National award-winning Tamil director Cheran's new offering Pokkisham released to mixed reactions from the critics and public. Those who like offbeat films loved it while others panned it as slow moving.
In this hard hitting interview to Shobha Warrier, Cheran speaks about criticism and why he made Pokkisham the way it is.
How do you respond to the kind of reactions that have come about Pokkisham? Do you think high expectations was the reason behind many people getting dissatisfied with the film?
Yes, high expectations can make people react that way. I have made the film the way I wanted. It is a novel subject. The story is such that you can't make this as a commercial, fast paced masala film. I knew some people would react like this.
Another thing is, today, everyone wants to make money in the first few days. So, producers release the film in many theatres. Only big films with big heroes can attract huge crowds to the theatres. Film-makers and actors like us will not get such initials. We are not mass heroes and our films are story based. Pokkisham is not the kind of film people would rush to see and clap after every scene. There are those who come after three days of release to watch the film, and they enjoy it.'Who gave critics the right to decide what is good for whom?'
Many people found your film too slow for today's generation. Do you feel that way?
How can some critics say that today's generation won't like the pace of my film? They don't have the right to say so. It is the prerogative of the film-maker to make a film the way he wants to. Cinema is a creative medium and not a commercial proposition.
Though critics can say whether they like a film or not, they have no right to say that this generation likes only fast paced films, so I should also make films like that. Who gave them the right to decide what is good for whom?
'How can you judge a film that was made in 1-2 years with one viewing?'
Do you think of your audience when you make a film?
A creative person will not think of anyone as his audience when he makes a film. I also don't have any audience in front of me. If I feel like telling a story, I make a film. I don't make distinction between women, younger generation or the older generation. But the so called critics do not have the right to tell me that I should make movies with a particular audience in mind. Only a film-maker has the right to decide how and why he wants to make a film.
Do you feel critics of today do not have enough knowledge about films and film making?
Some have and some don't. From the kind of reviews they write, you understand how deep or shallow their knowledge is. Watching a film once and writing a review in a hurry is not the way it should be done. They should watch the film 2-3 times and then analyse. Only then will they understand why the director made it the way he did.
How can you judge a film that was made in 1-2 years with one viewing? A critic has to watch it at least three times. He should watch it in a theatre and write and not watch it once in a free preview show. A critic has to put in the same kind of effort the film-maker has put in making the film.
Those who like crass, dappan kuthu films found Pokkisham slow'
One of the major criticisms against your film is that in a world of smses and email, you talked about letter writing, something that has almost vanished from the lives of people. How do you react to this?
Does your father wear the same kind of jeans you wear today? Does your mother wear the kind of tight tops you wear? We have to show parents as parents and children as children. The young man and girl in my film behave like the way today's younger generation does. They email, they sms and talk over phone but how can you show his father doing the same in the 1970s?
But the educated youngsters, even students tell me that they enjoyed the film. Many young people tell me that it was a class and excellent film. Some young people told me that the film has global standards. Yes, those who like crass, dappan kuthu films and the uneducated found Pokkisham slow.
If the film were a Korean, Iranian or Chinese one with subtitles, there would be people here to appreciate it. But since it was made in Tamil by Cheran, it is a slow film!
'It is enough for me if even 50 people liked Pokkisham'
Do the reactions hurt you?
Honestly, no. If there are 500 people who have not understood what I made and criticise it but at least 50 who say it is excellent, then that is enough for me.
What was the inspiration behind the story?
I have written many letters to my mother, my lover and my sisters. I have kept all those letters safely with me. There are many like me who have kept such letters as treasures, and I made the film for such people. Even if you cannot meet those close to you, if you go through what they have written, you may feel close to them. That is their Pokkisham. The treasure I have is the inspiration behind the film.
'Autograph 2 will start start from where Autograph left off'
Pokkisham is a pure love story. Your Autograph also was a pure love story. Are you very romantic at heart?
Yes, I am very romantic. I like and respect pure love. I don't like casual love.
You are planning to make Autograph 2. Will that be a continuation of Autograph?
Yes, it will start from where Autograph left off.
'I cannot think of exploiting a female body'
All the women characters in your films are strong, independent, with a mind of their own and a lot of dignity to them...
I respect women a lot and that is reflected in my films too. I cannot think of exploiting a female body and making money. I don't have to buy clothes for the women in my home by exposing other women.
I had read that you became an actor because no hero was willing to act in Autograph. Has acting became a passion for you now?
I did not mean to act in Pokkisham either. Once the script was ready, I knew nobody would be interested in the role. Where is heroism in this character? He is an ordinary guy living a simple and uneventful life. That was the only reason why I took on the burden of acting while directing the film.'If a filmmaker has to be socially responsible, then the audience too has to be equally responsible'
Like you told me a decade ago, do you still feel a film-maker has to be socially responsible?
It is true that a film-maker has to be socially responsible but the truth is, a socially responsible film-maker struggles and those who are not bothered about that go high up in life. That is what happens in real life. If a filmmaker has to be socially responsible, then the audience too has to be equally responsible. If they don't care, why should a director alone care?
Have you started thinking about your next film?
No. Pokkisham was "delivered" only a few days ago. I am still with my baby. I have to see whether it is getting fed properly. Till it can walk on its own, I have to be with it. Like a mother, I have to take care of her, which I am doing now.
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