Karthik Subbaraj

“'Iraivi' is about women, men, and their priorities. It talks about women's freedom, how men look at it, and how women use it. It's neither preachy, nor is it about women's empowerment.”

“I have been trying to get theatre releases for short films ever since I have been making them. I didn't get any response from theatres initially.”

“Until I was pursuing my collegiate education, I was in Madurai with my parents. Bengaluru was the first place where I was independent. So, the city is very close to my heart.”

“After doing two feature films, I got an idea for a thriller film and felt this could be made without any dialogues.”

“Out of the five years I spent in software, I was in the U.S. for two.”

“No, I am not after huge stars. But I have no reservations about working with stars.”

“When I hear the news that the pirated version of my film is doing rounds, I cannot keep quiet.”

“I made a lot of short films before making a feature film. Actually, I learnt film-making by making short films.”

“Following the success of 'Pizza,' I am really glad that C. V. Kumar of Thirukumaran Entertainment has extended his support to a new director, Deepan Chakravarthy, to direct 'Pizza 2 - The Villa.' I wish this team to have a great success like 'Pizza.'”

“Luckily, 'Petta' encompasses all the dimensions of Rajini sir's performances. His main strengths are his charm, style, and the fun that he represents.”

“I started as a short filmmaker and found that one of the toughest challenges was getting your film to be watched. I would enter it in competitions and release it online, but getting a mainstream theatre-going audience to view the film is difficult.”

“Usually, I write my scripts first, then think of the actors, or I have a reference of someone.”

“I remember, when I was working in Bengaluru, Rajinikanth's film 'Sivaji' was releasing, and I wanted to watch it the first day, first show. My manager did not want me to take the day off, and I made up excuses stating that there was an issue at home and I had to go.”

“For a cinematographer, every frame has to be important.”

“The girls who come into Tamil cinema today are educated and from well-to-do families. Unlike the actresses of my generation, they do not need cinema for survival. We cannot write a small role - dead cast, as I call it - and expect them to be excited.”

“When I thought of writing for Rajini sir, I told myself it will be a really cool character with a very happy-go-lucky attitude. We took such a character and placed him in a strong story, and I believe, as a combination, it has worked wonders.”

“I start writing with an open mind without thinking about genre and realise, only after writing, that it falls under many genres.”

“I started learning filmmaking by joining a weekend film school in Bengaluru. I made some amateur short films that got appreciation from people around me.”

“Short films are good, especially since independent films are making waves now, more than before.”

“We considered a few Bollywood actors as well for the villain role in 'Jigarthanda,' but we finally zeroed in on Simha because we felt he would be the most unexpected person to play it. Had we cast someone popular, then it would have become predictable.”