As Kushi returns to theatres after more than two decades, director SJ Suryah addressed the press with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude. The filmmaker, who later went on to become a successful actor, recalled the journey of making the film and the memories associated with it.
“If journalists are celebrating Kushi this much, I can only imagine the energy in theatres,” he said. “It feels wonderful to see Vijay like this again—he looks very handsome in the film. Jyotika madam too looks beautiful.”
Suryah spoke about his process as a filmmaker and how he would live with a film long before its release. “I usually spend at least 2 hours and 30 minutes narrating a film’s story. We go through the script many times with the assistant directors, stunt trainers, producers, actors, and music composers. After shooting, I watch every scene several times during dubbing, editing, music integration, and previews. By the time it releases, I’ve already seen the film a million times. So, in theatres, I don’t get to experience it fresh like the audience. But today, watching it with all of you after so many years, it feels like I’m seeing it for the very first time.”
One of Kushi’s biggest legacies has been its music, composed by Deva. Suryah fondly remembered the origin of some of its evergreen numbers. “It brings me joy to see everyone still enjoying the song ‘Kattipudi’. When I spoke to Deva sir about it, I told him, ‘Please set it in the tune of 'Senthamizh Theen Mozhiyal' . That’s how ‘Kattipudi’ was born. Similarly, for the song ‘Mottu Ondru’, he gave a melody instead of a written note. Each line of that song beautifully portrays the love between a man and a woman, and Deva sir’s composition elevated those poetic lines.”
He added that the film was made in an organic flow of creativity. “After I narrated the story to Vijay sir, I told him, ‘If you don’t like it, I’ll tell you another one.’ He simply said, ‘No, this one is perfect.’ Jeeva sir captured the film beautifully with his cinematography. Though he is not with us today, I remember him with gratitude.”
The director also acknowledged the contribution of the late comedian Vivek and producer AM Rathnam. “As the story unfolds, Vivek sir’s character becomes the thread that connects each sequence. And it was AM Rathnam sir who took me to the next level in cinema—he never looked at the budget, only at what the film needed.”
He ended on a personal note, reflecting on his career. “I actually entered the film industry to become an actor. That’s why, after some years, I stopped directing and shifted to acting," he concluded.
