Conversation with Vivegam's producer T.G. Thyagarajan

T.G. Thyagarajan has been one busy man, ever since the promotions of his upcoming film Vivegam began in full-swing. The midnight trailer-release of the film has only fuelled the notifications on his phone (no surprise). While the busy as a bee producer was heaving to catch his breath, we squeezed in a few questions and here's what the financial expert from US turned co-founder of Sathya Jyothi Films had to say :

What has been the response to the midnight trailer release of Vivegam ?

My phone has been ringing off the hook. The response has truly been overwhelming.

The pre-release business of Vivegam is pegged at Rs. 120 crores. What is the mind-set of a producer when such huge numbers are associated with a film?

Firstly I'd like to say that the numbers you see circulating in the media, are all rumoured ones. I'd not like to share them at this point in time. It puts a lot of pressure and anxiety on the producer when the investment is huge and the risk factor is high. Vivegam is getting dubbed in Telugu. Are other languages on the table as well? And how much of a profit does one really see from dubbed films? We had planned to dub Vivegam is Hindi as well. But we are still contemplating over it and may do so depending on the outcome of the film. Dubbing really is an added advantage to a film and its star. Business-wise, its completely new to us. Sathya Jyothi Films has been around for over three decades. What do you think attributes to the longevity of a production banner?

Yes, It has been 35 years since Moondram Pirai first came out. I think its passion towards films that gives to the longevity in an industry like this.

Except for the late actor Murali, no other hero has worked more than once with your banner...

I first ventured into production with Sathya Movies (father-in-law RM Veerappan's banner) and over there I've worked with Rajini and Kamal in 2-3 films continuously.

Balu Mahendra, Mani Ratnam, KS Ravi Kumar, Prabhu Solomon, Siva - who is the most budget-friendly director you've worked with?

Director Balu Mahendra definitely. He was the one with a ready-made script and worked within a budget. He used to sit me down for budget discussions and always stuck to it.

Besides him, Kathir who did Idhayam with us was like that. Karu Pazhaniappan (Parthiban Kanavu) was very budget friendly. Director R. Kannan, too ever exceeded his budgetary constraints. It was more like a family back then.

Talking about changing times, what do you think has changed positively and negatively in the industry in all these years?

Well the evolution of technology within the industry is what has changed positively. We have evolved from analog to digital and are competing with the standards of Hollywood films technically.

The negative aspect would have to be the increasing costs for me. Earlier the renumeration of a main atriste would be 10 % of the total budget of the film. These days it is 40 % which is too huge a sum for any producer.

Vivegam is releasing on the 24th of August. Any words about the film?

Vivegam is made in a completely unique manner. We have shot almost the entire film overseas and it has some never-before-seen action stunts. The film is technologically savvy and I believe the audience will enjoy it.