Director Sasikumar on Subramaniapuram: ‘I envisioned the entire story with Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan in mind’

“When I first aspired to create a film, my primary goal was to ensure that I wouldn’t tarnish the reputation of my mentors, directors Bala and Ameer, whom I had assisted. My intention was to craft a movie that upheld their legacy. Moreover, I aimed to break away from the conventional norms. Typically, in films, rowdy characters don white shirts and dhotis with a certain physique, but I wanted to avoid that stereotype. While weaving elements of friendship and revenge into the storyline, I strived to maintain a sense of realism throughout the movie, even amidst the inclusion of commercial and cinematic aspects. Subramaniapuram was brought to life with this vision in mind,” Sasikumar said during a chat with Galatta Plus.

“The whole plot took shape in my mind, envisioning how Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan would have portrayed the characters of Paraman (played by Sasikumar) and Azhagar (Jai). Once I finished writing the script, I needed to define the attitudes of each character. During that process, I imbued Azhagar with Kamal sir’s features, particularly considering the love angle in the story, which is why Jai’s costumes are always vibrant and colourful. On the other hand, I styled my character, Paraman, with a step-cut hairstyle and checked shirts, akin to Rajinikanth’s appearance during that time. I didn’t necessarily aim for them to portray the roles, but rather, I assigned these features to the characters by envisioning how it would be if these actors played these specific roles,” Sasikumar recalled.

#Subramaniapuram

ஜூலை 4, சசிகுமார் இயக்கத்தில் ஜெய், சமுத்திரக்கனி, சுவாதி ரெட்டி, சசிகுமார் நடித்த ‘சுப்ரமணியபுரம்’ படம் திரைக்கு வந்து, இன்றுடன் 15 ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவடைந்துள்ளது.#15YearsOfSubramaniapuram@SasikumarDir @Actor_Jai @thondankani #SwathiReddy@esakkimuthuk pic.twitter.com/NQoMrRmC4G

— Actor Kayal Devaraj (@kayaldevaraj) July 3, 2023

‘Subramaniapuram’. Would be ever thankful for all the love and support of the fans that changed the course of our lives.
-Sasikumar#15YearsOfSubramaniapuram @SasikumarDir@srkathiir pic.twitter.com/gz1wSFyV1z

— ரெவித்தம்பி (@Revithambi1964) July 4, 2023

He also pointed out that while crafting the screenplay, his primary emphasis was on the friendship aspect. He revealed that the first scene he wrote was the climax, and subsequently, he worked backwards to construct the entire narrative. “I wanted to make a film about betrayal in love and friendship. I completed Subramaniapuram’s script in 10 days. When I sat down to write, the entire story came to me like a chain. After the first draft was ready, I kept polishing and rewriting it.”

Highlighting the significance of avoiding rigidly fixed scripts, Sasikumar emphasised the importance of leaving room for improvisation. He mentioned that they incorporated numerous elements into the film while being on location and adapting to the surroundings. “The entire film is a result of pure teamwork,” he added.

15 YEARS OF SUBRAMANIAPURAM
Thank you Each&Everyone @SasikumarDir ❤️#15yearsofsubramaniapuram #kangalirundal pic.twitter.com/4NTcSXKzpT

— Jai (@Actor_Jai) July 4, 2023

#Watch | ”எங்க எல்லாருக்கும் முகவரி கொடுத்த படம் சுப்ரமணியபுரம்”

சுப்பிரமணியபுரம் படம் 15 ஆண்டுகளை நிறைவு செய்ததை அடுத்து, நடிகர் சமுத்திரக்கனி நெகிழ்ச்சி#SunNews | #15yearsofSubramaniyapuram | @SasikumarDir | @Actor_Jai | @thondankani pic.twitter.com/9c9u7r3Z7U

— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) July 4, 2023

The actor-director also mentioned that in his original script, there was no room for the song “Kangal Irandal”, and the only music featured in the film were the Ilaiyaraaja tracks played in the background.