Santhosh P Jayakumar Interview on Hara Hara Mahadevaki
It’s often a practice or culture of Tamil cinema that we tend to see many engineering graduates become filmmakers. Now the latest one to join the league is Santhosh P Jayakumar, who makes his debut directorial with the film Hara Hara Mahadevaki. With the film hitting screens today, Kolly Buzz brings an exclusive chat with the filmmaker on this much anticipated release.
So tell us about your embarkation of journey in film industry….
I am an engineering graduate and started as an assistant to Saravanan in Engeyum Eppodhum. To become a filmmaker was my childhood dream. Right when I was doing my 8th grade in school, I was so much ambitious about becoming a director. This is where, everything started.
What inspired you to make a film like Hara Hara Mahadevaki?
One of my real life incidents vividly inspired me to develop a gist for Hara Hara Mahadevaki. It all happened during over a night time. I had a horror script ready for narration, but on the spur of moment, the producer told me that he is no mood to listen a script of this genre. I was totally upset and just went for a meet with my friend. While coming back from that place, we realized that the bike we were riding doesn’t belong to us. We had actually accidentally swapped a same colour bike that was parked besides. As we returned back to the place, the entire place was filled by police and crowd. We were actually shocked over the situation. But after few days, discussing the same situation with friends turned into laughter. this actually prompted me to write a script based on such a theme.
How did Gautham Karthik get into the project?
In fact, to write a script like Rom-Com and not to think about Gautham Karthik should be a question. Of course, he is handsome and befittingly suited the character that I conceptualized and penned. So I had no other option than bringing Gautham Karthik here.
How about Nikki Galrani?
One thing I was so confident that she would be getting into the project. This happened right during the middle of narration that she enjoyed listening to the scenes. I have to really appreciate for the efforts she took to be a part of this film. There were many sequences, where had to shoot amidst many male artists and technicians, especially the ones that involved double entendres. But she took things professionally and sportive.
Be it visual promos or the title, It has a loud and blatant connection with Whatsapp Swamiji… Does it occur as a character or any other significance in the film?
We’ve just utilized the voiceover resembling Whatsapp Swamiji and it would be used for narration in few scenes. Or else, the story doesn’t have anything to with it. In fact, the title happens to be the name a resort ‘Hara Hara Mahadevaki’, where the entire film’s backdrop is set.
Your imagination becomes a reality… Could you feel ‘Resort’ reference in Tamil Nadu have become hilariously famous?
I am not sure if it’s lucky prediction or a mere coincidence. But the time, I wrote the script and it got shot as a film, resorts in Tamil Nadu have become a famous emblem. (Quotes this as a funny illustration).
The film is based on various characters and their tales getting connected at a point of time. Isn’t it?
Yes, the film is based on different tracks with unique humour patterns. Gautham Karthik and Nikki Galrani have a break up, which has some Rom-Com type. Namo Narayanan and Ravi Mariah play politicians, which has satire flavour. Satish travels throughout the film with Gautham Karthik… RK Suresh portions might be emotional, but it carries the humour too. Above all, it’s Motta Rajendran and Karunakaran to blast off the humour, but unfortunately, kids cannot enjoy the show as it is ‘Adult-Comedy’.
