With the upcoming film Paranthu Po, director Ram dabbles in a genre he has not explored before—comedy—and he introduces the young Mitul Ryan. True to being a child, Mitul has an enthusiastic personality both on and offscreen, often being candid with his responses. Recollecting the skills he learnt for Paranthu Po, the actor says, "I learnt swimming, football, waveboarding, and even running." Almost cutting him short, actor Shiva, who plays his father in the film, quips, "Have you heard anyone say they've learnt to run?" Following this, Mitul's expression changes to a sheepish grin, and it is easy to see why Ram chose the Shiva-Mitul combination as the father-son duo—their bond practically writes itself.
In Paranthu Po, Shiva seems to constantly chase behind his tantrum-throwing, naughty son, played by Mitul. Ram and Shiva made their debuts in the same year (2007) with Kattradhu Thamizh and Chennai 600028, respectively. Interestingly, Shiva, who was still an RJ then, also interviewed Ram for Kattradhu Thamizh. "While I was supposed to ask questions and promote the film, my real intention was to somehow land a role in one of his films by sharing my dreams and creative ideas with him during that chat," reveals Shiva, as he momentarily travels back to 2007. Having finally achieved that dream of working with Ram, what has Shiva learnt about him? "Everyone assumes Ram sir is a very serious filmmaker who only deals with intense, heavy subjects. But that’s not the full picture. After working with him, I discovered he has a great sense of humour; he genuinely enjoys comedy and often laughs heartily, even at the silliest jokes. This film showcases that lighter, more playful side of Ram sir that people rarely get to see," he explains.
With Paranthu Po, Shiva ventures into a different kind of comedy, one which does not rely only upon one-liner jokes and comebacks. In Hollywood, the acting prowess of comedic leads like Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler was established only after they got films like The Truman Show and Punch-Drunk Love. On whether Paranthu Po is one such film for Shiva, the actor opines, "Comedy is the toughest genre to perform. I'd say every other genre feels comparatively easier. Coming to the example of Jim Carrey in The Truman Show, the director cast him as he trusted that a comedian’s pain and vulnerability could move even the most stone-hearted. That makes it clear how a good comedian can naturally transition into deeper emotions because the foundation is already strong." Shiva further addresses the difference in Paranthu Po's approach towards humour. "Comedy often demands precise control over dialogue delivery and body language. Ace Ventura works primarily because of Carrey’s physical expressiveness. But Paranthu Po is different, as it is entirely script-driven. Ram sir believed I would suit this specific kind of situational comedy, which is why he cast me in this film."
Paranthu Po had its world premiere at the 54th International Film Festival of Rotterdam earlier this year, fulfilling Mitul's desire to travel to the festival. The young artist had asked Ram if his debut would also go to the festival when the director's other upcoming film Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai made it. Recalling how he gained the desire and made the request to the director, Mitul shares, "While we were shooting for Paranthu Po, my father showed me photos and videos from the Rotterdam film festival, and I instantly wanted to go there. I even asked Ram uncle if we could attend the festival when Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai premiered." He goes on to add, "But I don’t remember what Ram uncle said in response." With a laugh, Shiva, extending his role as a father offscreen, comes to his rescue to speak about their Rotterdam experience and the appreciation his onscreen son received for his debut performance. "After the screening at Rotterdam, Mitul’s performance received unanimous praise from everyone who shared their feedback. He was truly dedicated to the film and picked up several new skills during the process. It’s never easy to draw out exactly what a scene demands from a child, but Ram sir has a special knack for it," he shares.
If he had to pick out some memorable moments from Rotterdam, Shiva would choose something a member of the audience told him. "A mother came up to me and said, ‘I have a son. This film taught me a lot about how to raise him.’ I will never forget it." He then adds, "What made the screening even more special was that most of the audience consisted of fellow creators, and when creators connect with a film, it means something even deeper." Explaining how the audience connected to a film transcending language barriers, Shiva reveals, "The film revolves around a nuclear family and parenting—universally relatable themes. Ram sir’s greatest strength lies in crafting screenplays rooted deeply in human emotion. Music crosses linguistic boundaries, as do emotions."
Shiva, Mitul, and Grace Antony (who plays the former's husband and the latter's mother) took a stride across picturesque lands and scenic nature while shooting for Paranthu Po, as per the demands of the story. These travels came with their own memorable adventures, including confrontations with animals. Shiva recalls one such circumstance: "In one scene, Mitul and Grace’s characters are hungry, and mine tells them to wait while I go get them something to eat. Frustrated with my son’s constant tantrums, my character steps out to smoke a cigarette before handing over the food. While shooting that moment, as I was smoking, a monkey suddenly entered the frame and sat right next to me. Instead of calling for a cut, Ram sir told me to go with it and strike up a conversation. Caught off guard, I began ranting, ‘Hey monkey, do you have a son?’ The monkey just kept staring. I continued, ‘If you do, don’t believe him. Don’t chase after him when he throws tantrums.’ Still, it kept staring at me—very seriously. Just as I was wondering what to say next, I realised it wasn’t looking at me at all—it was eyeing the food cover in my hand. The next second, it grabbed the food and ran! Of course, Ram sir had a good laugh—and then made me redo the entire scene from the top."
While Shiva is open to explorations such as in Paranthu Po, the actor is still vehemently against entering the commercial race. "A race is all about numbers, and the numbers game can be quite complex. In that game, consistency is everything, but winning every single time isn’t easy. Personally, I choose to stay away from the commercial race. I’d rather run my own race, one where I’m both the winner and the loser. So far, that approach has worked well for me, and I intend to keep going down that path," he signs off.
