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What do you
think is the reason for the failure of the film "Unnaikkodu
Yennaiththaruvaen"?
Instead of telling what's the reason or who's
responsible  for
the failure of the film, let me take the
responsibility for it. I owe the same level of share
of joy I enjoyed while I tasted the success of the
films like "Vaali", "Amarkkalam" and "Aanatha
Poonghaatrae" also for the failure of the film "Unnaikkodu
Yennaiththaruvaen"! In fact, even at the outset I
couldn't agree with the concepts many of the scenes of
the film. When I told about it while I was at the
sets, the director of the film Kavi Kalidas assured:
'I remain very clear about it. This story would
definitely prove a winner". He's a new director. It's
quite natural that he might definitely have
experienced the fire in him to taste success! Yet, had
I taken any trouble then, to impose my own opinion
during the shooting session, it might perhaps have
given birth to 'Ajith-tortures-the-new-director' like
gossips! So, I acted in those scenes eventhough I
didn't agree with them, because I didn't want to incur
any damage to my personal reputation as an artiste!
For Kavi Kaalidas, this is his first film. So, he
might have failed to assess the heart beat of the
audiences! I believe that the present experience is
sufficient to shift him to the right track in the
future.
Next, my marriage work clashed with my shooting work
for this film. It might be so that there was lack
concentration on my part during then. Whatever may be
the reason, but the failure of "UInnaikkodu
Yennaiththaruvaen" certainly could be a fitting lesson
for me. This film has given me the warning that I need
to be more cautious hereafter in my work.
What do you want to say about your fans'
reaction that you haven't made your presence felt in a
considerable number of scenes in the flm "Kandukondaen
Kandukondaen"?
I was
booked for that film in 1999 January. At that time I
didn't have that much 'big' market for me. I had given
my callsheet then and acted in it. Later, when this
film got released, I had grown-up to big level in the
intervening period of one year. Now I enjoy market
value. This film is O.K. when it's weighed against my
former level of market value. 'Kalaipuli Thaanu' is a
big producer. Then there were Rajiv Menon, A.R.Rahman,
Aishwarya Rai, Mammootty and Thabu. I enjoyed working
with this team. In short, I found out myself within me
only after having acted in this film. Yes...I married
Shalini. During this film's song-release function I
came to understand Kamal sir's magnanimity when he
said: "I (Kamal) feel envy of Ajith"!
It was told that you would buy one new flat
for gifting it away to Kavi Kaalidas, the director of
 "Unnaikkodu Yennaiththaruvaen"....Have you done
so?
I had told Kavi Kaalidas that I will present
him a car or an amount equal to that if only the film
"Unnaikkodu Yennaiththaruvaen" could bring in great
results like a "Vaali"
or "Amarkkalam". I didn't tell
him anything about flat.
But I adviced Kavi Kaalidas a lot:
"'Super Good Films', Ajith hero, Simran heroine,
S.A.Rajkumar music....if, in spite of having all this
'set-up', you fail to succeed, then you will have to
wait for atleast a period of one year to get another
film chance! So, before you get a new chance, you
shouldn't get upset! You could taste success
only if you keep on striving
hard continually! In cinema, success and failures are
quite common! You go and stay at your native place for
about 6 months time. In that leisurely period let you
prepare a very good script. As and when you get ready
with the new script, you come and meet me. If I would
get to like the story, definitely I will allot my
callsheet for you". I have told him so!
Please tell about your new film
commitments?
I act in "Cityzen", being
produced by 'Nick Arts' S.S.Chakravarthy, who's my
close friend and who already has given hit films acted
by me. The present, new film is to be directed by
Sharavanan Subbiah. In this I act in more than 6
different types of get-up, each one of the get-ups
being unique in itself! When I met Kamalhassan sir,
regarding my marriage, he told me about make-up man
Anil Grigar, who had worked for his "Hey Ram". Kamal
himself took the initiative and fixed the same make-up
man for "Cityzen". It's my duty now to convey my
thanks to Kamal sir at this juncture!
Next I act in a film which is to
be produced by A.Poornachandra Rao, who only
introduced me as a hero in a Telugu film. I'm not
talking about "Nandha" film, in which I was about to
act under Bala's direction. Vasanth,
 instead of Bala
now directs this new venture!
It's true that earlier some
bitterness brewed between Vasanth and me during "Naerukku
Naer" film work. I had long ago given an interview
also, to this same "Dinakaran", saying that I won't
act in Vasanth's direction even should a situation
arise according to which I could get as high a award
like National Award only through a film directed by
Vasanth! But now I have decided to act in his film. A
favourable situation conducive to that has developed
now! Vasanth has much prowess to check and correct
me. He won't say "yes, you do whatever you pleased to
do"! If at all I do any mistakes, he would correct me.
When the first 5 Tamil films I acted in failed to earn
for me any good recognition, only the film "Aasai",
directed by him enabled me to grab the required
identity, by which the whole Tamilnadu came to know
me! I very much like to act in his direction that lent
me the status and reputation of a hero.
Next, I act in the film to be
produced by V.Ravichandran of 'Oscar Films Private
Limited'. I think, S.Ezhil would direct it. I have
given my callsheet for October, November and December.
I have also given callsheet to the film to be produced
by my friend B.Karthikeyan on behalf of 'Vijayam Cine
Combines'. Praveen Gandhi directs it. I have allotted
callsheet for August, next year, for a film to be
produced and directed by J.Surya.
Is there any truth in the
news that you are going to co-act with Vijay in a
film?
The failure of the film "Unnaikkodu
Yennaiththaruvaen" has affected me very much. So, I
have to be very, very careful hereafter before
committing in new films! If there's an extraordinary
subject that could be able to feed both Vijay and me
matterwise, I'm ready to act in it. That film should
satisfy the fans of both of us. The script should be
liked by Vijay as it has to be shown the green signal
by me. Then only we could be able to work without any
'ego' problem. At this juncture let me apologize to my
fans--that hereafter I won't give a failure film like
"Unnaikkodu Yennaiththaruvaen". I won't repeat such a
mistake!
Would you involve
yourself again in producing own film or in film
distribution?
An actor turning into a
producer himself, and proving a success thereupon is
very rare in cinema industry. So, hereafter, I'll
never indulge either in own film production or
distribution! I must keep up and safeguard the market
value I'm enjoying now. I will keep on my struggling
to maintain that. Now I'm a familyman. Shalini is
there for me. I have given back the benefits of my
gratitude to all those who helped me during the
initial days of my up-coming! Now, my own family is
also important for me. I have to work very hard for it!
I must do it!
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