New heartthrob in town

Actor Chu Khoy Sheng, a Chinese settled in Chennai, is currently basking in the warmth of love coming his way for his performance in Modern Love: Chennai. Sheng considers his segment, Margazhi, a testament to his deep connection with the city that he considers home. "Margazhi is a special film for many reasons. My character Milton was just another person, and he did not have typecast descriptions like "a Chinese person." I think that's the beauty of this segment. It gives a new window for actors like me to break out of this entire racial barrier. Having grown up in Chennai, I felt a sense of acceptance and liberation while playing Milton," Sheng shares.

Directed by debutant Akshay Sundher, Margazhi, with music by Ilaiyaraaja, brought back the nostalgia of high school romance and unconditional love through the characters of Jasmine (Sanjula) and Milton (Sheng). About the positive responses pouring in for the segment, Sheng says, "Margazhi is a season of love and giving. The title itself is so heartwarming. I believe love is a feeling that comes with a choice. You can love a person and at the same time, you cannot be with them. And it is necessary to gracefully embrace reality and cherish the wonderful memories rather than letting negative energy take over. That's what Margzahi is all about."

Interestingly, Sheng, who plays a school student in Margazhi, is currently in his early 30s. While he did find Milton to be relatable, Sheng did have to do his homework before stepping into the shoes of the character. "I wanted to observe someone to develop Milton's body language and mannerisms. So I took references from my younger brother, currently a teenager, to build Milton's character in the first half, where he is calm and timid. And as their relationship blooms, I picked out moments from my own college days to play Milton with conviction," says Sheng.

Margazhi was predominantly shot in St Thomas Mount in Chennai, and Sheng recalls how the environment played a crucial role in elevating the film's mood. "Initially, we shot the climax scene in a different location, but we didn't get the desired output. The second time, we shot in St Thomas Mount. It was a sunny day, and the atmosphere was so beautiful and serene that it naturally created an apt vibe for the climax. A wave of nostalgia hit me when we did that scene," he says.

If St Thomas Mount set the vibe of Margazhi, Ilaiyaraaja's score was the soul of the segment. In fact, music plays an integral part of the storyline, and Sheng shares that he learned to play a few of the legend's iconic scores on the piano for Margazhi. Although Akshay told him that the film will have underlying references to Ilaiyaraaja's music, Sheng reveals that he had no idea the maestro was scoring for Margazhi. "When I saw the final output, I was speechless. I consider it my blessing to have worked in a film that has Ilaiyaraaja's music."

Meanwhile, Sheng hails Akshay for having an unprecedented vision concerning the portrayal of his character, which he believes will pave the way for non-stereotypical and rightful representations. Stating that at the shooting spot, many onlookers did not recognise him as a lead actor in the film, he shares, "A lot of them used to ask me who is the male lead. So that's when I realised that this vision of Akshay will pave the way for new perspectives. I understand that racial differences are there. But at the end of the day, we are all humans. So I believe we need to be valued for our skills rather than just roping in us for a brief comic or action role that does not add any value." He further adds that if the script demands, he would not mind essaying a typecast role if there is dignity in the representation. "My previous works in Anbariv and Engga Hostel are examples of it," he shares.

Sheng made his debut with Irumbu Kuthirai in 2014. He then went on to act in brief roles in films like Katthi (2014), Adhey Kangal (2017), Anbarivu (2022), and Engga Hostel Web series, before landing a breakthrough role in Margazhi. Looking back at his journey, the actor asserts that his efforts to learn Tamil helped him break the ice with people who would be reluctant to approach him simply because he looks different. "Whenever I meet someone for the first time, I initiate the conversation in Tamil. Since I speak the language and understand the culture, it blurs differences. In fact, my friends introduce me to others as a "Chinese Tamil." And with respect to Margazhi, it was easy for the makers to cast me in a role that did not need an explanation for the way I look," says Sheng, who will next be seen in the Keerthy Suresh-starrer Raghu Thatha.

In many ways, Margazhi is a dream come true for Sheng. He recalls that as a kid when he watched Little John, which featured American actor Bentley Mitchum in the lead role, he wondered if someone like him will play the hero in a Tamil film. "I did not know I will be that 'someone' who will realise that dream," signs off an optimistic Sheng.