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Yet another woman director debuts in Tamil

Thirty-one-year-old Nandhini JS is the latest woman director to join the handful of women in the Tamil film industry. Nandhini, who assisted Priya of Kanda Naal Muthal and Kannampoochi Enada fame, is coming out with her debut film, Thiru Thiru, Thuru Thuru. The film is produced by Real Images and Sathyam Cinemas.

The audio of the film was released recently at a function where Kamal Haasan, directors like K S Ravikumar, Gowtham Vasudev Menon and Murugadoss were present.

In an interview to Shobha Warrier, Nandhini talks about how she got to direct her first film, and why she chose films as her profession.

'I am a good story teller'

How did you, a person from a non-filmi background get interested in films?

When I was younger I wasn't sure whether I would take cinema seriously. I was interested in writing, directing plays, music, dance, painting and psychology, which are all a part of films.

Later, when I told my family that I wanted to be a film director, everybody thought I was joking. Then, they panicked. It took some time for me to convince them and then, I was off to study film direction in Chennai. That was ten years ago.

Were you inspired by any filmmaker?

I can't pinpoint one person as my inspiration. Mani Ratnam, Balu Mahendra, K.Balachander -- all those people who made good films inspired me. Each film I saw inspired me.

I am a good story teller and I knew that people are in awe of the person who makes good films. When I tell my story, I am at my best and happiest.

'All women characters we see on screen are artificial'

There are very few women filmmakers in Tamil. Even in 2009, there are hardly any. What made you choose direction as your profession?

It is that particular aspect that motivated me to go and study film direction. It is like a true businessman selling shoes in a place where nobody wears shoes. When I realised that there are very few women filmmakers, it motivated me all the more.

Do you feel a woman's perspective is not seen or heard in films?

Yes. I feel that a man's vision of life is completely different from that of a woman's. All women characters we see on screen are artificial. That is not the way normal girls behave. Most of them are portrayed as silly, immature and stupid as if all girls are like that. I feel we can give a different perspective through our films.

'I am not an art filmmaker. I like fun commercial films'

After passing out from a film institute, did you assist anyone?

Yes, Priya, while she was working on Kanda Naal Muthal.

Any particular reason why you chose to assist a woman director?

It is not that I wanted to assist only a woman director. I tried to assist Rajiv Menon and a few others, and Rajiv Menon told me that he would take me when he starts his film. Unfortunately, he didn't do any film after Kandu Kondein Kandu Kondein.

I heard that Priya, who was my senior in college, was starting her first film. I showed her some of my short films and she took me on. She has been Mani Ratnam's assistant so I knew that she would make different kind of films. I was not interested in working with masala filmmakers. I am not an arty filmmaker either. I like fun commercial films.

'I cannot do anything else but make films'

How was it working as Priya's assistant?

Unlike many other women filmmakers, she was not into parallel cinema; she preferred making fun films. It was also fun working with her as she had a great sense of humour. She put me in all departments -- from scripting to writing dialogues to costumes to the final mixing. So it was a great learning experience for me.

After that I started doing corporate films for companies like Mitsubishi.

Did you make corporate films for survival, that is, till you get your first feature film?

Yes, it was to survive. I cannot do anything else but make films.

'Real Images and Sathyam Cinemas conducted an entrance exam for me'

How did Real Images and Sathyam Cinemas join hands to produce your film, Thiru Thiru, Thuru Thuru?

Real Image is into digital technology. They are the first in India to bring digital and Quebec technology. Sathyam Cinemas is the premier theatre complex in India that adapts to new technology to provide enjoyable movie experience. So, both Real Images and Sathyam had a partnership for a long time.

When they came to know about the Red Camera, they wanted to promote different kind of cinema. So, they decided to enter into filmmaking, and ordered the Red Camera.

That was when I was introduced to Jayendra (of Real Images) and narrated the story I had. It was a romantic comedy but not the usual masala type. He then asked if I was interested in shooting for Red Camera. I agreed and was on board immediately. 

What made them finally choose you as the director of their first venture?

I had made a few three-minute trailers of my story. I showed them to the producers and one to Jayendra too. In those three minutes, I tried to give a fairly good idea of the story. I think he was impressed with what I did.

Then, Real Images and Sathyam Cinemas gave me an entrance exam! The exam was to shoot three scenes from the film I was planning to make. My cinematographer Sudhir and I shot three scenes and showed it to them.

'All of them saw the scenes and offered me the film'

Were you nervous before the exam?

I was confident, actually. I looked at it as an opportunity to prove myself. I chose three different scenes like one comedy, one action and one sad scene. All of them saw the scenes and offered me the film.

How did you feel then?

I felt so relieved. If they had said no, I didn't know what I would do next!