It was hot news that Ilayathalapathy Vijay-starrer Bairava could get 203 screens in Kerala even amid the theatre strike in the state. Kerala fans have yet another reason to go and watch this one. Malayali actor Vijayaraghavan essays a pivotal role in the Bharathan directorial.
Vijayaraghavan got the call for this project through Malayali director M.A. Venu. “One day, Venu told me about this project and said that the makers would call me as he had given them my number. Raj Pandi, who worked with Venu in his Tamil film, was the associate director in Bairava. Later, production executive Udayakumar contacted me,” says the actor, who plays the role of a Malayali in the film.
However, he says that the makers zeroed in on him without comparing his performances in other films. “In fact, it was their search for a Malayali actor that took them to me. The role they offered me was not the kind of roles I have done in Malayalam. I act as a Malayali father of a college-goer,” he says.
About his combination with Vijay, he says, “His character enters our life following a tragedy in the family of my character. It was nice working with such a crew.” But this is not Vijayaraghavan’s debut in Tamil. He has earlier acted in Fazil’s Tamil film Arangettavela starring Prabhu and Revathy.
Quizzed about the ongoing theatre strike, he says, “I am against all sort of strikes. These strikes are causing loss to each and every one, including the government. This unwanted strike has caused a big loss for our industry by cancelling all the Christmas and New Year releases.” Vijayaraghavan has a prominent role in Prithviraj-starrer Ezra, which was also charted as a Christmas release.
In Dileep-starrer Ramaleela, which is currently under production, Vijayaraghavan appears in the role of a politician. “It is a political entertainer directed by debutant Arun Gopy on an excellent screenplay written by Sachi,” he says from the sets of the film in Erna kulam.
