Vetrimaaran is regarded as one of the most talented filmmakers in the Indian cinema industry. His reputation as a brilliant storyteller with a distinctive perspective has been established by films like “Aadukalam” and “Vada Chennai.” His films are noted for their harsh realism, appealing characters, and thought-provoking social issue narratives. The characters in Vetrimaaran’s works are never flat; rather, they are always nuanced, multi-layered beings that frequently mirror the intricacies of real people. They never fall into a good vs. evil trap; instead, they border the line between right and wrong, which makes them more relatable and real. Let’s explore a few interesting facts regarding Vetrimaaran’s film career.
1. Film Stopped him Smoking
Vetrimaaran had been a chain smoker since he was thirteen years old. As a result of his smoking habit, Vetrimaaran experienced health problems. In a previous interview, Vetrimaaran stated that after watching Vaaranam Aayiram in a theater, he went outside and smoked a cigarrette before swearing off cigarettes forever.
2. First Film Plan Got Shelved
Vetrimaaran’s first film project was shelved due to financial restrictions and production challenges. Shooting for the film Desiya Nedunchalai 47 had begun. However, after two days of filming, the project was abandoned. Vetrimaaran proved that the failure had not stopped him by going on to make his directorial debut with the widely praised movie “Polladhavan.”
3. College Drop Out
He took a course on television presentation while studying English literature at Loyola College, and the requirement to create a film as part of the course’s final project awakened his interest in the art. At the time, Loyola College hosted Balu Mahendra as a visiting professor. He participated in a seminar that Balu Mahendra sponsored, and Balu Mahendra selected him as one of his main assistants. But he had to decide between cinema and studies. He selected a career in movies and dropped out of college.
4. Long Time Frames
Due to Vetrimaaran’s rigorous attention to detail and passion to capture the heart of his stories, the majority of his films have extensive shooting schedules. For the film Aadukalam, Vetrimaaran spent two years in Madurai to become familiar with the local language and way of life.
The plot of Vada Chennai was developed by Vetrimaaran in 2003 after he encountered an anonymous individual while writing a film about bike theft. In this script, he attempted to explore gangsterism and the rise and fall of mafia gangs in North Chennai. By 2009, the script for Vada Chennai was completed. The film Vada Chennai was released in 2018.
While some of these delays were caused by production problems and difficulties finding an appropriate cast, Vetrimaaran was always determined to maintain the originality for which he spent his time to thoroughly research.
5. Combination with Dhanush
Dhanush and Vetrimaaran’s collaboration was more than a hit. They had a close relationship and a deep understanding, which showed in the way they worked together. Two National Awards for Best Actor went to Dhanush, and both of them were for Vetrimaaran movies. One of the most renowned director-actor combos in the film industry, their union has regularly produced critically praised and financially successful films.