Very few directors can boast of a box-office track record like ?Siruthai? Siva. He is ThalaAjith?s go-to man now and consistently delivers successful films with the ?Ultimate Star?. As their Vivegam gets ready to rage from August 24, we catch up with the genial giant at his pleasing best,

Though you are a highly successful director, do you sometimes miss being a cinematographer?

"I don't miss those days. Being in cinema is more than enough for me, whatever the format is. I started off as an editor, and then worked as a sound engineer and cinematographer. Whatever my role is, I will do it to my satisfaction and to the best of my abilities."

Over these 10 years as a director, how do you evaluate yourself as a professional? "I've grown as a director and evolved as a human being. I don't regret anything that I?ve done. I was 30 when I started direction and now at 40, I've directed 7 films in a span of 10 years. A person's sensibilities, awareness and knowledge get better with age. In the same way, my understanding of cinema, the audience and my craft have gotten better."

After working with ThalaAjith in 3 films, how has your understanding of him as a person and a star changed?

"I had always felt that he was a versatile actor, even before I met him. Now, my love and respect towards him have increased. Almost everyday I have seen him over these past 5 years and I've learned a lot from him. He has grown in me! And, I can't take credit for his current stardom. He was a big star even before Veeram and he'll become an even bigger star in future."

Do you introspect after the release of your films? Do you feel now that you could've done something better in Veeram and Vedalam?

"There?s nothing like that! I wouldn't have done those films at all, if I had even the slightest of doubts. I have done each film of mine wholeheartedly with complete belief and all of them have turned out successful.

Also, I never read media reviews. I trust the opinions of my team members, friends, close ones and importantly the public talk. I'm a very accessible person and I use public transport frequently. I interact with the masses on a regular basis and get my feedback from them. That's the reason for my success, I feel." 'ThalaiViduthalai' is such an electric experience! Will you write lyrics for outside films as well?

"Anirudh brought me in as the lyric writer for 'ThalaiViduthalai'. He and his team like my style of dialogues and way of speaking. I keep it candid, casual and can deliver without much preparation. Earlier, he liked what I wrote for the 'Theri Theme' in Vedalam.

I've written 1000s of poems, more than enough to be published as a book. I've won a lot of acclaim for my Tamil prowess at school and college levels. 'ThalaiViduthalai' is a powerful comeback song, and Ani felt that it'll be apt if I write the lines as he knows all the struggle that I've faced in my personal life. The song has worked out so well now. It conveys the thought 'the right anger is the right weapon'." Are you into offbeat cinema? Can we expect one such film from you in the coming years?

"I see all kinds of films thanks to my huge movie library. My wife fights with me saying that I see too many films. But personally, I will make only happy films, ones which will give belief to the audience and satisfy them. 'Movies which speak hope', that's my genre."

'Theatre moments' - a term that you coined, has gone viral. What are your favouritetheatre moments of the top heroes?

"Rajini sir - Baasha's 'Ulle Po' scene. Ajith sir - Vedalam's transformation moments. Vijay sir - In Ghilli, when he keeps the knife on PrakashRaj?s neck. Kamal sir - In ThevarMagan, when he comes out as the 'Thevar' in the interval scene."

Finally, with such killing shooting schedules, extensive post production and promotion commitments, how do you maintain your health and balance?

"A lot of people are waiting to do what I am doing, which is making successful films. It would be wrong if I use the word 'pain' to describe the work schedules that I face. It's a blessing and I'm happily experiencing all of it. My physical condition does take a beating, like when I didn't sleep for the last 10 days of Vedalam's post production. I used to have severe headache and my family was very worried. But when it comes to work, I'm just obsessed; it's beyond passion. I don't know whether I have the talent but I want to keep proving to myself that I can do it. I overlook my health while working on a film but definitely get a health check-up done after coming out of a film. I put up with my doctor's scolding then. (laughs)"

Best wishes to you, Siva sir. Keep giving those regular blockbusters to the industry!