TIRUCHI: Coming as ‘Payanam' does as the fourth film in a winning combo with director Radha Mohan, after ‘Azhagiya Theeyae,' ‘Mozhi' and ‘Abhiyum Naanum', Prakash Raj's exhilaration knows no bounds.
Quality fare
“It is yet another attempt at providing quality fare. When compared to our previous films, ‘Payanam' comes as a different subject altogether: airline hijack. We have also tried a few things like doing away with song sequences and using Red One camera. The output is really satisfying,” says Prakash Raj, who was here on Monday to promote the film.
‘Payanam' has also marked the re-entry of actor Nagarjuna in Tamil cinema after more than a decade. “The film is a bilingual (‘Gaganam' in Telugu) and I thought that an actor who is familiar with both Tamil and Telugu audiences would fit the bill. When Radha Mohan felt that Nagarjuna would be apt for the role of a commando, I had no second thoughts. Nagarjuna accepted the offer readily,” recalls Prakash Raj, who has essayed an important role in the movie.
The fan base of Radha Mohan has been expanding with each film, reckons Prakash Raj. “Through his movies, Radha Mohan has proved his mettle. He has a fan following abroad as well. The performance of ‘Payanam' in U.S. and other countries is sufficient proof.”
The national-award winning actor says that as a producer he enjoys complete freedom. “As an actor I live out someone else's dream. And as a producer I can explore and experiment a lot more,” explains Prakash Raj.
Challenging film
Director Radha Mohan said ‘Payanam' was a challenging film and a lot of research had gone into its making. He also heaped rich praise on cameraman K.V. Guhan, art director Kathir and dialogue writer T.J. Gnanavel.
According to S. Sridhar, joint-secretary, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association, ‘Payanam' was doing brisk business.
The audience response at the Cauvery theatre here, with whom Prakash Raj, Radha Mohan and Gnanavel interacted during intermission, was enough indication.
