Music composers turning actors is fairly common in Tamil cinema. Here is a composer, with over 40 films under his belt, who has chosen to make the leap to direction. On his debut directorial venture Ondikatta, which is lined up for release this Friday, Bharani — known for his music in films such as Parvai Ondre Pothume, Charlie Chaplin and Sundara Travels — says he had the script in mind for well over five years. “I was not biding my time exactly. I could not find a producer till my friend Dharmarajan chipped in. He, too, has played a pivotal role in the plot.”

An avid admirer of the K Bhagyaraj school of filmmaking, Bharani says one of his favourite moments in cinema is the climax of Andha 7 Natkal, with the famous dialogue that goes: ‘One man’s lover can become another’s lover, but never the other way around’. The debutant director says his script is somewhat on those lines and will have a strong impact on the audience. “I don’t want to reveal much more now. But I’ll just say the dialogues will be crucial in my film.”

Bharani believes his lead actors, Neha and charcter artiste Vikram Jagadeesan, have lent a lot of solidity to his film. The director has based his film on a true story from his school days. “The event stayed in the mind for all this time. Women are sure to be moved by the climax and my film’s success hinges a lot on their acceptance,” he adds.