It is easier to act with Karthi than Suriya: Jyotika

The team of the much-awaited film Thambi, in which Jyotika and her brother-in-law Karthi are sharing screen space for the first time, meets us at a city hotel. Jyotika arrives first and Karthi enters through another door and greets Jo by saying ‘Hi anni’ as they settle down for a chat. Apart from Karthi and Jo, the film has power-packed performers like Sowcar Janaki and Sathyaraj in important roles. “I wasn’t the one who zeroed in on Karthi and Jyotika to play siblings in the film. When the producers of the film Viacom 18 and Parallel Minds Productions invited me to Mumbai to discuss the story, Jo and Karthi were already a part of it. Moreover, the story is written by Bollywood director Rensil D’Silva and Sameer Arora. My mother tongue is Malayalam. To get the perfect diction and the screenplay right, we later brought Manikandan of Vikram Vedha fame on board,” he reveals.

The presence of Jyotika and Karthi in the film has increased the expectations, especially after the actors’ successful run with Kaithi and Raatchasi this year. “The film will have the intensity of Kaithi and a message on family values like all other films of anni. Moreover, I have played Sathyaraj’s son yet again after Kadaikutty Singam. Our chemistry in Thambi will be entirely different from what it was in Kadaikutty Singam. The character graphs are in contrast and you will know it when you watch the film,” he opens up. On sharing screen space with Karthi, she says that knowing Karthi has helped in translating the chemistry on screen for the film. “Also, it is a lot easier to act with Karthi than Suriya. When Suriya and I are on the sets, we used to fight a lot just like any other couple,” she laughs. Jo and Karthi also get candid as they talk about veteran actress Sowcar Janaki. “She is 88 and is the fittest person on the sets. There was a scene, where she had to fall down on the floor. She did that even before we could realise and asked Jeethu if he needed another take. I was in fact, worried about my back pain after stunt sequences. However, after seeing her, I stopped complaining,” says Karthi. “Jyotika adds, “She brought a lot of energy and positivity to the sets. Despite completing her portions, she stayed back in the house where we shot. On the first day, she arrived on the sets wearing t-shirt and jeans. We were amazed. Sowcar Janaki ma’am cooked for us and pampered us with sweets.”

Coming back to Thambi, Jeethu says that the film is a thriller. “The story takes place between two families and there is an element of thrill in it which cannot be revealed now,” he says. There was a speculation that Karthi does a dual role in the film. Refuting the rumours, Karthi says, “It is not. I play only one role with two different looks. I believe the person, who came up with this is capable of writing a story for the sequel,” he concludes with a smile.