Filmmaker-actor Sasikumar is in need of a hit after a spate of average-grossers, and he hopes his upcoming flick Asuravadham will do the trick. The movie has been directed by Marudhu, and it stars Nandita as the female lead. Sasikumar, who is known for his rural and semi-urban characters, has a city-based role in it, for a change. The actor chats with DC about the film.
On his role in Asuravadham
“I play a guy who leaves his family in Kodaikanal and goes to the Gulf to work in the construction field. But he is forced to come back to Chennai, and the struggle that he faces upon his return forms the crux of the story,” he says.
The title denotes the theme
Sasikumar says that the title, which means the killing of an asura (demon), is indicative of the theme good triumphs over evil. “There are violent scenes in the film, but they’re justified from the hero’s point of view, and audiences will accept them. The film also has a social message that’s relevant given the prevailing scenario in the state,” he says.
Nandita as a performer
“We tried out many different actresses for the female lead. But no one was willing to play the part. There aren’t any of the usual duets in the movie. The character needed a performer, not just a heroine. Nandita stepped in to play my wife in Asuravadham, and we were all awestruck by her performance. Her intro scene is a crucial part of the film,” the actor says.
Experimenting with different genres
Sasikumar says that he tends to be typecast. “Filmmakers only come to me with the scripts of action movies that have some elements of a family drama. I won't say I am caught in an “image trap”, but yes, I slowly want to try more experimental roles as well,” he says
What’s next
We’re curious to know what the actor has planned for the future. “I have completed the sequel to my blockbuster film Nadodigal directed by Samudhrakani, and it has shaped up well. Though it’s a sequel, the two films are not connected,” he says.
