VIJAY THE KING OF 2011!

He has been on a victory march in the past year.After a lull in 2010, Vijay bounced back with Kaavalan, a remake of the Malayalam hit, Bodyguard, in January 2011. The assortment of sentiment, romance and comedy went down well with viewers and Vijay was in the saddle once again. Then came Velayudham that re-instated him as an unassailable action hero. The two films helped him stay put at the top.

The year also saw international recognition come Vijay's way for the first time — Kaavalan was selected for screening in the Panorama section at the prestigious 14 Shanghai International Film Festival. Two hundred films among 2500 entries from 80 countries were chosen and Kaavalan found a place among them! Also, he signed on the dotted line to team up with big film makers, viz., Shankar, A. R. Murugadoss and Gautam Vasudev Menon. The films should roll out one after the other. The first will be Shankar's Nanban, a Pongal bonanza from Ilaiya Thalapathi. Vijay should be a happy man. “I am,” is his pithy reply.

Presently camping in Mumbai for Murugadoss' Thuppaaki, when I text him for a suitable time to talk, Vijay calls up right away! And for the first time in more than half-a-dozen face-to-face interactions and an equal number of telephone conversations I've had with the rather taciturn actor, I get glimpses of his sense of humour and wit. Though the opening refrain was the usual, “What-can-I-say-about-my-film” line, a little prodding makes me realise that adverse comments about his pre-release exchanges early in his career have irked him no end. “I've had my share of brickbats and they've made me cautious. Frankly, my promises could appear tall. And after the release people could think the film didn't live up to the hype. So what's the point?” Yet in an industry where feverish ad campaigns and promos in every form are imperative, can he eschew them completely? “I can't. Have I not called you up? I know publicity is a must. Only that after a point I want my films to do the talking,” he demurs.

Standing ovation :

I temporarily shift focus to his visit to the 14 Shanghai International Film Festival as a guest of honour in June last, and the actor unwinds. It was the first time a Vijay film was screened at a film fest. “Rekhs, the co-ordinator for South Indian movies for international film fests, was instrumental in sending Kaavalan to Shanghai. She had done the subtitling too,” he informs. The experience must have been new to him. “Very, I was dressed appropriately in a three-piece suit for the occasion, but very tense. I sat with the audience, most of them Chinese, for some time. Then I decided to wait outside. I could make out that they were enjoying Kaavalan. Later when the film turned serious, there was silence. And I was overwhelmed by the standing ovation at the end. The reaction was very much similar to what I'd seen, say, at Sathyam Cinemas! As they came out, they congratulated me, sought my autograph and throughout the interaction addressed me as ‘Bhoominathan,' my name in the film! ‘Great job, Bhoomi,' they went on. That's when I realised language is no barrier to understanding emotions. And with the smattering of English I know, I responded,” laughs Vijay.

In all our conversations Vijay never fails to spell out his limitations as he sees them. “Come on, don't give me that line. Not wanting to converse in English is far different from not being able to,” I reply. He smiles.

Now I change tack to Nanban, his next. He's an ace dancer. Did Ileana, his heroine, find it tough to keep pace with him? “Her footwork is amazing. I was the one who had to watch out,” that's his modesty at work again!

Remakes aren't new to Vijay. He's done many, and successfully too. But Vijay replicating Aamir Khan is a surprise! “I had watched Three Idiots with my family at Mayajaal and enjoyed it to the hilt. But never did I think I would be part of its Tamil trip. When the offer came my way, I was sceptical and told director Shankar so. ‘This kind of film is new to me too. But I'm sure you'll be apt for the role,' he said.”

A dream come true :

“It was a great experience. Most of the shooting was at Dehradun and it was fun working with Srikanth and Jiiva.” Vijay had known Srikanth even earlier. “But I got to move with Jiiva only during Nanban, and we hit it off instantly.” Satyaraj dons the role that Boman Irani so effectively portrayed in Three Idiots. “Every hero here yearns to work with Satyaraj playing the anti. I'm glad Nanban fulfilled my desire,” he says.

Not only 2011, by the looks of it the year that's just dawned should be equally engaging for Vijay. Following Thuppakki should be Gautham Menon's action franchise, Yohan. “Let's save that for our chat later,” he laughs.

Though a remake, Shankar has vested Nanban with his typical touches. “The ‘Asku Laska' number is a situation you don't find in Hindi,” Vijay informs and suddenly remembers he doesn't wish to say much. “You make me divulge more than I intend to,” he laughs. “The audience should come to the film without any expectation. I don't wish to create any hype.” The catchy numbers of Nanban, courtesy Harris Jeyaraj, are chartbusters. This is his first score for a Vijay film. “But he's given the music for my ad campaigns,” says Vijay.

“Most of us have watched Three Idiots. Yet, thanks to Shankar, viewers should find Nanban fresh,” he pauses and adds with a chortle, “See, there I go again …”