Contacts Help You Get Movies, But to Last You Need Talent: Kishen Das

Digital creator and actor Kishen Das won the best debut male award at Vikatan Awards for his very first movie, Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee. In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, the Kollywood actor talks about his journey so far.

After being a creator yourself, how did it feel to be directed by someone else in Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee?

It was a really insightful experience. I’ve never really valued myself as a great creator so it was nice to be a part of something that was being created from scratch in front of my eyes. When we got to see the output, it was even more beautiful because we realised the director’s vision and how close we got!

Congratulations on winning the Best Debut Male at Vikatan Awards. What does it mean to win an award in the first movie itself?

I mostly just felt validated. To be a new actor in this industry, there’s a lot of uncertainty. People feel like if you get one film out then you’ll have every offer in your hand but it works quite the opposite. I was really afraid because I didn’t know how to proceed and how to pick what I wanted to do. The award came as a reminder that maybe if I stick to my intuition of what works, I might be able to get a little further in the industry.

How did you land a chance in movies?

Auditions, Auditions and only Auditions. I don’t even know how many of my auditions have gone South. I guess the goal is to keep trying and keep reminding yourself that everyone is working just as hard and to push yourself. The fact that I was decently popular on YouTube, thanks to my videos for Fully Filmy, helped me gain some credibility but it all boiled down to the skill.

From your experience, do you think talent is enough or you need contacts to get a break in the industry?

To keep it precise, from my observation, contacts help for sure. They’re a shortcut to get your first few films but to last, you need the talent. I come from a family where my mother was a small screen actress a decade back but I choose to own my journey and to fight my way in. For the ones who maybe use their contacts, it’s a great way to get more experience in front of the camera and build their skill set but it all boils down to your conviction and talent.

Your first film’s title track crossed over 100 million views on YouTube, did you anticipate it coming? What was your reaction to the humongous love it received?

We were all genuinely taken aback by the response. We all felt that the song was special when we heard it for the first time and more so when we shot it but we didn’t think that it would touch such heights. It’s celebrated all over and I will forever be happily known as ‘that guy from the song’.

What next after Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee?

July looks promising as two of my films are slated to come out. Singapore Saloon with Mr RJ Balaji who has had a string of successful films is set to come out in July. It is directed by Mr Gokul of Idharkuthane Aasapattai Balakumara fame. The other is an independent horror film which is definitely a new attempt. I can’t share too much about the film but it will be an OTT release in July.

Tell us more about your upcoming Horror movie.

It’s a very promising story. It’s a film that happens on a call and a series of instances that concern all of people involved. It’s sure to be a nice independent attempt in Tamil cinema.

There are too many musicians and actors, what gave you the confidence that you too will get your chance?

It’s a great time to be in the cinema. The power is in the hands of content and with so much content being churned out, a lot of aspiring actors like me get to see their dreams come true. I think self-confidence is the biggest factor here! Knowing to hold on and when to hold on is key. I think as long as we look at it as a collective upgrade and not competition, we can all excel in our own paths.

What's your message to the aspiring actors?

I feel like cinema has gone from being some kind of forbidden fruit to something that everyone can cherish, keeping putting work out. The more work you have to show, the higher are your chances of making it big.

When you are not working, how do you unwind?

I love playing cricket. Most nights you can find me at these box turfs either arguing or struggling to field.