‘My’ refers to all the gifted, skilled and accomplished directors who have made a league of their own. Although there are many stalwarts in Tamil cinema ‘Making the movie, My Style!’ series started with Mani Ratnam the ‘Thalapathy’. Today, another man who’s in the making of becoming a stalwart will be gleefully dealt with. It’s the ‘Indian’ we’re going to talk about.
A director who conveys subtle messages to the society and handles his direction department with aplomb, Shankar is not just a man with a mission but with an aboveboard vision. Having the humblest of beginnings Shankar worked in a regular job before his quest for creativity. He joined as an assistant to director S.A.Chandrasekher.
Learning the tricks of the trade quickly and meditating his passion for cinema he directed the revolutionary ‘Gentleman’ with Arjun in 1993. A movie that talked about education and social evils. A story that needs quite a bit of matured handling that Shankar handled effortlessly in his first movie itself. Besides the unfaltering narration, Shankar gave his first movie 100 percent even with picturing the songs. A boon or a trump card in his team was A R Rahman who seized the opportunity to compose classic songs like ‘En Veetu Thottathil’ and ‘Chikkubukku’ to name a few.
But all this was not that Shankar’s made of. With the advent of computer graphics, movie makers were trying to use it just for the sake of it, until a movie named ‘Indian’ happened Shankar cast Kamal Haasan in double roles and importantly using prosthetics and high quality make up with some extraordinary special effects. Shankar used his team members services effectively to bring out a classy product. Indian was a film that had a powerful screenplay for a story that dealt with corruption in India.
Receiving nation wide appreciation, Indian was even sent as India’s entry for best foreign film at the Academy awards. Handling patriotism and corruption, Shankar received enumerable laurels thus creating a curiosity in the minds of the audience who started to follow his unmatched and unparalleled movie making. Besides picturing songs in Australia, Shankar also used special effects to good effect in the ‘Maya Machindra’ song.
Talking about story after Jeans, one would have least expected a story that deals with politics and more over seeing a common man sitting on the chair of the Chief Minister of a state! Shankar made the radical ‘Mudhalvan’ that spoke about current affairs in India. With an absorbing screenplay and conveying the message of change in the political system, ‘Mudhalvan’ was a runaway hit.
With hits after hits, Shankar created a sense of expectation among the minds of the audience. Every time he announced a movie, ripples of expectation would circulate as to what kind of movie he is going to bring out. Besides the serious movie maker he his, Shankar also tried his hand at wooing the youth with Boys that was made with new comers that had a lukewarm response but was noticed for the splendid songs and equally beautiful picturing.
Now it is the turn of a social movie again! Remember his pattern, that of alternate movies conveying social awareness. After ‘Boys’, he switched to his favourite genre of ‘socio-entertainment’ with Anniyan that had the trademark Shankar style of entertainment alongside a social message to the audience. The movie was packed with action scenes as well as enough dose of romantic scenes. ‘Anniyan’ brought out the best of talented actor Vikram. A ‘get-up’ of an undertaker, the ‘Anniyan’ character was well portrayed.
Success was following Shankar just like his shadow. Any director would love to work with Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. Shankar created ‘Sivaji’ with Rajinikanth in a big budget movie that was spent mostly on Shankar’s favourite zones – makeup, Special effects and art work in songs. Rajinikanth wore the best of blazers and had the best of stunts in Sivaji that was stylishly implemented by Shankar and his team.
Shankar’s strengths lie in his story narration and interesting screenplay. His songs in the movies are not neglected and are always given prime importance. Recall the ‘Uppu Karuvaadu’ or ‘Azhagana Rakshisiye’ songs from ‘Mudhalvan’ that was made elegantly with some beautiful choreography and amazing art work involving pots or the ‘Rendakka’ song from ‘Anniyan’ with Lorries and the surrounding decorated alluringly with faces of Tamil superstars. The best song anyone would reckon from Shankar would be the ‘Ale Ale’ from Boys that was shot at picturesque foreign location with eye-catching costumes and superior camera work with classy editing.
Shankar is the synonym of unlimited creativity. Be it the split personality of the hero in ‘Anniyan’ or the wicked villain character ‘Adhi’ in Sivaji, Shankar has always made his characters revolve around the story rather than the story revolving around the characters. Besides being a director himself, he encourages other film makers through his S Pictures production company.
‘Endhiran’ the much talked about sci-fi movie is slated to release later this year, expect special effects, the charisma of the Superstar, the beauty of Aishwarya Rai and the magic of director Shankar, the wizard of entertainment!
