Date:20/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/20/stories/2006042017630200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Mixing the commercial with the offbeat

S.R. Ashok Kumar

"FromPuthiya Pathaito the latestPacha Kudhirai, I think I have matured a lot. But, I have not changed much as far as my approach to life is concerned"

R. Parthepan

R. Parthepan got off to a flying start about 15 years ago with Puthiya Pathai. Since then, he has been mixing the offbeat with the commercial in his films.

He talks about his films in the backdrop of his latest work Pacha Kudhirai.

I am a normal person with a lot of humaneness in me. I expect the same in return. In short, my wish is that all of us be good human beings. I am trying to be one.

From Puthiya Pathai to the latest Pacha Kudhirai, I think I have matured a lot. But I have not changed much as far as my approach to life is concerned. I take the good and the bad alike.

I just concentrate on the next venture as soon I finish the one at hand.

One may ask what I am doing now after the release of Pacha Kudhirai. I have forgotten that movie and am now into my next script: it is one in which I plan to act. Then I will be directing a film which will star a popular hero.

My first film was a hit. Though, I do not see all films as commercial ventures, I made Pacha Kudhirai with a commercial motive.

It is about a person who behaves worse than an animal and how he changes into a good person.

I did films such as House Full and Kudaikkul Mazhai, which burnt my fingers. I was not bothered about the loss. But I am perplexed now that people did not accept Pachai Kudhirai.

I have acted in nearly 40 movies and directed 10 of them.

I liked Bharathi Kannamma, Andhappuram, Sornamuki, Sabash, Houseful and Kudaikkul Mazhai.

As a director, I am happy to have done House Full and Kudaikkul Mazhai.

You will be surprised that the list does not include the first movie. However, people still talk about it, as actor Suriya recently did.

My work was very little in that movie and the heroine occupied most of the frames. But it clicked at the box office because of the screenplay.

Even former Assembly Speaker K. Kalimuthu said he liked the movie. He also told me that the late MGR too would have liked it.

I am an ardent fan of Kamal Haasan. I noticed that he has given a good performance even in movies that have flopped.

I have stopped admiring Rajinikanth's films after Baasha.

I like Suriya and his powerful eyes.

Among heroines, I like Soundarya for her intelligence on a variety of topics. She was also a very good artist.

My aim: to do more films, more good to society; and to do that I must work more.