Vijay Interview on Thirupachi

Behindwoods Monday, January 17th, 2005 In the midst of the busy shooting schedule of Sachein, actor Vijay talks about Thiruppachi which was released on January14. Question: Do you think that Thiruppachi will do well? Vijay: I strongly believe that Thirupachi will be a hit film for me. This film has sentiments, romance and action mixed in the right proportion. Question: How do you differentiate your other films like Thirumalai, Ghilli, Madurae from Thirupachi? Vijay: Usually, my films have a common formula, but this film has something different. You won't be satisfied with my answer to this question unless you yourself watch the movie and compare it with my other films. Question: Comment on the fight sequences in Thirupachi? Vijay: You wouldn't have come across a fight sequence as in Thirupachi in any other films. Of course, it is going to be praised by all and the credit goes to the producer and the stunt master. Question: Do you believe that luck is on your side? Vijay: I believe in my work. I try to perform well without even committing small mistakes. Whether luck is on my side or not, I see that my producers don’t burn their fingers. This film is produced by R.B.Chowdry who fetched me hit films like Poovey Unakaga, Thulladha Manamum Thullum. I believe that Thiruppachi will also be a hit film for me. Question: How was your experience working with director Perarasu. Vijay: He is a talented person. He talks very less but he shows everything in his work. He acts before me, scene by scene, before the take is on. Director Perarasu helped me to perform well in this film. I am sure that director Perarasu will soon find a position in the famous young director's list. Question: Are you satisfying your fans? Vijay: Yes. I hope so. I am always giving them what they need from me in my films. If their expectations are more, then I would work hard and satisfy them. Question: Please comment about Sachein? Vijay: The shooting of the film has started and I will let you know more about it after sometime. Question: Did Tsunami affect your mind? Vijay: A tragedy like this should not have taken place. I felt very much for the victims of Tsunami. I participated in the Tsunami fund raising program organized by the Film industry. Personally, I gave a cheque of Rs.2 lakhs in favor of Chief Minister’s Tsunami Relief Fund.

Thirupachi, Jan 14th, 2005

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/01/21/stories/2005012102510201.htm

"Thiruppachi" ... a complete commercial fare.

AFTER MADHESH'S "Madhuray" it is Perarasu's "Thiruppachi" (U/A) - but Vijay is the same, performing incredible stunts and scaling superhuman heights with the ease of a typical commercial hero.

A fiesta for Vijay fans from the house of R. B. Choudhry, this Super Good Films' production could prove a money-spinner, but does it have something for the level headed filmgoer? Yes, to a certain extent - because for the first time a hero is clever enough to see to it that when he takes on the ruthless criminals his family is safe, far away from the wrath of the wrongdoers.

Too much gore

Sivagiri (Vijay) is a doting brother and a responsible son. The scene shifts from the village when his sister Karpagam (Mallika) is married to a man in Chennai.

He finds the city infested with criminals and underworld dons. And of course there is the corrupt police official. Though shocked by the atrocities he keeps away from the menacing forces.

Till they would not let him be. His close friend Kannappan (Benjamin) is ruthlessly murdered at a cinema complex and Sivagiri is not going to turn a blind eye to their bloody cruelty any longer.
The film halts at an impressive point, and when action resumes you expect some very astute moves from the hero. But he adopts the usual routine of warning the villains over phone before finishing them off.

However, in a couple of scenes Sivagiri does prove that he's a commendable combo of brain and bravery.

Vijay portrays emotion and action with élan and if the hero begins to choose scripts that are more challenging and different, it would be a field day for viewers. Sibling affection, comedy and serious expression come easily to Vijay.

The heroine is Trisha - and expected to look chirpy and radiant, she fills the bill. Mallika has all the makings of a character actor and she proves it once again. It is a big break for Benjamin and he makes proper use of it. Why has such an experienced artiste such as M. N. Rajam not been properly used? Prabhakar's art concentrates on being natural and captures the ordinary household in the village and city aptly.

But why is it that bad men have to meet at a precarious height on an unfinished building at least in one or two scenes?

Saravanan's cinematography is a highlight of Vijay's introduction scene because the camera angles help establish the larger than life image of the hero straightway.

If it's Dhina it has to be more of din and less of sound. The composer doesn't seem to believe in anything that falls softly on the ears. Of the seven songs, Manisharma and Devi Sriprasad have composed one each.

Unwarranted sequences (like the Chaya Singh number) and disruptive duets mar the pace of "Thiruppachi."

Yet Vijay's portrayal and writer-director Perarasu's intelligence come to the fore now and then.

Vijay - The Biodata

Full Name : Joseph Vijay

Affectionately called : Ilayathalapathy

Profession : Actor, singer

Date of birth : 22-June1974

Mother tongue : Tamil

Height : 5'11''

Father : S.A.Chandrasekharan is a writer-producer-director

Mother : Shobha Chandrasekharan is a singer, story writer and director

Uncle : S.N.Surendar (playback singer and dubbing voice for actor mohan for over 85 films)

Wife : Sangeetha

Son : Jason Sanjay

Daughter: Divya Saasha

Friends : Sajai, Srinath, Sanjeev, Manoj and Ramkumar

Education : Bachelors Degree of Visual Communications at Loyola College (discontinued)

Debut:

* Child artiste -'Vetri '
* Action Hero -'Nalaya Therpu', directed by S A Chandrashekar(father)

As an Actor : Famous for stunts, dance, comedy and singing. Excels in all departments.

As a Person : Introvert, famous for one-line answers.

Favourites:

* TOURIST SPOTS - London and Los Angeles
* FOOD -Dosa and Chicken
* CLOTHES - Jeans and T-shirt
* COLOUR - Black
* LOCATION - his room

Best films :

' Poove Unakkaga', 'Love Today', 'Nerukku Naer', 'Kaadalukku Mariyathai' 'Thulladhamanamum Thullum' and 'Ghilli'

Awards and Honors :

* Kalaimamani award(1998)
* Tamil nadu state Best Hero award (1997) for "Kaadhalukku Mariyadhai"

Social Activities:

* Educating 32 children every year
* Conducted many free weddings
* Issued notebooks to children
* Donated upto 3 lakhs to put streetlights for a famous shiva temple in Kaveripattinam

Influential person in his life : Father

Influential person in movies : Rajinikanth

Moments :

* Happy- marriage
* Sad- sister's death

Facts :

* Had been in coco-cola commercial
* Had a sister by name Vidya who died when she was very young
* Has built a kalyana mandapam called J.S.Kalyana mandapam
* 'Kadhalukku Mariyathai' a film with shalini made people recognise him

Salary : More than one crore

Future goals : Producing films

Vijay

I don't have any other title for this blog, because for me he cannot be explained in just one line :-D I may sound like a fanatic here and even foolish, but it is very difficult for me to speak less of him...

God knows when and how I started admiring Vijay. But my hero worship has developed to such an extent that today, I watch his movies only for him. I am not a blind movie lover to accept any crap as good movie. But today, if Vijay acts in the movie nothing else bothers me. I like movies like Mouna Raagam, Azahgiya Theeye etc where there was no heroism and even the ones like Snegidhiye, where there was no hero at all....At the same time, I simply love movies that project heroism. May be that was one of the reasons why I started liking Vijay.

The first and foremost thing I like about him is that he looks as simple as a guy next door, a good friend of yours or even like one in your family...Yet he makes people accept him as hero. The transition from the soft spoken guy he is, by nature, to the explosive and thunder storm kind of hero he portrays on-screen is just amazing!!!

Next, he has not undergone any major changes as far as appearance is concerned for any of his movies. Be it a romantic lover, college student, action hero or a rowdy, he appears as himself. The difference he makes is in the form of body language and expressions. And it is really difficult to make people accept you in any role with just these.... I hate heroes doing getup changes for movies just like that!!!

To speak more, though he had a very good launch pad to enter into film industry unlike others, whatever he is today is only because of his hardwork and sincerity. Oher actors who struggled to make an entry, had only the problem on establishing them as good actors. But Vijay had to work on everything right from appearance, acting, dance and everything. How he converted his negatives into positives remains the secret of his success. He is one of the few Tamizh actors who can speak proper Tamizh.

Being a native of my own Chennai, the way he speaks Chennai Tamizh is simply superb. No wonder why he is KING OF CHENNAI. And amongst actors who do playback singing, I personally feel that his voice is the best. His screen presence and dressing sense are just amazing.

Finally, after all his successes and the kind of fan following he has today, inspite of being termed next to Superstar Rajini himself by the media, he still remains calm and cool without any change in his nature. Starting from my childhood, I have been a fan of Kamalhassan, then Rajinikanth (I am still his fan and he is my thalaivar), later Madhavan, but no one has inspired me like Vijay.

And it is highly impossible that in future, anyone will replace Vijay from his position in my list of favourites. If he declares that he quits acting in movies tomorrow, even then I will be his fan for whatever work he has done till now.

More than an actor I like him as a person. I have learnt a lot from observing him and I consider him as one of my inspirations or influences. If ever I had an elder brother in my life, I wish that he could have been like Vijay. :-)

This is a small space to speak about him. But I will try my level best to provide most information about him. This will include the collection from my mails, from websites and other sources like magazines and newspapers. Atleast, I could make a permanent record for all these information on the web by this small venture :-)

Vijay Rulezz!!!