Karthi talks about his brother Suriya’s views on Ponniyin Selvan.
Karthi talks about his brother, superstar Suriya’s reaction to Ponniyin Selvan. Karthi played a pivotal role in Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus.
While Karthi had already proved his mettle as an actor with films like Madras (2014), Oopiri (2016), Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017) and Kaithi (2019), this is filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s epic historical action thriller. The adventure film was Ponniyin Selvan I. Gave him All India recognition. Karthi’s portrayal of Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan, the prince of the monkey clan, won him widespread critical acclaim. The second installment in the franchise, Ponniyin Selvan II also garnered her appreciation.
And now, in an exclusive chat with News18, he reveals how his brother, superstar Suriya, reacted after watching him play Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan on the big screen for the first time. Karthi tells us that Suriya watched it with his wife, actor Jyothika’s family, and was in awe of the magnum opus. “Interestingly, my brother saw the film – the Tamil version with subtitles – in Bombay with his in-laws in a theater full of non-Tamil speaking audience. They all loved it. He was very proud of it. He Said, ‘What Tamil cinema has achieved makes me very proud.’ And what was his reaction to his younger brother?” He had some lovely things to say about the entire film. But he didn’t have a special word for me,” laughs Karthi.
But his association with Ponniyin Selvan dates back much further as his father, veteran actor Sivakumar, approached the legendary actor and late politician Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran, better known as MGR, when he first adapted Kalki Krishnamurthy’s novel in 1959. The screen adaptation of was announced. Talking about it, Karthi says, “Before Kamal (Haasan) was about to make Sir Ponniyin Selvan, MGR got the rights and wanted to make it. He wanted my father to play Arunmozhi Varman. For Uncover, the Vikram (2022) actor had intended to make the film in 1989 and had also announced the cast, but his plans did not materialise.
With the Ponniyin Selvan baton being passed from one generation of actors to another, Karthi considers himself lucky to have been able to be a part of the film, which the fraternity wanted to helm for the longest time. “We all have received a lot of appreciation for this film. It was written 70 years ago and the fan following of each and every character in the film has made them almost superstars. They have got love from generation to generation. When the audience saw someone bring him to life on screen for the first time, they were filled with excitement. He has always seen actors from different generations playing these roles. And finally, we, this generation, got to do them. And the audience fell in love with all the characters.”
Apart from the acclaim he received from critics and members of the film fraternity, the Kaatru Veliyidai (2017) and Paruthiveeran (2007) actor also won the hearts of the audience, especially children, for his comic timing, physical prowess and boyish charm. In the movie. Talking about it, he commented, “Many kids want to be called Vallavarayan Vandiadevan and not his name. I have met many children who came home and wanted to change their name to Vallavarayan Vandiadevan (laughs).
On a related note, Ponniyin Selvan II hit the theaters on April 28 in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It also stars Chiyaan Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha Krishnan, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Lakshmi and Sobhita Dhulipala.
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