‘I want to become like Abdul Kalam’
Character name: Raasukutty
Real name: Ashwanth Ashok Kumar
Ashwanth Ashok Kumar has not watched Super Deluxe yet, but he is not too perturbed about it. He’s happier that he has passed his second standard final exams, and kickstarted his third grade lessons.
As Raasukutty, Ashwanth stole the show in Super Deluxe , a film that’s running to packed houses in the city. “A padam anna ( It’s an A-rated film, brother),” he tells me, “None of my classmates have watched it. But I’m happy that people are liking my role.”
Memes with his pictures have started trickling on social media, but life remains the same for Ashwanth, who is more concerned about things like playing with his neighbourhood buddies and completing his homework.
Super Deluxe happened after his father (Ashok Kumar, a web designer) got a call from director Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s office. They had already liked Ashwanth’s performance in Zee Tamil’s talent show Junior Superstars , and gave him a screen test. “I was not at all nervous,” says the seven-year-old, who studies at Vani Vidyalala, KK Nagar, “On the sets, I asked a lot of questions to the director and cameraman.”
Ashwanth cherishes the time he spent with Vijay Sethupathi on the sets. “He used to call me ‘Ashok Kumar mavane’ , and I called him ‘Kalimuthu Thala mavane’ in return,” he laughs. Ashwanth was a fan of Vijay Sethupathi even before he met the actor; he adores the actor’s Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren . “I liked all the actors in that film,” he says.
He adores actor Vijay and hopes to work with him someday (“I was offered Mersal but could not act in it then”), but Ashwanth’s goal in life is to become a scientist. “I want to become like Abdul Kalam sir,” says the child artiste, who was also seen in last week’s Nayanthara-starrer Airaa . Next up, Ashwanth will star in Godfather, featuring Natarajan Subramanian (Natty), and Balaji Shaktivel’s yet-to-be-titled flick.
Srinivasa Ramanujam
The mystery behind ‘Mutta Puffs’
Character name: Vasanth aka Mutta Puffs
Real name: Noble K James
Noble K James is ecstatic about the kind of appreciation coming his way for his mischievous performance. In fact, he was particularly surprised when someone randomly called him “Mutta Puffs”, congratulating him for bringing the character alive. “Wherever I go, people keep calling me Mutta Puffs and Paal Dappa. The reception is surreal,” says Noble. Not many know the fact that he played a minor role in Soodhu Kavvum (2013), which he got through his neighbour, a noted production executive who has worked in films like Attakathi , Kabali and Kaala . Noble made his presence felt in Soodhu Kavvum , ultimately landing him a prominent role in Super Deluxe .
When Kumararaja narrated his track from the film, Noble thought it was tailor-made for him. “I could see myself through Mutta Puffs. Even during school days, I had a very soft image. But that was just a facade,” he laughs. Vasanth was the name originally given to the character, but since Noble used to devour egg puffs during tea breaks, Kumararaja decided to rechristen him ‘Mutta Puffs’. Noble says he signed up the film thinking that it would be a fun-ride. “But I was wrong... the entire process was taxing. However, if people are raving about it, then it’s because of Kumararaja sir.”
Noble says that the director gave him the space to think on his own feet. “Every director tries to be a perfectionist. But Kumararaja is someone who visualises the whole scene and knows exactly what he wants for a particular shot,” he explains, adding, “Sir improvised a lot on the sets. For instance, he saw me shrugging once and said, ‘why don’t you do this during the take?’ And that’s why Mutta Puffs’ shrug became a highlight.”
Having previously worked with Vijay Sethupathi in Soodhu Kavvum , Noble says Super Deluxe was a coming-of-age of sorts. Recalling his meeting with Vijay Sethupathi, he says, “I met (Vijay) anna on the sets and asked him if he recognised me. He was clueless at first. Later, he gave a pat on the back and said, “What happened to you? You have put on so much weight!”
Srivatsan S
‘I was being myself’
Character name: Gaaji Balaji
Real name : Vijay Ram
Vijay Ram had watched Super Deluxe twice before its release. However, he was curious about the audience’s response. “I’ve been waiting for its release for a long time. Kumararaja sir arranged for a special show for the cast and crew, but we weren’t sure how the audience would react to the film. But the response has been huge,” says Vijay, who joined theatre group Koothupattarai when he was 17.
Starting out as a theatre artiste to playing a significant role in Super Deluxe , Vijay has come a long way. He credits Muthusamy, founder of Koothupattarai, for fueling the spark in him. After acting in a handful of plays, Vijay was slowly gaining prominence among the theatre circle when he got an offer for Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam. Coincidentally, Vijay met Kumararaja for the first time at the premiere show of the film.
When Vijay joined the sets, Kumararaja had one advice: “Just be yourself.” What was the brief given to Balaji’s character? “He (Kumararaja) usually explains a scene and I have a rough idea as to how it would pan out. He’s always willing to take your suggestions.” One suspects that the portions featuring Vijay and the lads were written by Nalan Kumarasamy. Vijay, however, says he was least bothered. “I was so engrossed by the script that I didn’t think about it much,” he adds.
Vijay admits that he had loads of fun shooting for a specific scene in the second half. “In that scene, we were expected to communicate through emotions. As an actor, it was challenging and satisfying at the same time,” he adds.
Srivatsan S
