Not everyone finds good humor to be appreciated: Actor and director Sundar C

Actor-director He is a simple guy, Sundar C. Even after over three decades in the business, he still writes screenplays on a letter pad, stays home rather than going out, and enjoys living in the now. Conversely, his movies have often been the exact opposite of him—broad and economically successful.

The Aranmanai franchise thereafter appeared. The director has a particular place in his heart for the horror-comedies, which lasted more than ten years. “I now regard this franchise as the cornerstone of my career. I never get nervous before the release of any other movie because I always feel like I’ve given it my all and trust the audience to take care of the rest. Because I know I have this franchise to fall back on, I care a lot about Aranmanai’s success,” the actor explains.

The director, who launched the series with the first movie in 2014, acknowledges that the inability to alter the fundamental formula is the most challenge in producing these kinds of movies. This follows a fundamental formula, much as our staple diet comprises of rice, kootu, poriyal, and other ingredients. A palatial backdrop, a plethora of compelling people, a deft mix of humor, horror, and emotional depth, and a dash of supernatural involvement are all necessary.

Each picture, if you look attentively, takes place over the course of three or four days, therefore it also has to have a compelling narrative, he explains. The plot of Aranmanai 4, which is set for release on May 3, has undergone a big change. “The story in the first three installments would have been about vengeance coming from a personal angle, but this wouldn’t have that because an outside dark spirit comes in,” Sundar discloses. You can be confident that this movie will look and perform better than its predecessors.

According to Sundar C, the franchise’s intended demographic is what will determine its success. “Families always ask me when I’m going to release the next installment in the Aranmanai franchise, and I believe that the films’ selling point is a blend of nostalgia and entertainment value,” he adds. However, it does not determine whether or not an Aranmanai series receives a further installment.

“I am unable to verify whether Aranmanai 5 will be made. That depends only on how well the current movie does, he says. Characters who could appear in later installments are easily introduced, but it increases the promotional value. I’m not one to end stories on cliffhangers or make them longer. Every section has a unique story and cast of people.

As a commercial director, Sundar C acknowledges that he has mentally prepared for bad reviews and doesn’t let them bother him. “I choose to see the bright side of things and strive to spread positivity and positivity,” he muses. “I pay attention to the audience’s pulse and satisfy their needs. I see my movies as entertainment where people can go to the movies, see a movie for two hours, and then go home,” he adds, citing some of his favorite movies as examples, such as Anbe Vaa, Bama Vijayam, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Sundar C.’s humor are well-known in his flicks. The director credits this to his early exposure to Madhan’s cartoons and the plays of S Ve Shekher and Crazy Mohan when he was a child. He remembers, “This love and appreciation of comedy inspired me to incorporate quality humour into my films.” “I haven’t used body-shaming jokes, double-meaning conversations, or jokes disparaging women. In addition, I made every effort to include humor into the story without treating it as a stand-alone track,” he says.

Sundar C acknowledges that despite his years of experience writing humor, this genre is the hardest to get into and isn’t always well-received. You can only convey 20% of what you put on paper when it comes to humor. The rest is improvisation on everything, including the artist’s time, location, and property, as well as adding sound effects during rerecording. He muses on the comedic elements of modern movies, stating, “Most filmmakers are now running behind top heroes.” If it is resolved, we must attend to their needs and present them in a more favorable light. Even then, there are comedies like Vadakkupatti Ramasamy that were poorly accepted while having excellent humor.

“Works on Kalakalappu 3 are underway.”

Despite receiving approval and support from the public, Sundar C keeps writing comedies because it serves his own selfish interests. Making a commercial picture is simple, but writing humor requires 10 times more work. My next project, Kalakalappu 3, will once again be an entertainment piece. While the audience may not respond instantly to other films, all the suffering you went through to create this quickly disappears as they laugh at the humor. That is what we are all hoping for.

When writing his screenplay, Sundar C. kept the audience in mind as he worked to create a compelling plot and peculiar humor. However, how does he begin writing his narrative? It could come from an inspiration or a glimmer of an idea. There are instances when an idea’s beginning and conclusion are incomprehensible. Anywhere may be the source of that one phrase. Composing a captivating interval moment is an additional crucial aspect. “The script comes automatically if both work,” he says.

Sundar C is the youngest director of Rajinikanth in Arunachalam, having helmed Murai Maman in 1995 while he was still in his late 20s. Thirty years later, the veteran claims that fear and responsibility were nonexistent for him. “In my first film, my group of friends and I collaborated.” While the trip was enjoyable, we worked hard and were truthful. We were working nonstop and didn’t have time to reflect on the difficulties,” he claims. His development as a diverse filmmaker was impacted by those early encounters.

Maybe my films showed people not having such anxieties. My hero figures would be careless at the height of sentimental flicks and heroics. Story value in Ullathai Allitha was little. On the set, I had my first glimpse of actor Rambha. Two days before to the first day of filming, she was confirmed as the female lead. I’d also turn down big-budget movies with well-known heroes. I was quite aback by my own ability to pull it off when I looked back.

The director says he would not alter anything from his films if given the chance, but looking back on his career has always made him nostalgic. “After finishing a movie, I would remove it from my life.” I get disengaged from it. If not, we won’t be able to focus on the next movie. I would only watch the movie or any moment as an audience when I came across it, the man claims.

Sundar C is open about films that have been in the can for a while. “There is a small sadness that resides for a few days when there are criticisms, but when films don’t see the light of day, it brings out even more sadness,” he states. Madha Gaja Raja, starring Vishal, is a fantastic show. That movie had a sequence that I loved and treasured the most. Although I don’t know why the producers are keeping it back, I can release it even tomorrow. It is also disappointing to see my ideal project, Sangamithra, delayed, but we are all working hard to get the project underway. Hopefully, the procedure for it will start before year’s end.

Sundar enjoys the comforts of home, near his family, whether he is not writing, performing, or directing. “I am a family man at my core. While my wife enjoys taking trips, I would rather return home to my couch and watch TV after work. I get together with my tiny circle of pals once every two weeks or so,” he adds. As someone whose demeanor and films are lively and engaging, Sundar acknowledges that he is the complete opposite. He laughs, “I like my privacy and to be honest, I’m a pretty boring person.”