Jiiva talks about work-life balance, working on a web series and getting trolled on the internet.
Head to actor Jiiva's den on East Coast Road, and you find a spontaneous and playful person. He loves to stay away from the buzz of the city and has his cute labrador, Bruno to keep him occupied. The actor, who started out with Aasai Aasaiyai, has proved himself with movies like Raam, E, Kattradhu Tamizh and Ko. After Kavalai Vendam, the actor is ready with his next, Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thora, a family entertainer with elements of horror. Jiiva talks about work-life balance, working on a web series and getting trolled on the internet. Excerpts...
Tell us about your role in Sangili Bungili...?
It was Atlee who suggested I listen to this script by Ike. Also, Ike and I are friends and I know his wife, Tanya well. When I found out that Ike was Kamal Haasan's assistant, I thought I will be doing a serious film — perhaps an army officer or a sniper. But he gave me a funny and fun-filled entertainer. And there is an added element, that of a ghost in it. We shot for Sangili Bungili...last year. I worked with a lot of actors for the first time — like Sri Divya, Soori and Radikaa Sarathkumar. Soori and I got along like a house on fire. Sri Divya on the other hand is very professional in her approach. We shot quite a bit in Palani. As for my role, I play a real estate broker. How I buy a house and what happens there later makes the story.
Why did you choose to do a horror comedy that has been done to death?
My last film, Kavalai Vendam was an American Pie kind of film, that was targeted at the city crowd. So, I thought that I should work on a film that will appeal to everyone. This one will be like a Priyadarshan film, which has all kinds of genres. My scenes with Soori are crazy. I have done serious films, too, but it gives me a kick when I see audiences laughing to my comedy scenes in the theatre. Of late, anyone can review a film and put it out on YouTube. I do not want to be a part of a serious film that doesn't work and get trolled (laughs).
Do you worry about getting trolled online?
Yes, I don't want to be trolled on social media. I don't want my son to have any misconceptions about social media. Memes are all about frustrations. Internet is just a small percentage of the crowd that watches my movies. So, it's alright. I don't want to use social media just to update my followers on where I am having tea and what I am eating. I don't know how so many actors have such a huge number of followers on social media. Movies don't make as much money as the number of followers they have on social media. When a trailer gets 5-10 million views, shouldn't the movie, too, make that kind of money? The internet has to be a platform that promotes young talent. I want to encourage youngsters through my website and help people who are interested in movies. I hope that by 2019, India will have free internet and so things will change.
What about your upcoming films?
I am doing a film titled, Kee, which means there is good and bad in everything around us. The movie is about current affairs, hacking, leaks, etc. I play a young graduate in the film.
Head to actor Jiiva's den on East Coast Road, and you find a spontaneous and playful person. He loves to stay away from the buzz of the city and has his cute labrador, Bruno to keep him occupied. The actor, who started out with Aasai Aasaiyai, has proved himself with movies like Raam, E, Kattradhu Tamizh and Ko. After Kavalai Vendam, the actor is ready with his next, Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thora, a family entertainer with elements of horror. Jiiva talks about work-life balance, working on a web series and getting trolled on the internet. Excerpts...
Tell us about your role in Sangili Bungili...?
It was Atlee who suggested I listen to this script by Ike. Also, Ike and I are friends and I know his wife, Tanya well. When I found out that Ike was Kamal Haasan's assistant, I thought I will be doing a serious film — perhaps an army officer or a sniper. But he gave me a funny and fun-filled entertainer. And there is an added element, that of a ghost in it. We shot for Sangili Bungili...last year. I worked with a lot of actors for the first time — like Sri Divya, Soori and Radikaa Sarathkumar. Soori and I got along like a house on fire. Sri Divya on the other hand is very professional in her approach. We shot quite a bit in Palani. As for my role, I play a real estate broker. How I buy a house and what happens there later makes the story.
Why did you choose to do a horror comedy that has been done to death?
My last film, Kavalai Vendam was an American Pie kind of film, that was targeted at the city crowd. So, I thought that I should work on a film that will appeal to everyone. This one will be like a Priyadarshan film, which has all kinds of genres. My scenes with Soori are crazy. I have done serious films, too, but it gives me a kick when I see audiences laughing to my comedy scenes in the theatre. Of late, anyone can review a film and put it out on YouTube. I do not want to be a part of a serious film that doesn't work and get trolled (laughs).
Do you worry about getting trolled online?
Yes, I don't want to be trolled on social media. I don't want my son to have any misconceptions about social media. Memes are all about frustrations. Internet is just a small percentage of the crowd that watches my movies. So, it's alright. I don't want to use social media just to update my followers on where I am having tea and what I am eating. I don't know how so many actors have such a huge number of followers on social media. Movies don't make as much money as the number of followers they have on social media. When a trailer gets 5-10 million views, shouldn't the movie, too, make that kind of money? The internet has to be a platform that promotes young talent. I want to encourage youngsters through my website and help people who are interested in movies. I hope that by 2019, India will have free internet and so things will change.
What about your upcoming films?
I am doing a film titled, Kee, which means there is good and bad in everything around us. The movie is about current affairs, hacking, leaks, etc. I play a young graduate in the film.
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