Karthik Subbaraj

“Rajini sir gave me an opportunity to work with him because he liked my work, especially my style of narration and dialogues. Now, I can't go out and make something very different just to please him. He wanted me to make 'Petta' the way I want it and with my sensibilities intact.”

“Rajini sir's character in 'Petta' is inspired from the same name from Tamil film 'Mullum Malarum.'”

“If a star film does not have a good story, it will not run. This will make stars choose good scripts consciously.”

“When I was making short films, I didn't see a way to give them a wider reach or earn revenue out of it.”

“The core plot of 'Mercury' is so gripping that when I thought of making it as a silent film, it only made it more interesting. Once I finished writing the first draft, making a silent film that's both thrilling and engaging seemed possible. When the film team read the final script, they felt the same.”

“'Mercury' is one of the most challenging projects I have worked on. From the nuances of the actors' expressions to the minute technicals of the movie, everything needed to be monitored and looked into. The actors were required to emote purely with their face.”

“Mani Ratnam is my biggest inspiration.”

“Rajini sir has always been a part of my life from childhood. And I entered into filmmaking because I was influenced by his films.”

“Once I heard Karunakaran was part of 'Lingaa,' I told him to somehow arrange for me to meet Thalaivar. The 'Jigarthanda' team met him when he was shooting in Shimoga. It was a memorable meeting, as he opened the door for us, sat, and answered whatever we asked him. And, I got to meet him twice in two days!”

“Other countries are open to purchasing foreign short films because they have a market for them.”

“I roughly draw the scene beforehand to be more confident on the set. Instead of talking and explaining certain things, I try to visually communicate the scene to my team with the story board. This is how I work.”

“I worked in a software company in Bangalore and made short films during weekends. I learnt the basics during a one-day workshop called Film Camp Sanjay Nambiar.”

“Besides being one of the most ambitious projects I have worked on, 'Mercury' has also helped me enhance my skills as a director.”

“In a silent film, the visuals are of utmost importance.”

“When I made 'Pizza,' all I had in my mind was to make the film reach as many people as possible.”

“I did a lot of short films before doing feature films.”

“I would say 'Jigarthanda' had a lot of Tarantino in it, but it ends there. 'Iraivi' is inspired more from directors like Balu Mahendra, Mahendran, and K. Balachander.”

“Having spent five years in the technological domain, I see the experiences in the entertainment industry from a technological perspective.”

“I would say my parents were really supportive after a point. I had to prove to them that I am not just dreaming; I can really make it.”

“I grew up idolising Rajinikanth, and I've always wanted to see him in a certain way. When I knew I was going to write for Rajini sir, I wanted to show him in the most stylish way and bring back his mannerisms and machismo.”