Actor Siddharth is yet again in the limelight for his new avatar as an independent producer under the banner Etaki Entertainment with his soon-to-hit flick Jil Jung Juk. Sid has attempted a new idea — the film, directed by Deeraj Vaidy has no heroine, and indeed only one female character. “I felt the script did not require a female lead, and the director has made it in such a way that the audiences will not feel the absence of a heroine,” Siddharth starts the conversation.
Is he not apprehensive about JJJ’s lack of glam? After all, most of the male audience comes for that. “Not at all! I did not want to show glamour for the sake of it. The content is so good that the film will run on its own steam.” The promos show actors in female guise, but revealing the reason would make it lose the edge, he says.
About the genre, he says, “It is not an experimental film at all. It’s a quirky fun-filled comedy, which will satisfy both class and mass. As misconstrued by a few, it is not against women. As a producer, I want to rake in profits. So, the entertaining aspects are maintained intact. Deeraj’s narration is quite novel and Vishal Chandrashekar’s compositions are arresting.”
He thoughtfully adds, “You can’t cheat audiences these days. I can also vouch for the VFX being on par with any independent film in the world. I started as an assistant director and worked in production as well, for Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Eppadi. Milind and I started together with Mani sir. He is still with Mani, while I became an actor. We decided on a particular budget and stuck to it”.
Apparently, Siddharth chose Deeraj after being impressed with a nine-minute video of the plot — “Short filmmakers used to send me videos every day. Whenever a short filmmaker wants to be noticed, they either approach me, Bobby Simha, or Vijay Sethupathi.”
The Bommarillu star says that he is also keen to go in for talented young heroes for his future production ventures, rather than a big hero — “If any script demands an established star, I may consider it then.
Finally, talking about the controversial tweet which recently hit the stands, he says, “That ‘Nagoor briyani Ulundurpettaiyila irukkura oru therunaayikku kedaikkanumnu yeludhirundha, adha yaaralayum maatha mudiyadhu’ was a famous line from my earlier film Theeya Velai Seyyanum Kumaru directed by Sundar C. I posted it for promoting my film Aranmanai 2 with the same director. I didn’t mean anyone or anything at all. If anyone misunderstood it and let their imaginations go wild, I really can’t help it,” he signs off!”
