Sarath Kumar on staying relevant: ‘When you do a good job with the character given to you, you will be watched’

The Tamil actor is gearing up for the release of his mystery, action thriller Por Thozhil, in which he plays the role of a police officer.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | Updated: June 8, 2023 05:36 AM IST

4 min read

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Sarath Kumar will be next seen in Por Thozhil, directed by debutant Vignesh Raja. (Image: Sarath Kumar/Facebook)

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It goes without saying that Tamil star Sarath Kumar is ageing like fine wine. He demonstrated the same in the trailer of his upcoming mystery, action thriller Por Thozhil, directed by debutant Vignesh Raja, in which the 68-year-old star appears alongside Ashok Selvan and Nikhila Vimal. The charisma and calm demeanour Kumar displayed in the trailer significantly contributed to the heightened anticipation surrounding the movie.

After enjoying immense popularity as a leading hero in the Tamil industry for many years, Kumar decided to take a step back around the last decade. Instead of persistently pursuing lead roles like his contemporaries, he opted for character and supporting roles. Surprisingly, this decision proved to be a turning point in his career. While his peers gradually faded into the background, Kumar’s choice propelled his professional journey forward. It not only allowed him to secure more diverse roles but also ensured his continued presence and success in the industry.

“I think it differs from one person to another. After playing the lead for years, I think some of them might develop an inferiority complex to do other roles. I beg to differ as I want to be the hero of a subject. If I get appreciated for doing a good role in a film, I become the hero of that film. When you do a good job with the character given to you, you will be watched. It’s better to be the cycle’s axle rather than the pedal; you keep on revolving. The pedal might go up and down but the axle will remain in place,” Kumar told The Hindu.

Sarath Kumar, who plays the role of a police officer in the movie, also spoke about how his father wanted him to become a cop. “My father got me enrolled in the IPS and IAS coaching centre. But just a few days in, my brother-in-law, who is a minister, told me how transfers are inevitable and of uncertainty in this career. Hence, I got into business. That’s why in my first Tamil film, Kan Simittum Neram (1988), I played a police officer,” he recalled.

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Though he has played a cop in more than 30 films, the actor stated that his role in Por Thozhil felt closer to reality. “It actually gave me the feeling of investigating a real crime. I wouldn’t call the character arrogant. He’s a seasoned cop with a rigid outlook who, looking at newbies, wonders if they’ll make the cut in the force.”

“Usually, in a cop film, there will be a villain because of whom, directly or indirectly, I would’ve been affected and there will be both a revenge angle and the motive to nab the guy. I don’t think I’ve done many films where my character gets involved in the investigation. The method of uncovering the truth, in Por Thozhil, is unique as it gets into the psyche of the killer. The film takes a deep dive into why he’s on a killing spree and what sort of a person he is. Studying these aspects was an interesting process and it felt like accessing a new style of investigation that I haven’t had the chance to portray earlier,” he told The Hindu emphasising on how different Por Thozhil was from the other cop movies he has done.

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