Vishal: Whether I enter politics or not depends on the politicians

The pre-release event of Rathnam, directed by Hari, was held in Chennai on Thursday. The star-studded event was attended by actors Vishal, Yogi Babu, and Samuthirakani along with director Hari, music director Devi Sri Prasad, cinematographer Sukumar, stunt director 'Kanal' Kannan and producer Kaarthekeyen Santhanam.

When CE asked actor Vishal during the press interaction how commercial filmmaking has evolved over the years and how the makers have incorporated these changes in Rathnam, the actor said, "Technology has evolved but the underlying emotions are always the same. Whatever happens in a family today also happened before."

He further added, "Those who were in school while we made Thamirabarani would now be working, those who were in college then now will have children. So I don't see any change in their expectation when Vishal and Hari are joining for a film. Yes, extensive usage of social media is a trope and also as director Hari said, the five-minute single-shot scene in the film, was planned keeping the young generation in mind, to cater to their taste. Hari's treatment will remain the same but the presentation will be fresh."

Earlier, Hari mentioned that there are eight stunt sequences in the film but none will look forced and that he has made the film as realistic as possible, reducing his tendency to make fast cuts. Elaborating on the film, the director said, "I wrote the screenplay for Rathnam keeping the youth audience in mind. My earlier outings with Vishal were high on sentimental values. This film will have 60 percent action and 40 percent sentiment."

Assuring that Rathnam will be distinct from other Hari movies on an emotional level, music director Devi Sri Prasad, who marks his sixth collaboration with Hari and his first with Vishal, adds that it will be "more than a mass commercial film."

Noting how challenging a particular single-shot stunt scene was, stunt choreographer 'Kanal' Kannan recalled how several stuntmen were injured even during the rehearsals for the scene. "We were able to achieve perfection only because of proper coordination between DoP Sukumar and the stuntmen," he adds.

On his recent interviews that stirred up controversies, and his widely speculated political entry, Vishal said, "My producers pay interest for every delay they face in release, so no one owns the cinema. Whatever I said in the interview was out of my concern for the pain felt by the producer." For the uninitiated, the actor said in a YouTube channel that he had an altercation with someone in the Red Giant Movies as that person was pressing his producer to push the release date of his film.

He also clarified that he is only interested in making movies but took a veiled swipe at the ruling dispensation, "Whether I enter politics or not depends on how the parties and leaders perform. If they perform well, I am not crazy enough to float a new party and wave new flag. I know what I am earning now and I know the salary of an MLA, I am wary of what I stand to lose if I join politics. If politicians do their work well, I will only be focused on giving more Rathnams."

Vishal was vocal in his criticism of the state government during last December's flood in Chennai after flood water entered his residence in Anna Nagar.

Rathnam, starring Vishal, has Priya Bhavani Shankar playing the female lead, along with Gautham Menon, Murali Sharma, and Samuthirakani, in crucial roles.

The upcoming film marks the third collaboration between Hari and Vishal after Thamirabharani (2007) and Poojai (2014). Rathnam was shot in locations like Tuticorin, Trichy, Karaikudi, Vellore, Tirupathi, besides Chennai.

Rathnam is currently scheduled for a theatrical release on April 26.