How does Madhavan approach real-life and fictional characters?
Madhavan says believability is the most important factor in both cases. His main responsibility is to make audiences believe that the character genuinely exists.
What is the biggest difference between a fictional role and a biopic role?
A fictional character gives an actor greater freedom to create the appearance, body language and personality. In a biopic, the actor is restricted by the real person’s physical features, body structure and recognised mannerisms.
Does an actor have more freedom when the real person is not widely known?
Yes. Madhavan believes an actor has more creative freedom when audiences are unfamiliar with the person’s appearance. Achieving a reasonably close resemblance may be enough to make the portrayal convincing.
Why was physical accuracy important in Rocketry?
Physical accuracy was essential because the real Nambi Narayanan appeared in the climax. Madhavan wanted the transition between his performance and Narayanan’s appearance to feel seamless and emotionally convincing.
Is acting emotionally different in biopics and fictional films?
Madhavan says the emotional and dramatic effort remains the same. Once the appearance and physical details are established, the actor must create a believable performance in both types of roles.
Who does Madhavan play in GDN?
Madhavan plays inventor and industrialist G.D. Naidu, popularly known as the Edison of India. The film explores his achievements, ideas and contribution to Indian innovation.
What does Madhavan consider the core responsibility of an actor?
He believes an actor must make the audience completely trust the character. Whether the role is real or fictional, authenticity should prevent viewers from noticing the actor behind the performance.
How did you feel about taking on the role of Panchami in Hari Hara Veera Mallu?
I absolutely loved the character. It’s rare to find roles with so many layers. Panchami allowed me to explore different emotions from strength to vulnerability.
What was the transformation process like for your character?
Srikanth N Reddy made popular short films and worked as writer for films like Dohchay and Tuntari. Now, he is debuting as director with Panja Vaisshnav Tej and Sreeleela statter Aadikeshava. Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya are producing the film on Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinema, respectively.
The young director has interacted with press representatives prior to the release on 24th November, 2023 worldwide. Here are excerpts from his candid conversation.
What inspired Ilaiyaraaja to compose for Shashtipoorthi?
He believed in the story. Ilaiyaraaja said he has always supported newcomers, and the sincerity of the Shashtipoorthi team reminded him of early collaborations with directors like Bharathiraja and Mani Ratnam.
What is Ilaiyaraaja’s take on composing a symphony?
He explained that a symphony isn’t something that can be easily defined it must be experienced. He’s c
How did you come on board for Beauty? What was your first reaction to the story? The title and logo were finalized by Maruthi garu before I joined. When I first heard the story, I was shocked and impressed. At the same time, I was anxious about how audiences would receive it, but I knew this film had something special. What kind of role are you playing in Beauty? I play the role of Arjun, a character audiences have never seen me portray before. Initially, I was nervous about acceptance, but I fo
Tamannaah Bhatia makes her Cannes debut this year. She talks about the lessons she’s learned through her career, the difference between an actor and a heroine and how the cinematic perceptions of women have changed over time:
I read that you started working at 15, which is a very tender age to enter a tough business. What did you learn and how did that experience shape you t
How did you prepare to portray the deep friendship between Shoaib and Chandan?
Ishaan: We spent a lot of time together even before filming, including workshops and spending one-on-one time to build genuine chemistry. The director Neeraj wanted us to be vulnerable and connect beyond just the happy moments.
Vishal: Yes, we couldn&
Why did you choose Vijay Kanakamedala as the director for Bhairava?
After doing several stylish and commercial films, I wanted to connect with the mass audience emotionally. I was looking for a rural, rooted story. This script came at the right time, and I felt Vijay sir could present it with the right sensibilities. Though I’ve done remakes before,
Two back-to-back Pan-India hits with Hanuman and Mirai. How does it feel?
It’s overwhelming. When success comes, all the hard work feels worth it. Director Karthik Ghattamaneni created an extraordinary film, which inspired me to give my best music. The entire team is thrilled with the audience response.
What’s the best co
How does it feel to do your first horror film?
I’ve mostly done mass commercial entertainers so far, but personally I love different genres like horror. When Kaushik narrated Kishkindhapuri, I was immediately drawn to it. It’s a story that gives audiences a fresh cinematic experience. We recently watched it in theaters for the first time and it was mind-blowing, especially the soun
What inspired the title ‘Eleven’ for the movie?
The title is drawn directly from the story. It’ll make perfect sense after watching the film. It’s not just a number it has emotional and narrative significance.
How confident are you about the film’s reception?