Very few actors possess an on-screen persona that reflects their real-life essence; Sathyaraj is a textbook example of one who does. The humor and wit, hallmarks of his films, are also palpable in interviews. When asked about the challenge of back-to-back interviews, Sathyaraj laughs and says, “I was answering the same questions and after a while, I began looking at our production manager and started singing ‘Innum Ennai Enna Seiya Pogirai’.” Despite the repetitive nature of media interactions, the veteran actor loves discussing films and fondly reminisced with us about his extensive filmography.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Fantasy films are notably more expensive to produce than other genres, involving many additional elements. Nowadays, significant amounts of CGI work are required, and only after post-production can the team see the final product. Sathyaraj believes it takes a certain confidence to successfully create a fantasy film, which might explain why they are infrequent. He feels confident that ‘Weapon’ will start a new trend.
In ‘Weapon’, Sathyaraj fulfilled his role as expected, but he looks forward to viewing the final product to see how everything has come together. Impressed by the trailer, he is eager to watch the film from an audience’s perspective. He notes that ‘Weapon’ has enough material to potentially develop its own cinematic universe, a concept usually seen in Hollywood films. He humorously adds that fantasy films appeal to children, who are inevitably accompanied by their parents. If the film grows into a franchise, it will offer a comfortable space for senior actors like him, similar to Harrison Ford’s role in the Indiana Jones film series.
Sathyaraj was pleasantly surprised by the producer’s conviction in this project. He admits, “I know I’m not a saleable actor to center a film around; I’m just a busy character artist.” Despite being comfortable with the character roles he’s been assigned in leading films, he is unsure what a film featuring him in the lead would be like. He attributes this project’s existence to the producer’s trust.
On the first day of filming, Sathyaraj was preparing for what he thought would be a conventional action sequence. However, the team skillfully shot the scene over a week, boosting his confidence in the project. Recalling his earlier films, he explains that family dramas, heavily anchored by comedians like Goundamani and directors like Manivannan, had predictable elements that easily resonated with the audience. Conversely, films like ‘Weapon’ are different; their success can often only be assessed after seeing the final product. Sathyaraj credits the director’s creativity and the producer’s boldness for these projects.
Reflecting on his career, he recalls how emotional narrations by P Vasu and Manivannan could move him to tears. He shares how multi-faceted talents like R. Sundarrajan, who would sing while narrating a script, ensured the delivery of excellent music tracks by Ilaiyaraaja.
. Such was the team synergy and reliance on pillars like comedic legend Goundamani. Contrastingly, ‘Weapon’ revolves more around Sathyaraj’s character, offering a unique and thrilling experience.
Sathyaraj has been in the film industry for 46 years. He doubts he would make a good role model as he often ventures into new projects with uncertainty rather than confidence. Before moving to Chennai, friends would mockingly ask if he aspired to be like legends MGR and Sivaji. Sathyaraj simply wanted to take a shot at acting, remaining pragmatic about fallback options like becoming a production manager.
Initially hoping for small roles that paid around Rs 5000 each (equivalent to about a lakh today), he didn’t know he would become a trendsetting villain and a hero in over a hundred films. In the mid-2000s, he struggled as a lead actor and repeatedly rejected lucrative character roles. Eventually, he embraced character roles, which he has been doing for the last 15 years, leading to significant transformations – from the iconic role of Kattappa in ‘Baahubali’ to a wide array of other roles.
Interestingly, on the day ‘Weapon’ is released, Sathyaraj will also see the release of a Hindi comedy film, ‘Munjya’. Known predominantly in the south, audiences from the north recognize him for his serious role as Kattappa. He was surprised when offered a comedic role, only to learn that the initial humorous portions of ‘Baahubali 2′ left an impression.
Talking about how challenging it is for actors, he reflects on how top stars’ films take longer to produce. He contrasts his experience as a hero, having simultaneous releases like ‘Makkal En Pakkam’ and ‘Aalappirandhavan’, where a flop was quickly followed by a hit.
Sathyaraj admits to making career mistakes, one being not continuing his role as a director after the success of ‘Villadhi Villain’. He jokes that if director Sathyaraj had remained active, he could have sustained the popularity of hero Sathyaraj. Uncertain about a return to directing due to his acting commitments, he suggests it would require collaboration with new-age directors like Pradeep Ranganathan, who understand modern audiences.
Sathyaraj debunks the rumor of his participation in a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attributing the gossip to a deceptive photo collage. He emphasizes the importance of portraying ground reality in films, praising the impactful message about education in ‘Asuran’.
Excitingly, Sathyaraj has several upcoming projects: eight films and a few web series. Some announced works include ‘Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan’, ‘Valli Mayil’, and the web series ‘Gangs’. Additionally, he is part of three Telugu films, a Hindi film, and has signed up for three Tamil series. While corporate agreements often restrict announcements until official, Sathyaraj quips that he only pays attention to the clause about his salary.
With new projects lined up, Sathyaraj continues to be a dynamic force in Indian cinema, seamlessly maneuvering between character roles and potential blockbuster franchises like ‘Weapon’.
