Be it the critically acclaimed Sundarapandian or the family entertainer Idhu Kathirvelan Kathal, S.R. Prabhakaran’s love for stories that are closer to social milieu is quite evident. His gripping story and catchy dialogues defining friendship in Sundarapandian won many young hearts.
More a writer than a director, Prabhakaran relies heavily on the strong storyline and does not believe in one-liners. “Even if it is a fiction, the story should have elements that are closer to real life incidents. Only then the audience can relate better and get involved in the film. Sundarapandian is a combination of two true stories I was part of,” he says.
Hailing from Othaveedu, a sleepy hamlet near Madurai, Prabhakaran draws inspiration from his village. Like many of his ilk, he too landed in Chennai after doing diploma in film technology with a passion to become a successful filmmaker. But it did not happen easily. He had to struggle for identity. Through an acquaintance he joined director S.D. Sabha as assistant director and worked for the movie Arundhathi.
Adept in writing, Prabhakaran got an opportunity to write the screenplay for the movie. Unfortunately, Sabha dropped out of the project and he had to follow suit.
Prabhakaran joined Sasikumar who was then busy with Subramaniapuram project. Coming from the same town, Sasikumar entrusted more responsibilities to him and the friendship won him the chance to direct Sundarapandian.
“But for Sasikumar, I would have been nothing,” he says remembering how his first project had a stuttered start. Prabhakaran has the practice of staying in the place where his stories are set to happen and he travelled back and forth from Theni to Uttamapalayam to study the local sentiment. Just when the first schedule was about to take off he received the information about the Film Employees Federation of South India’s call for strike. “I was shocked. Then, I got a call from Sasikumar, the producer. He was full of confidence and cheered me up. That was the day, I made up my mind,” he beams.
Conscious of the fact that comebacks are difficult in the film industry, Prabhakaran restrains himself from experimenting much. “Earlier, you had a chance to bounce back even if you faltered but now challenges the young directors face are many. There are so many talented directors waiting in the wings to grab every opportunity. Also there are new crop of short filmmakers well versed in filmmaking. It is like walking on the razor’s edge today,” he says.
Prabhakaran never has long discussions with big group of assistant directors. “As a writer, my approach is different. Too many points of view spoil the beauty of the character. Hence, I rely on myself ,” he says.
Quick to accept that Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal didn’t set the cash registers ringing like his first movie, he says, “Sasikumar wanted me to concentrate more on films that leave a lasting impact on audience.”
Prabhakaran has signed up with Sathya Jyothi Films for his next movie. “We are yet to finalise the title. It is a family action drama set in a village near Dindigul. The script work is over,” he says.
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