Interview: Like Muthu in Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, I have also evolved, says Simbu

Q. How does it feel working with director Gautham Menon for the third time?

A. Really nice. Finding the right combination of people to work with is rare. With Gautham Menon, my characters are quite real and that’s how they were if you see our earlier films.

This time around, both of us are doing something extremely different and out of our comfort zone. It was new for both of us. I was really happy.

Q. In Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, you play Muthu — a rustic, rural person. Did you face any challenges playing this role?

Simbu and Gautham Menon’s “Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu ” is releasing on 16 September. (SilambarasnTR-/Twitter)

A. Initially, writer Jeyamohan had doubts about me essaying this role. This role is that of a young 19-year-old boy and he felt that I was too big a star to essay it.

At that point, I was overweight and sporting a beard. But I was confident that this character would be really good to play and hence I underwent a complete physical transformation; mentally too.

Only then, Jeyamohan was convinced that I could play Muthu. The biggest challenge for me was that people shouldn’t see me as Simbu, the star, but as Muthu on-screen.

To become him, I had to change how I speak, my body language, mannerisms, etc. I think this is the USP of the film.

As for the slang, I practised it and spoke in the same style. I took reference points for Muthu from real life. If people can see me as Muthu, then the film is a success.

Q. Muthu has a character arc in the film…

A. We see how Muthu evolves and what he goes through, gets involved in and his journey. There are certain things which I have to express solely through reactions and not as dialogues. There are lots of aspects like that in the film which were challenging.

Q. You’ve done many films around romance, action, and drama. So, was there a learning curve for you with Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu?

A. Definitely. I realised and discovered that I could carry off a role like this and do new types of films like this. I feel I should explore this more now.

Q. As you mentioned, you had to follow the diet, lose weight and transform yourself. How tough was that?

A. When Jeyamohan said that I can’t play this role, it had an impact on me. I took it up as a challenge — both personally and professionally — and wanted to prove it wrong. But it wasn’t easy.

For instance, when we are famished, we get angry and lose control over our actions. In such cases, I used to immediately sit down, close my eyes, experience the hunger and let the feelings pass.

Here is the trailer of #VendhuThanindhathuKaadu #VTKTrailer ?https://t.co/s4KG2geVGs @menongautham
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— Silambarasan TR (@SilambarasanTR_) September 3, 2022

Q. Given that this is a different film for both you and Gautham Menon, how was he to work with on this village-based subject?

A. The audience is used to the kind of films that he and I have worked on together. But Gautham Menon wanted to try something different this time.

When he approached me with this subject, I was shocked. It’s easy for an actor to tell a director: “Let’s do something different.” But when, as a director, Gautham Menon himself wanted to move forward and try a new genre, I felt good.

When he was willing to go the extra mile and try something different, then I had to be extremely committed and give it my 200 percent.

Q. Was writer Jeyamohan happy with your performance finally?

A. Jeyamohan told Gautham Menon that he was shocked with my transformation, and performance, and was really happy. In response to this, I told Menon that the audience will also experience a (pleasant) shock after seeing my transformation in Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, just like Jeyamohan did.

Q. Now that Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu is up for release, are you satisfied?

A. I’ve transformed myself into Muthu for this film and I feel satisfied with what I did. I don’t know whether the movie will be a hit or not, but I am not anxious about the project — more than its success.

I think people will appreciate our hard work (Gautham’s and mine). I am confident about it. I am just waiting for their reaction after watching the first show on the opening day (smiles).