Mari Selvaraj: Kamal Haasan’s Thevar Magan is the reason behind Maamannan

Right from the gate of Nehru Indoor Stadium, director Mari Selvaraj and the team set the vibe for the audio launch of Maamannan. Folk musicians with parai and melam were making everyone around groove to the beats, and when you enter the arena, you witness a huge rising sun that adorns the stage. The message was clear that Mari has found a perfect hero and producer for his Maamannan. Who else other than Udhayanidhi Stalin, a minister of a party that has been following the Dravidian model of governance, would justify the politics of Mari Selvaraj, the maker of Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan? The audio launch turned out to be a grand event with Kamal Haasan as the chief guest, but it was Vadivelu, who grabbed eyeballs.

Talking at the event, Udhayanidhi, who plays one of the two protagonists, said, “Mari Selvaraj sir told me about the script and asked me how it would be to cast Vadivelu for one particular role. I said it would be awesome, and then we decided that if Vadivelu sir doesn’t accept the project, we would not do Maamannan but chose something else. I was a bit doubtful if Vadivelu sir would take up the film, but he did.”

He added, “At first Mari said that he will finish the entire shoot in 80 days, and took us all to a village in Salem. But the shoot went on for more than 100 days, and we used to keep making fun of him every day…saying ‘sir today is 101, today is 102.’ So, it went on for about 110 days and we wrapped up the film and came back to Chennai. After coming back, he again called me and said, ‘Udhay let’s shoot for a few more days’, and we again did a schedule in Chennai. Now, a few days ago, he called me and said, ‘Udhay, you should not laugh if I ask you something. I want to just shoot for one more.’ I told him to let’s do this all after the audio launch.”

Udhayanidhi Stalin also heaped praise on Vadivelu and said that his performance is the soul of the film, and even Mari Selvaraj wanted everyone to match his acting. However, when Vadivelu got on stage, it was with his usual humility and modesty and he praised Mari, AR Rahman, and Udhayanidhi Stalin. He said that the film wouldn’t have happened without Udhay because he provided all the support as the producer.

Vadivelu said, “This is not a film. This is the truth. I have worked with many directors in my career. Kamal Haasan was the one who made me do what I was doing on the streets in film. My training is from there. I came up after a lot of struggles, which Mari Selvaraj has also gone through.”

Mari Selvaraj brought all his assistant directors to the stage before delivering his speech. “I am very happy. I don’t know what to talk. I have made two films so far. During the audio launch and other events of the two films, I used to be very serious. A lot of emotions would be going through me. But now, I am feeling jolly. The reason for all of this is Udhayanidhi sir.”

Mari opened up about how Maamannan came about. “After watching Pariyerum Perumal, Udhay sir told me that he wants to work with me. I told him that I have committed to a film with Dhanush. Then after Karnan, he called me and said his next will be his last, and he wanted me to do it. I was moved by it. However, I didn’t know if he will be okay with my story. So, I took a script that I was sure he wouldn’t like and narrated it to him. To my surprise, he immediately said okay. In many instances, I was worried that this film wouldn’t happen because I am someone who is politically charged and I didn’t know how this will work for Udhay.”

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He added, “Later, when I said I wanted Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil for the roles, Udhay was a bit taken aback. But he opened the door for me and Vadivelu and Fahadh came on board immediately. When it came to the heroine, I told Udhay that I wanted someone who is not a popular face, and he was like ‘Why? let’s go big.’ That’s how Keerthy Suresh came on board. When all four actors came in, Maamannan already started playing in my head. I got the confidence that this film is going to be the biggest in my career. I thank all these four for making me believe that I have become a big director.”

The director got emotional while talking about his time spent with AR Rahman. “Let me say it out openly. I have a bit of an inferiority complex, and that’s due to the beatings I took in life. So, I would be hesitant with whatever I do. However, while working with AR Rahman, I completely lost those thoughts. The things he taught me in the past ten days are something I can’t express in words. He changed the way I look at things. Let the songs and music be, the few days I worked with him is enough.”

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Mari Selvaraj got even more emotional while talking about Kamal Haasan. The director revealed that Thevar Magan is the reason for the making of Maamannan. “When I watched Thevar Magan, I was in pain and confusion. I didn’t know whether the film was right or wrong, but it made a huge impact on me. Many directors became filmmakers after watching Thevar Magan, and that includes me. But when I saw Thevar Magan, I saw Periya Thevar and Chinna Thevar, and I wondered where is the place for my father in here. That’s the origin of Maamannan. Esaki character in Thevar Magan is what Maamannan is about. What if Esakki becomes Maamannan? That’s what this film is. Sorry sir (to Kamal), I got a bit emotional. Watching Maamannan with Kamal sir is one of the biggest moments of my life.”

Like always AR Rahman kept it simple by just thanking all his colleagues and lyricist Yugabharathi for beautiful lines. And lastly, Kamal Haasan, the chief guest, took the stage, and said, “Brother Udhay said this film is Mari Selvaraj’s politics… No, it’s ours. This conversation has to happen for future generations. I am a bit angry that Udhay didn’t do my film, but it is okay, Maamannan is also my film. This is my politics too. What I like about Mari is that he always gives space to his opposition. When you are enraged, those things wouldn’t come to mind, but Mari does that in every film. He comes from a place of justice. Usually, people wish the film to be good, but since I have seen the film already, I want it to become a success. That’s my desire. It is also a litmus test to the taste of our audience.”

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