Dhanush's Speech

After the super hits Polladhavan and Yaaradi Nee Mohini, his Padikathavan is releasing this Pongal. The film is said to be a fun-laced masala comedy caper directed by Suraaj. Now, Dhanush’s Padikathavan has been pitted against Vijay’s Villu, leading to a classic confrontation at the box-office.

Sitting on the balcony of his 10th floor apartment that overlooks the sea, Dhanush says, “I have come a long way from my early days of struggle. I’ve tasted success and failure. All I want to do now is good films that work at the box-office. Padikathavan has all the essential ingredients to make it a racy entertainer.” The actor is confident that the film will work as it has been tailor-made for him.

Says Dhanush, “Suraaj gave me three story lines before I picked Padikathavan as it suits my on-screen image. I play the role of Rocky, a loafer who is a major embarrassment to his family. He is a 10th standard failure while the other members of his family are well placed. The film is about his struggle to come up in life.” Dhanush agrees that there is nothing new in the storyline, and feels it is the way a director packages the movie that gives the film its novelty. On the element of comedy in the film, he says, “The first half is funny and in the second half, Vivek, as Assault Arumugham, takes over and makes it a riot. There is no crass humour in the film.”

In Tamil cinema, each star has a particular image and it is good to work within these confines, feels the star. About the songs in Padikathavan, Dhanush says, “Mani Sharma’s music is peppy and youthful. Today, dappankuthu songs are an added attraction. Do you know that today, upmarket night clubs in Chennai play more dappankuthu Kollywood numbers than English songs?”

Dhanush confesses that his skinny, ordinary looks have become his calling card at the box-office. “When I was in school, I used to go to Elliot’s beach with my friends and I found that no girl gave me a second glance. I used to be unhappy about my looks, which are today my biggest strength.” Thanks to his early films and brother, Selvaraghavan, an image was created for him. In Padikathavan, when Tamannaah, the heroine, gives a dirty smirk at the hero, there is a punch line which has already become popular with the youth — “Enna mathiri pasangale partha pidikathu. Parka parka thaan pidikkum.”

As the star himself says, “Selva created my screen image. Without his films I would still be roaming the streets of Chennai. I owe everything to him. He is my closest buddy.” About trying to take over his father-in-law, Rajini’s mantle, Dhanush says, “Long before I married Aishwarya, I was a big fan of Rajini sir and climbed on his huge cut-outs on the opening day of his films to put vibhuti on it. Today, as Rajini’s son-in-law, there are many restrictions on me. Although I try my best not to copy his style of acting, at times , I am influenced.
The star concludes, “Life is beautiful with Aishwarya and son, Yatra, by my side.”