Mari Selvaraj pens heartfelt note on Fahadh Faasil’s birthday; hails the actor’s emotive eyes: ‘I created Rathnavelu with those two eyes in mind’

As Fahadh Faasil celebrated his 41st birthday on Tuesday, director Mari Selvaraj wrote a heartwarming message for him on social media, reminiscing about how he crafted the character Rathnavelu by drawing inspiration from Fahadh’s emotive eyes. Mari also mentioned his strong fondness for Fahadh’s eyes.

“I like both your eyes so much. I created Rathnavelu with those two eyes in mind. In one eye, I asked you to firmly believe that the way of life that has been taught for generations is right. On the other eye, I had asked you to represent the confusion that the younger generation creates by asking fierce questions against the established norm. You perfectly portrayed two different lifestyles with your two eyes and carried it throughout the movie,” Mari wrote.

வணக்கம் பகத் சார்!!!

உங்கள் இரண்டு கண்களும் எனக்கு அவ்வளவு பிடிக்கும். அந்த இரண்டு கண்களை வைத்துதான் என் ரத்தினவேல் கதாபாத்திரத்தை உருவாக்கினேன். ஒரு கண்ணில் பல தலைமுறைகளாக சொல்லிக்கொடுக்கப்பட்ட வாழ்க்கைமுறை சரி என்ற நம்பிக்கையை தீர்க்கமாக வையுங்கள் என்றேன். மற்றொரு கண்ணில்… pic.twitter.com/PzF1HO2Myn

— Mari Selvaraj (@mari_selvaraj) August 8, 2023

“Towards the end [of the movie], I asked you to close your eyes. You did it without questions. I made Dr Ambedkar’s voice echo in your chest. You had goosebumps and came running to hug me. With the same happiness I felt at that moment, I am wishing you a very happy birthday, Fahadh sir,” he added.

Recently, Mari Selvaraj recounted a significant event in which Maamannan’s music director and Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, after observing Fahadh’s performance in the film, described it as “unsettling”.

“After watching Maamannan, Rahman sir noted how Faasil’s performance was so daunting, and one of his darkest roles to date. He said he was scared and shocked to see him as Rathnavelu in the film,” Mari recalled during a conversation with Film Companion.

“Rahman sir also advised him (Fahadh) to take a break from these demanding roles and do some romantic or comedy films so that the audiences do not hate him. He said that Fahadh would do a wonderful job in romantic films with the kind of eyes he has,” he added.