The long-term short film friends

They met each other by chance, became friends, and despite each one of them now having carved a niche for themselves in the film industry, they remain friends. In an industry known for fair-weather friends, Vijay Sethupathi, Bobby Simhaa, Karunakaran and Karthik Subbaraj have not only weathered the rough times together, they revel in each other’s successes as well. They’re thick as thieves, laugh gleefully when one pulls the other’s leg, and what they do when they get together on weekends is their pinky-promise secret.

During the course of this special Friendship Day interview at the Times of India office, you realise that because they’re besties, they also work wonderfully as a team when they come together for a project. That is why, perhaps, they’re the winning team in Kollywood these days. And it has been always so, they tell us, right from the days of their struggle, when they would try to put together a few thousand rupees to make a short film, till now, when they covet each other’s film roles. The most teased is, of course, the National Award-winner, Simhaa. Here they are, ribbing, laughing, reminiscing — celebrating friendship as only they can…

So, how did this friendship begin?
We’re still asking this question, when Vijay deadpans, “First of all, are you aware that we don’t like each other at all? We just came here together to see how this scene will look like,” and continues after the bout of laughter subsides, “A few years ago, I used to regularly visit Manikandan’s office (he’s now the famed Kaaka Muttai director, of course) and that’s when I met Karthik. Bobby and I then began to act in Karthik’s short films...”

Bobby interrupts, “I was working as the assistant director then,” and Karthik, Vijay and Karunakaran burst into laughter, and then, Vijay continues, “When I first met Bobby, he was wearing stylish coolers and stood like Raaja Paarvai Kamal Haasan, and I thought he is some big producer. That’s when we began to talk to each other.” Karthik adds, “Even when I first met Bobby, I thought that he is a Telugu film producer with lots of money, and is acting for time pass. But only after talking to him did we figure out who he is.”

“It was Manikandan who suggested I act in Karthik’s short films,” Vijay continues, “He made a film called Thuru, and my character was more of a comical one. As I had a Koothu Pattarai background, I was not sure whether I could pull off a role like that, but I thought I’d give it a shot. That’s when Nalaya Iyakkunar (a short film competition) happened and I got introduced to Nalan Kumarasamy, Balaji and Karunakaran.” Karthik interrupts, “Vijay is the first professional actor I worked with. When I left my job and decided to get into films, I initially asked my family members to act.

But then, after I met Vijay, things were smoother. His passion for acting was evident — I gave him a few costumes to check whether it fit him, and he just changed into it right on the road, at a teashop, while we were having tea. But Vijay left in the middle as he had signed a feature film, Thenmerku Paruvakatru, and that’s when I started casting Bobby, and our journey began.”

Of ganging up and more…
So, who gets teased the most in the gang? All hands point as one towards the man who’s now sporting a beatific baby-smile, Simhaa. “Whatever he does is cinematic, and he will keep a build-up shot just for him,” laughs Karthik, adding, “He is that obsessed with cinema.” Vijay reveals, “One secret about Bobby is, he is very weak in Math,” and all the three break into uproarious laughter. “If we ask him what is 3x8, his ‘thought-out’ reply will be 22,” says Vijay, even as Karunakaran laughs, “He should have acted in the Ramanujan film.” Karthik and Vijay again burst into laughter, while Simhaa tries his best to throttle them into being quiet. But Karthik fobs him off, and tells us, “Once, I asked Bobby what he’d have done had he not made it in the movies, and he replied, ‘I’d have found a number like ‘0’, just like the Mathematician Ramanujan and have become famous!’” More laughter follows, as Karunakaran gleefully adds, “Bobby even gets confused when counting the money he withdraws from ATM.” And once again, Karthik ribs him, “Initially, we all had some respect for Bobby, we thought he is a serious person. But then, we went to his place to shoot a short film for the first time.There we were, shooting this scene in his room, and his brother walks in, starts scolding Bobby in Telugu, asking him to leave with us. A sheepish Bobby told us, ‘I am respected a lot outside, but at home…’. That’s how he become our target.”

Bobby’s bald fight!
Who gives you a tough time on the set, we ask Karthik. “Bobby Simhaa,” he says, without missing a beat. “Jokes apart, Bobby is a very good performer. He comes to the set like a clean slate, and we can write anything on it. Sometimes it is easy for us, but sometimes he gives us a tough time. Whereas Vijay analyses his character many times even before he starts shooting. He, in fact, suggests ideas and helps improve scenes. I have retained many of his suggestions in Iraivi.” Vijay interrupts, “There is this poster of one of Nalan’s short films, where all the three leads are standing together. The fun part is, Bobby is clearly looking into the camera, but later, he told us that the shot was taken without his knowledge. I mean, how can that happen?” he laughs. Karthik recollects another instance, “During the pre-production stages of Pizza, I told Bobby that he has a role in the film, but I never explained what the role is. Two days later, he is in front of me with a shaven head. I was shocked, and asked him why did he do it, he said he felt that look would suit his character. I scolded him that day.”

Vijay’s English song
By now, the jokes are coming in thick and fast. “Just like how Bobby is good at Math, Vijay is very good at English,” Karthik jokes. “His accent is so funny, he pronounces the words in a style of his own. Do you know he has written and sung an English song,” asks Karthik, “He came all the way from his house just to sing his composition to me, too, and has used that song in Orange Mittai.” Vijay begs, “Don’t give so much build up, Thalaiva,” and then adds, “Actually, I quite upset about things in life and was riding all alone on my bike.” Karunakaran jokes, “I think he had some problem at home.” Vijay continues, “I have this habit of talking to myself, like, I keep pretending I am in an interview, and am answering questions put to me, and keep talking with the helmet on. That’s when I came up with this four-line English song.” By now, there is a chorus demanding he sing it, and Vijay starts… (see right)

Karthik outs Bobby’s secret
Is Bobby is getting married to Reshmi Menon? Karthik is the first to respond, “Yes!”, and Bobby immediately tries his best to shut Karthik up, and even vigorously shakes his head at them, asking them to keep quiet. Karthik smartly changes track with, “Whenever Bobby likes a girl, he immediately comes to me and says he wants to get married to her. Later, he would call and say, things didn’t work out. For instance, Bobby once had phone love,” he jests, and Vijay and Karunkaran start to laugh. Bobby again tries to stifle this conversation, but Karthik continues, “Bobby used to regularly get this call from a girl called Saranya, they would talk frequently and then, he told us that he is in love with the girl. But then, one fine day, we came to know that the girl is none other than Karunakaran who was making prank calls to Bobby in female voice.” It takes a while for the laughter to die down after this!

Karthik’s first love
Time for Bobby’s revenge, and he reveals Karthik’s weakness: he never misses an opportunity to eat good food. “I was actually late for shoot one day, and Karthik called me from the set and asked me what I was doing. I was nervous about reporting late, and told him I was eating, and would be there in no time. I was so worried that he was going to shout at me for delaying the entire cast and crew, but to my surprise, Karthik asks me what I am eating. ‘Biryani,’ I tell him, and he says, ‘Dei, oru biryani yennakum konduvaa, da’. Even under immense pressure, Karthik never compromises on food.”

What happens on weekends?
Every time the word ‘weekend’ comes up in the conversation, the four exchange conspiring glances, and smiles, and so, finally, we ask them what is it that gets them so excited about the word, weekend. Vijay starts, “We get up early in the morning, clean the floors and get blessings from all of our parents.” Of course, we don’t believe him, so he tries again, “We all will drink together, what else?” No go, again. So Karthik comes up with, “We all meet in editor Vivek Harshan’s house most often, or go to this particular tea shop in Kodambakkam.” Karunakaran adds, “We plan a trip sometimes, but we never manage to get out to travel, at all.” Karthik again, “Our families also know each other, and meet up on a regular basis. So, most of the time, they ensure that we friends don’t get to meet on weekends. They try their best to separate us so that they can go out with us during the weekends,” he
laughs. Do they watch some game, or play any sport?

The spotlight goes right back to Bobby, who by now, has his head down in resignation. “Well, the right person to answer this question will be Bobby,” starts Karthik. And he specially loves cricket, if this joke is anything to go by… “Once, we were all planning to go out, and called Bobby to come along. He said, he was watching the World Cup and will come after India wins.” There’s a pause after this, the penny is begging to be dropped, and the expression on Bobby’s face is priceless as Karthik reveals, “We looked at the screen, and were these two teams in orange playing - I think it was an Ireland Vs Holland match, and Bobby is like, ‘Will India win the match?’”

Karunakaran’s plans...
Ask about Karunakaran, and another story-telling session begins. “We met Karuna during Naalaya Iyakunar. He is like Mangalam Sir — Vivekh’s character in Shankar’s Boys. He is more like our leader,” laughs Karthik, only to have Bobby cut in with, "Every weekend, he comes on a bike like a hero and ask us, ‘What plans?’ and then we all have fun.” Karthik adds, “Most of the time, he books hotel rooms and stays there with us. It’s more like his habit now, and we still don’t know why.” Karunakaran defends, “It was Bobby who first took me to Manikandan’s office and that’s how we all came to know each other. Also, I like Bobby, as his sense of humour is good.” At this point, Karthik just has to look at Bobby, who’s revving as if riding a bike (see picture), and quip, “He has humour, but no sense.”

What connects them and keeps them together?
It’s the weekends,” quips Karunakaran immediately. Vijay adds, “There is nothing like a ‘common’ connect. May be, we don’t have anyone in our group who spreads negativity. Also, even Nalan, Karthik, Balaji all are good friends, so there is absolutely no groupism.” Karuna adds, “It’s not that we all have same ideology, as we also argue and debate on a regular basis. We have even fought with each other, but the very next day, we wake up and make a phone call.” Bobby says, “Vijay doesn’t get angry that easily, but I do. I have even broken Karukaran’s new iPhone once, during an argument. Vijay is more like samathana pura, often asking us not to fight.” Vijay joins in with, “Also, we have never felt insecure about each other, or our performances,” and then he turns and asks Bobby, “Nee edavadu feel panninaya, da?” Bobby looks abashed and keeping a hand on Vijay’s head, says, “Mama, un mela sathyama illa, da (see picture above).”