Exclusive chat with Arun Kumar – “Everyone has sentiments as in Pannaiyarum Padminiyum’
The stage is set for this youngster to enjoy his paradisiacal moment in town now. With the array of short filmmakers foraying into silver screen, Arun Kumar becomes the latest one to join the bandwagon. While his debut venture ‘Pannaiyaarum Padminiyum’ gets ready for release during first week of February, the director opens up on the reasons that inspired him to make the specific short film that is now translated into big picture.
Arun Kumar gets candid with Behind Frames for an exclusive interview that lets you read his intentions completely, which indeed will draw you to the theatres with an impeccable enthusiasm.
It’s a magic factor – so has been the call for many who have been praising this young bunch of short filmmakers converting a showpiece of just few minutes into full-length feature. “For me, it wasn’t as difficult as others perceive. When I decided to make my short film ‘Pannaiyaarum Padminiyum’ into full length feature, I had three elements as the major constituents – Car, Landlord and his driver. There is nothing as such you have a twist in the tale. My film has a running length of 2 hrs 25 minutes. I don’t want to disappoint my audience by giving one and half hour movie. Definitely, I am not the one among such audience, who heavily like such movies.” As you listen this straight from the shoulders of Arun Kumar, you’ll sense a spark of confidence and invigorations taking a dawn in him.
What’s in a car? A sentiment that is too overrated in real life? “Not at all, each and every person has a personal connection with certain things in life. It might be a key chain, a doll or anything. For me, it was my Hero Hunk that was so precious. You won’t believe, I was so much broken down when a coconut had its ‘Gravity’ game (Yes, the director is sure that his favourite actress Sandara Bullock will grab the ‘Best Actor in Female Lead’ Oscars for this year). I couldn’t take it lighter and threw all commitments behind ameliorating its condition.” He brims with such a sentiment, which he advocates blatantly that it’s an intriguing element in everyone’s life. If you’re looking out for more incense to this sentimental fragrance, Arun comes up saying that right from his email password to each and every code, it’s his bike number.
Pannaiyaarum Padminiyum is a simple tale of emotions that centers on three different characters. Jayaprakash has obviously outmatched the expectations of Arun Kumar and that’s a verdict we hear from this horse’s mouth. “If you ask him, he would say, I haven’t done anything special, but he pulled the best things and left us inspiringly awe.” Getting on to speak about his favourite star and pal – Vijay Sethupathi, he brings in the most luxurious superlative terms. “I would gladly say, much more than an actor, he is a great human being. I narrated the story to him when ‘Pizza’ was released. Within a year, he has delivered five back-to-back releases, which are huge hits. Even then, he is so humble and nothing has caused a change in him.”
Finally, as the director comes to the concluding phase of this chat, he opens up on the enlivening moments during the process of Pannaiyarum Padminiyum. “I never dreamt that I would get the best personalities like lyricist Vaali sir and Sreekar Prasad sir to work with.”
On accomplishing with his motto of making the entire film in film reel (avoiding the digitalized zone), Arun Kumar promises that his greed for making more movies in film cans has become more.
