Vetrimaaran

“Despite strict instructions from my mother not to step out of the house, I cycled all the way to Vellore to watch 'Thevar Magan.' In fact, I grew up watching classic films such as 'Naayakan,' 'Thaalapathi' and 'En Bommukutty Ammavukku.'”

“Once, a man at the customs duty check at the Delhi Airport asked me a question in Hindi, and I told him that I didn't speak the language. He got angry and said, 'How could you not speak in Hindi? Hindi is our mother tongue.' I told him that it wasn't my mother tongue. He got furious, and made me wait for over 45 minutes.”

“My films are a personal reflection on the impact that the state - the system and the world - has on me.”

“I've done just three films in nine years.”

“I don't believe in one slow panning-shot to show a place. It should unfurl in the story itself.”

“When you are adapting a book to a visual medium, you tend to leave a few things and add a few new ones.”

“I like to keep my films close to reality.”

“It's always good to promote a film on a larger scale before it's been put to test.”

“Visaaranai' reflects a stark reality from which you cannot shut yourself out: that is its success.”

“I can't write about someone who is unlike me in all senses-physically, emotionally and socially.”

“Rajkumar was the winner of 'Naalaya Iyakkunar Season 2,' and I was impressed with his short film. He joined me as an assistant when I started the pre-production work for 'Vada Chennai.'”

“My films are a reflection of the society I live in, what I see and observe.”

“Characters, conflict and geography are things that must be considered while making movies from adaptations.”

“We'd like to explore the prequel idea. I think it would be best suited as a web series on some digital platform. The prequel will be called 'Rajan Vagaira,' and it will track the rise of Rajan's character in 'Vada Chennai' and how he built his empire.”