Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal (Stolen Moments), Thankar Bachan’s ode to love – starring Prabhu Deva, Bhumika Chawla and Prakash Raj – releases today, after a huge wait. Thankar says that once it hits the screens, the creator in him will be free to dream again.
“The worst thing in the world for a creator is to be stifled this way. Unlike some who can work on two-three projects at the same time, I can only focus on one film at a time. Many people think that the film has been delayed, but I have always maintained that even if this film released a decade later, it will still strike a chord. With this release, I can figure out my next project.”
The director has always maintained that the film, an ode to tender love, boasts great performances. “I was very particular I wanted Prabhu Deva, Bhumika, Prakash Raj, Sathyaraj… I’m making a pure romance after Azhagi, and I wanted actors who could give life to my characters.”
The director realises he is making a case for a love unlike what is being showcased now. “I want teenagers to see the movie. I want them to know how timeless love can be. They must understand its purity, and its integrity. And, know how important it actually is. And how life suffers when we lose the one we love.”
And for those who have managed to find love in life, the film will take them down a nostalgic journey, says Thankar, who hopes the audience encourages filmmakers such as him, so that producers trust them with movies.
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“A film must make money for the director to get another chance to make a movie. For that, a movie has to be watched in a theatre. But, we live at a time when movies become successful at the box office despite not having the potential. And so, in a way, the audience is to be blamed for well-made films that are languishing. You can’t support average movies and expect the small, beautiful ones to succeed.”
Despite all the frustration and the relief now, Thankar says that the setbacks have made him a better person. “And, I hope, a successful person too.”