K Balachander sir’s letter and Bala sir’s spatika maalai are my greatest awards: Vijay

In his 13-odd-year career, Vijay has directed several films, but the filmmaker holds Madrasapattinam close to his heart. The film was a period romantic drama about a Tamil lad and an English girl, set in 1947, and stars Arya and Amy Jackson in the lead. The film was praised for capturing the Madras of the 1940s and also received acclaim for its storytelling, music, art and cinematography.
Ask Vijay what was the biggest compliment he received for the film, and he says, “I was in Madurai for promotions, and K Baalachander sir’s associate called me up to ask where I was. I told him I was away in Madurai. So, he asked for my fax, and I gave it to him. Then, I got a five-page letter from KB sir. He is such a huge inspiration for us. He has written letters to so many directors, and it was so nice of him to write one for me, too. I will cherish the letter for a lifetime. Among other directors who inspire me is Bala sir. He usually wears a spatika maalai, and he actually gave it to me after watching the film. The letter and the malai are my greatest awards.”
Madrasapattinam recently completed 10 years in the industry. “It doesn’t feel like 10 years! It’s a special film for all of us. The tough days of shooting and all those sleepless nights, but the effort was worth it. We experimented and went with our instinct. And that instinct worked. People say Madrasapattinam is one of my best works till date. I don’t know if I should be happy or sad that I haven’t made something better than that,” laughs Vijay.