The Kathanayagan pair Vishnu Vishal and Catherine Tresa are a fun duo! In a casual chat and an exclusive photoshoot for DC, the lead actors of the film shared a lot of interesting backstories of their experiences in the film.
Adding that they have become close buddies even before the movie’s shoot could come to an end, the couple extend their on-screen chemistry, off-screen as well! Read through to find out more interesting tales from the stars…
The title reveal!
Catherine recalls her first reaction when she heard the film’s title — “When I heard the story, the title was yet to be decided. After 20 days of shoot, I insisted that I should know the title. And the director told me some options which I didn’t like such as Neruppu Kozhi. I told him that I couldn’t be in a movie which had the term ‘kozhi ‘in the title — and I didn’t want to do it. Anyways, I packed off that schedule. Later, when I called and asked for the title, they said that it was Kathanayagan (hero), which I felt was perfectly apt for the script. Vishnu plays a goodie-goodie boy, who later turns into a real hero. But, I have a prominent role in it too.”
The battle between acting and production
Vishnu who is also bankrolling the film under his production banner Vishnu Vishal Studioz, feels that he is a better producer. He states, “Between the roles of a producer and an actor, I feel that I am better at the former! Responsibilities are more and when it comes to shooting, I spend what is required for the scene. Just because it is my scene, I don’t indulge. Pointing at Catherine he says, ‘she knows!’ I chopped off at least 15 minutes of my scenes since I felt they were not required. At the end of the day, the product has to be good. There’s a thin line between involving and interfering.”
He continues, “All these years, I was doing character-oriented movies. There was equal importance for all others in the film. In Mundasupatti I consider Munishkanth as the hero — likewise, in Velainnu Vandhutta Vellakkaran Soori and Robo Shankar were the heroes. I felt that I’d been repeating roles and I was not sure if I could sustain myself in the industry if I kept going on the same path. So, I wanted to take the next step where I had to shoulder the movie. That thought drove me to start Vishnu Vishal Studioz, which was a conscious decision. Vishnu the producer poses challenges to Vishnu the actor,— which involves risks no one else was willing to take.”
Creating the magic on-screen
When asked how they brewed the romance during the shoot, the Madras actress says, “He (Vishnu) was very shy and that was his character in the movie. As co-stars, we were comfortable and gelled very well. Hence, the romance was natural on screen. We share similar traits in real life — both of us being arrogant and stubborn! But we are nice to people all the time.”
Vishnu adds to her statement saying, “Director Muruganandham enacts each and every scene. I could see what was going to come out visually which helped me. Unlike VVV, here my character drives the majority of the story. After the interval, for about 35 minutes Soori never appears on screen. So, it is totally on me. It was very challenging. But, I owe it to my director who gave me a lot of confidence.”
Alternating between intense and light-hearted movies:
Vishnu admits, “Yes, I am balancing both! Raatchasan with Mundasupatti Ram is the most intense role I’ve ever done. There’s a villainous side to my character. I am an assistant director who turns into a cop; how he solves a case forms the crux. The Tamil version of Pelli Choopulu — Pon Ondru Kanden — is totally a romantic subject.” He adds, “But, when it comes to Vishnu Vishal Studioz, I’ll make only light-hearted entertaining movies. Only if I get my money back, I can invest back in production (smiles). I’m proud to say that as a producer, I have never kept a rupee due to anyone in the team.”
Vishnu also states, “As of now, I want to establish myself and then think of making films with other heroes in my banner. But, I’ll definitely be doing a film for Vikranth, in which I will also work.”
Sixth film with Soori:
Speaking about the chemistry with Soori, the Indru Netru Naalai actor says, “Soori anna and I get along very well. The best part is that he takes comedy seriously. There has been no ego between us. It was always a give-and-take policy on the sets although we improvise on the spot. Like how the now-iconic ‘Pushpa Purushan’ became a huge hit in VVV, there is something bigger and more interesting in this flick. I’m repeating him in my next production as well. Soori is Annadurai and my name is Thambidurai. We call each other anna and thambi throughout!
Family Show, a new concept:
Speaking about the family show, a concept which they’re trying out, Vishnu says, “At the end of the day, press people are audiences too. So, I wanted to give them a new movie-watching experience. Irrespective of what they are going to write, I wanted to give them that personal touch of having a show by inviting their family members.”
When it’s time to unwind:
Vishnu, on his idea of chilling, says, “I eat a lot, sleep a lot and put on weight. I also spend a lot of time with my friends and partying.”
On the other hand, Catherine says, “I read a lot of books; I am a lazy person when I don’t work! I listen to music, meet my friends, spend lot of time with my pets and party at the gym!”
On a concluding note, Vishnu says, “My long team aim is to start an NGO for charity. I feel the time has now come to reveal it as I’ve started believing that it will happen soon!”
