Unlike in Bollywood, women filmmakers are scarce in Tamil cinema. In the past, female filmmakers were largely relegated to art-house movies and small budgets. But now, a few of them including Aishwarya Dhanush have cracked that K’town ceiling by succeeding where it mattered the most — the box-office. At a time when even star studded films take a beating at the BO, Aishwarya’s recent outing, Vai Raja Vai (VRV), has touched the 50 day mark and has grossed more than Rs 8.5 crores. As she shares her joy and future plans with DC, the daughter of Superstar Rajini says that big actors in K’town should come forward to work with female directors.
“I am extremely thankful to God for achieving such a milestone early in my career. It has given me confidence to think about mainstream cinema with more seriousness. It has also given me high to break the myth that ‘women directors don’t make it big in general’,” says a soft spoken, yet assertive Aishwarya. VRV’s success assumes a greater significance given that even K-town biggies are scrutinised and whipped at the box office. “I feel it’s a good start and I hope it would open up some avenues.
More producers ought to come forward and give women filmmakers a chance. Most importantly, if you look at Bollywood, superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan do not hesitate to work with women directors. I will strive to achieve such a trend and relationship here.” She quickly adds with a smile, “More so, the success was due to the fact that I was at the right place (AGS Entertainments) at the right time when I began Vai Raja Vai.”
Besides these, many more had to be done. Rangarajan of AGS reaffirms, “When Aishwarya presented the script we knew it had the potential for commercial cinema. The budget was minimal and the movie was short and crisp — well within the 2 hour runtime.” On the production and distribution tricks, Rangarajan quips, “Along with Studio Green we strategically released only in 180 screens. The film could sustain 120 screens in the second week and 82 in third. Uttama Villain’s delayed release also played a helping hand for the initial footfall, but the film’s content is what stabilised it and carried it all the way.”
Has she ever thought that VRV would make it so big? “When I started the movie, one thing that was constant in my mind was the idea that my producer should be benefitted. My script had the advantage of originality: no one can say that VRV was like any other movie. For that, I should thank today’s audiences who have become open-minded and receptive to experimental genres.”
When asked what her hubby dear, Dhanush, says, she replies, “He is very contented and happy and proud of whatever little I have accomplished. At some level, everyone at home including appa and amma were surprised that I could pull it off so well. In fact appa was the first one to ask ‘what’s your next?’ That showed that he trusts my filmmaking capabilities.”
When asked about her next venture, she reveals, “I have three ideas with different genres. I want to take my steps carefully. It may take another six months for my next project. But as of now I am basking in the success of VRV. Ten years ago, reaching 100 days mark for films was easier. Today, the mere question is out of the picture. I would consider 50 days for VRV equivalent to 100 days for any film of yesteryear, and this fills me with a sense of achievement.”
