The director stated that Kamal Haasan is irreplaceable in the role of Senapathy in 'Indian 2' emphasising how effortless the collaboration with the actor-politician was.
Published Jul 12, 2024 | 7:45 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 12, 2024 | 7:45 AM
Shankar and Kamal Haasan on the sets of 'Indian 2'. (Supplied)
Long before the term “pan-Indian cinema” became popular, filmmaker Shankar was creating films that appealed to audiences across various regions and languages. From Gentleman (1993), Indian (1996) to Boys (2003) and Anniyan (2005), Shankar feels his films have always worked across the length and breadth of the country, because his stories are told from a common man’s point of view, making them highly relatable.
With Indian 2 releasing today, South First spoke with Shankar about the Kamal Haasan starrer, managing three projects simultaneously, working with massive budgets, and his views on the concept of pan-Indian films.
Here are some excerpts from a quick interview:
Q: After 28 years since the release of the first part, what’s the need for Indian 2?
A: After Indian, I quickly moved on to other projects. I never aspired to make Indian 2 for the longest time. However, after every film, when I sit down to think about what I should do next, I’ve often come across news reports on corruption in the papers quite often. Every time I’ve read such reports, the character of Senapathy comes to mind. I would ask myself how Senapathy would react to corruption, after all these years. The idea took time to take form as a story after so many years.
Q: Ever since Indian, many films have been made on corruption over the years. How do you think Indian 2 will be different from these films after two decades?
A: I’m always aware of the films being made around me. I do my homework and thoroughly approach the story when making a film. Indian 2 is driven by a pan-Indian concept, unlike anything explored before. While Indian’s story was confined to one region, Indian 2 will reach a national audience, and Indian 3 will go global.
Kamal Haasan in ‘Indian 2’. (Supplied)
Q: Indian 2 is touted as one of the most expensive films of Tamil cinema. You are known for making films on massive budgets. Do you always strive to make films on such high budgets?
A: I don’t aspire to make films on bigger budgets. It is not something I wish for every time I decide to make a film. The budget of my film is always based on the idea that excites me and what I can do to do justice to it. Each film’s success expands my horizons, allowing me to create something even bigger, but it must be supported by a strong idea. Otherwise, there’s no need to make massive-budget films. For instance, the budget of 2.O (2018) is bigger than Indian 2. Now, this only means 2.O required more budget given the scale of the film.
Q: You are known to work on one film at a time. For various reasons, you had to juggle three films–Indian 2 and 3, Game Changer–simultaneously. How challenging was the process?
A: When Indian 2 got stalled at one point, I wasn’t even sure if it’ll resume anytime soon. That’s when I decided to get on with my next project, which happened to be a Telugu film. When I was all set to commence work on Game Changer, things got cleared up for Indian 2 as well, and we decided to shoot two parts together. I was left with no option but to simultaneously juggle both projects. I took it up as a challenge and finished both projects. It took a lot of planning and the best teamwork.
From legendary beginnings to an epic sequel, the journey continues with #Indian2 🇮🇳 Buckle up for the next chapter in Senapathy’s saga! 🤞🏻🔥@IndianTheMovie 🇮🇳 Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan @shankarshanmugh #Siddharth @anirudhofficial @dop_ravivarman @sreekar_prasad… pic.twitter.com/uchKMYO85T
— Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) July 10, 2024
Q: Ever since Kamal Haasan’s look from Indian 2 was released, there’s been a lot of chatter about the character’s age. At any point did you think of making Indian 2 with any other actor just like how a new actor gets introduced when a franchise gets taken forward in the West?
A: Even if I considered it, do you think audiences would accept it? (laughs) The role of Indian thatha was played by one of the finest actors in the country, Kamal Haasan. It’s impossible to envision the character with anyone else. If it were a different story, I might have considered it, but for Indian, I can’t think beyond Kamal Haasan.
Q: You have reunited with Kamal Haasan after two decades. Could you talk about the experience of working with him after all these years?
A: Working with Kamal sir has become easier because he constantly updates himself. He knows precisely what today’s audiences want from him.
There’s no way you can envision the character with someone else, especially after Kamal sir has already played it, Shankar said.
Q: At what point did you decide to turn Indian into a franchise with two more parts? Was that plan all along when you decided to make the second part?
A: Honestly, I didn’t see it as a franchise at all. When I kept reading news reports about corruption, I just wanted to bring back Indian thatha and thought of a story where how Senapathy would deal with corruption at present. The story organically evolved into two parts.
Q: As someone whose films have appealed to audiences across the country for many years, what’s your take on pan-Indian cinema? A lot of filmmakers today are obsessed with the idea of making pan-Indian films.
A: I always like to narrate my stories from a common man’s point of view. When that idea appeals to every common man across the country, it automatically becomes a pan-Indian film. When I made Gentleman in Tamil, it turned out to be a massive success in Telugu, as well. When I made Indian, it clicked in Telugu, as well as, Hindi. When audiences connect with a story on a personal level, it becomes pan-Indian cinema. When you sit and decide to make a pan-Indian film, I don’t think it works out. Personally, I don’t subscribe to it.
(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)
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