A Still From SINGAM

VICTORY

ROAR

...that's what director Hari is waiting to hear, even as his Singam, starring Suriya, gears up for release

         Directing a movie featuring popular stars is always a challenge. For, the director, apart from narrating a story in a manner he wishes to, also has to meet the huge expectations of the fans of such stars.

          But director Hari seems undaunted by the challenge and is confident about the manner in which he has treated the story of his next film Singam, featuring Suriya, Anushka and Prakash Raj.

         After Kaakha Kaakha and Saamy, expectations from both Suriya and Hari have gone up. Will Singam measure up and will it be like one of the two? Says the director. "Yes, it will be an adorable cop film. But no, Suriya's role in this film will not be like the cop roles in the other films, In fact, my biggest challenge was to ensure that his role does not remind one of his earlier cop characters."

         He adds, "Singam is a film about a silent and helpful person, who shows his aggressive side when provoked. Suriya plays a person, who is forced to enter the police force, not because of his love for the profession but because of his father's wish. However, he begins loving it. The man, who keeps to himself initially, discloses a completely different side when provoked. Singam is all about his transformation."

         Sources say the movie has all the commercial elements and is action-packed. Ask Hari about it and he replies, "Yes, It's true. In fact, the entire session post the interval will be intenxe."

         Talking about the performances of his crew members, he performed all the stunts and did not opt for body doubles.Anushka plays a modern college girl who has traditional beliefs. Prakash Raj plays the villain: I firmly believed that no one else could do this character as well as he could."

          The film has been shot in several places and features the cops of five different states in the country. Commenting on the difficulties involved while shooting for the film, Hari says, "We shot at several places including Tuticorin and it being a small town, people would gather the minute they knew Suriya was shooting. So, we had to shoot discreetly and swiftly. Moreover, we did not use sets."

        It's not just the difficulties that the director remembers. He also thanks the co-operation extended by an entire village. Explains he, "We had shot a sequence in a village near Tuticorin and we had to make it look like it had been who in AP.The villagers allowed us to make all the changes we needed to their homes, We were really touched by their gesture.