far and this will be his first mature look, and female audiences are going to fall in love with him all over again (smiles).

How did you react when Jayendra approached you with the script to you?

It’s not like ‘180’ had come along my way, I was the one who approached it. This movie just happened to me and I am very fortunate for it. All other characters other than Siddharth where auditioned and finalized, be it me or Nithya. Jayendra hadn’t watched our movies, Nithya is a big star in Malayalam with over 15 movies to her credit, but he had conducted a formal audition and selected us for the movie. I wasn’t even narrated the story of the movie, I was only given my dialogues in the script, that’s how I have acted in the film (smiles). So only during the shooting I was even aware of the other dynamics of the movie and the totality of the movie, which is nice as I got a surprise in the movie (laughs).

How comfortable were you working for the Telugu version of ‘180’?

I am fortunate as I speak both Tamil and Telugu. So, I was really excited to do the bilingual, we had shot every single shot twice for both the versions. Not one shot was dubbed, so it was a little emotionally training to do emotional shots all over again in two languages, but it was such an enriching experience as an actor, I hope I do many more bilingual films as it is a learning curve and as an actor to be able to do two different movies, I mean obviously there will be differences based on tamil and telugu audience, its just so much fun to work on a bilingual film.

Jayendra is tough taskmaster who expects a lot, was it difficult to work with him?

Jayendra sir is a perfectionist, every member in my team would agree to that. I think that comes from him being an ad film maker, he has done over 500 ad films. Being associated with Mr. P.C. Sriram he is used to the best and nothing but the best, but I think that is wonderful because this is his first movie, his dream project and him expecting perfection in the project is just great. He has imagined every character so many times, so when I act it is very important that my director should like what I am doing. Being a perfectionist is excused when you watch the wonderful results of the movie. We have all worked very hard for the movie, doing outdoor shoots in the bitter wind, so when you watch all the lovely scenes you don’t think of all the hard times, you only think of the good times (smiles).

Can you brief us about the tracks of the movie?

I didn’t know much about our music director, Sharreth before this project so I had no expectations without knowing his style. But when Jayendra sir played the first track during the shoot, I just got addicted! The music of this film has been so haunting and so beautiful, and every song has a classic touch and a timeless feel to it. I truly believe ‘180’s audio is going to be a super hit and people are going to love it! Especially when combined with the visuals, it’s going to be one big extravaganza! My favourite song is the birthday song, when you watch the movie I am sure you will understand why I say that.

How different is 180 from a triangular love story?

I can’t comment on that, my director will kill me (laughs). But all I can say is that it is a lovely movie, with a story that needs to be told! ‘180’ has a broad range of emotions and people are sure to connect to it, either to the love track or the emotions each character is going through. ‘180’ is a true reflection of these three characters and their emotions.

Whose character would you say has more depth? Yours or Nithya’s?

Both the female leads are portrayed beautifully and strongly with such deep characterization, both the girls are poles apart from each other. All the boys are sure to fall in love both the girls’ characters. Neither Nithya nor I have that insecurity as both of us love our characters for who they are (smiles). The film has been a great opportunity for all of us to be able to play such well-developed and well-written characters.

A role model you look up to?

I prefer not to have a role model, be it in my career or in my personal life. I think everyone is human and everyone has a balance of characters like Yin and Yang. There are a lot of wonderful things you can learn from people and at the same time you must learn from their mistakes as well. After joining this industry I have come to understand how very difficult it is to survive here. A have a lot more respect for my peers, as an audience when I used to watch movies I was so very judgmental, but now I know that be it a hit or a flop, a lot of effort goes behind every movie.

Will you continue modeling?

Coming from a modeling background I have always loved photo shoots and working for ads as they get done with in two days and you get to watch it on TV immediately and get audience reaction immediately, I had done a Cadbury’s ad after my telugu movie for which I got a lot of positive feedback on facebook and twitter, so I love modeling and I will always continue to do ads, so its not like a this or that.

Future plans?

In this industry, being a volatile one, there are a lot of ups and downs. You can’t really plan anything; you just have to accept things as they come. I am really looking forward to that ‘180’ switch in my career (smiles).