In conversation with Karthik Kumar

Chennai, Sep.2 (NR): He played the suave NRI guy, Arvind in 'Kanda naal mudhal.' As Cheenu, Dhanush's friend in 'Yaaradi nee mohini,' he made a mark. And in 'Poi solla porrom, 'as the young man Uppilinathan, nursing the US dream, he impresses.

Karthik Kumar, better known as Evam Karthik has indeed come a long way from his debut film, 'Vaanam Vasappadum.' In the soon to be released, 'Ninaithale innikkum,' he will be seen in a negative role, busting the NRI mappilai image that he seems to be carrying.

Excerpts from a conversation with Mythily Ramachandran.

From your debut film to the present, how has the journey been?

It has been as meaningful as possible. Although 2006-2007 was a lean phase for me and good roles were hard to come by, I enjoyed working with good people in small roles. Like Selvaraghavan's Yaaradi nee mohini and Priyadarshan production under Vijay in Poi solla porrom. Quite a many people from the industry were surprised that I stuck around this time. I am here to explore my potential as an actor and not to be a star or to become famous.

Tell us about your role in Ninaithale innikum.

This is a racy campus edge thriller. I play Jayasurya's character from the Malayalam film, Classmates. But director Kumaravel has given a twist to my role making my character significant. I expect big things from this role and I hope people will wake up and notice me as an actor. I trusted Kumar 150% for the risk he was taking in casting me in a negative role. He had a distinctly different vision for the film. Ninaithale innikkum is an ensemble of five friends and not a hero oriented film.

What about your other films?

I have a role in Rosario's Ethuvum nadakkum. This is an edgy film, a psychotic thriller with just two actors. It is a 95 minutes film that does not veer away from the script. I play a young passionate actor who is frustrated in not being able to find a release. But he finds this in his real life, when he gets to play multiple roles. Shooting for the final song sequence is in progress.

And your love for acting?

It goes back to my school days at Vidya Mandir, Mylapore. I was in all the school plays and instrumental in founding the Dramatics Club. In college too I was into plays. I also joined a few theater groups in Chennai then. At Mudra Institute of Communications, Allahabad, Sunil (my business partner) and I formed Sankalp, a theater group. That is when the seeds of Evam were sown. Acting for me is a personality disorder.

How do you juggle between cinema and Evam?

Evam was started with theater as a business proposition. Certainly, it is a tightrope of sorts managing my film career and the business. I remote control it. Sunil and I have implicit trust in one another. We may differ in our decisions, but we understand the intentions behind the decision. I know even if I am away from Evam for six months, I can rest assured that it will be well taken care of by Sunil.

What's coming up next at Evam?

We will be launching Evam nationally with shows at Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai soon. We are also working on a children's content to be launched in Nov/Dec. On Evam's birthday on Sept. 10, we intend shattering several myths about theater. That theater is not just for the elite arty kind, it is for everyone passionate about plays. We intend taking this idea to colleges and Corporate camps.

Tell us about your wife Suchi?

Suchi and I met while doing the play 'Love letters' five years ago. She has seen me during my difficult times as an actor. She has been my pillar of strength and a force pushing me closer to my dreams.

You carry no celebrity airs, what keeps you grounded?

My family keeps me grounded. I have had a humane middle class upbringing. We were not into cinema. For me cinema is a borrowed passion. I grew up watching films of Kamal Hasan, Maniratnam and P.C. Sreeram. Cinema dictates my approach to work, passion and is my identity. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Ninaithale Inikkum