‘Sarathkumar and Radikaa set relationship goals for all of us’

Vaanam Kottatum, which boasts of a star ensemble of Vikram Prabhu, Aishwarya Rajesh, Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, Sarathkumar, Radikaa Sarathkumar, Madonna Sebastian and Balaji Shakthivel among others. Vikram Prabhu, Shanthnu and Dhana arrived at the DTNext office on time.

“It has been almost five years since I last came to this premises,” says Vikram Prabhu, dressed in a camouflage T-shirt and a blue jean. As the trio settles downs for a chat, the director of the film Dhana says, “We wanted to make a feel-good family film and going by the response of the audience for the trailer and sneak-peek, I believe we have achieved it.” Vikram Prabhu says that he was excited to be a part of the project that is co-written and produced by Mani Ratnam.

“I met Dhana while shooting for Thuppaki Munai and he told me that he was working on a project. Then he narrated the script to me. I liked it and to be a part of a film that has Mani sir as a co-writer and a producer is an actor’s delight,” he adds. Shanthnu says that he has evolved as an actor after shooting for Vaanam Kottattum. “Madras Talkies believes in honing skills of a unit. When they audition an actor for their film, they totally trust them and work on the actor’s plus points. I could say that I walked out as a better actor when I completed the film,” he smiles.

The film has Sarathkumar and Radikaa playing the onscreen pair for the fourth time after over decades. “They definitely set relationship goals for us,” says Vikram Prabhu, who plays their son in the film. “On the sets, they were running around like a young couple, who had just fallen in love. Aishwarya Rajesh and I were amazed at their energy and the way they were completely in love with each other,” he reveals.

The actor also adds that it was Sarathkumar’s name that popped up in his mind when he was narrated the character outline of his father in the film. “I have played an aggressive youngster in my previous films. However, in Vaananum Kottattum, Sarathkumar sir’s character is also that of an aggressive father and I had to be on a par with him. When Dhana narrated the character I was thinking of Sarath sir and after the narration he told me it was Sarathkumar sir, who would be playing the character. We smiled at each other,” Vikram tells us. Shanthnu’s character of Ram has been kept a little under wraps when compared to Vikram in the promotional videos. “Ram is any youngster, who you come across on a busy road or any public place. He is family-oriented and also stands up for himself. Ram will resonate with the audience immediately,” says the actor.

On a concluding note, Dhana says that the film will have a Mani Ratnam style of narrative to it. “Mani sir used to see the rushes every day before the shoot and he was completely involved with it despite his busy schedules,” says Vikram as they head for a photoshoot just outside the interview venue.