Home / Arts and Entertainment / Chidambaram on 'Pan-Indian' Cinema: It's About Emotion
Chidambaram on 'Pan-Indian' Cinema: It's About Emotion
8 Sep
Summary
- Chidambaram chose Balan - The Boy for its intimate story and thriller elements.
- Nearly 90% of Balan - The Boy's cast were newcomers, including lead actors.
- The director believes universal emotions, not scale, define pan-Indian films.
Director Chidambaram found himself at a crossroads after the pan-India success of 'Manjummel Boys,' receiving numerous offers but facing delays for his own large-scale projects. He discovered his next film in 'Balan - The Boy,' a dark and intimate story centered on a mother-son relationship, originating from a script by Jithu Madhavan.
Chidambaram was immediately captivated by the concept, describing it as "very romantic" and hooked by the premise of a mother and son emerging from prison. To maintain audience engagement and add a cerebral, thrilling element to the emotional core, the film adopted the syntax of a thriller.
The collaboration with Jithu Madhavan was fluid, with the script evolving into its current form through joint effort, respecting each other's creative boundaries. A significant challenge was casting, as approximately 90% of the film's roles, including the mother and son, were filled by newcomers.
Ganapathi, Chidambaram's brother and casting director for 'Manjummel Boys,' led the extensive search, auditioning thousands for the mother role and visiting numerous schools for the child actors. Chidambaram expressed gratitude for finding talented young actors like Farzana Palathingal, Adhisheshan KR, and Muhammad Zinaan, who grasped the story's emotional depth.
Even Malayalam star Tovino Thomas joined for a cameo, with Chidambaram appreciating his willingness to explore diverse roles beyond typical leading man portrayals. The director aims to explore various storytelling forms and genres, avoiding repetition.
Regarding 'pan-Indian' cinema, Chidambaram asserts that universal emotions are key, not just scale or action. He cites 'Lagaan' as a true pan-Indian film and questions the current trend of associating the term solely with violence and spectacle.
Chidambaram is currently developing a Hindi project with a well-known star, details of which are under wraps but expected to be announced soon. He remains committed to exploring diverse genres and is considering several upcoming projects with different producers.
