ALWAYS STRIVE O BE A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF’

A CANDID CHAT WITH THE WELL-KNOWN LYRICIST, SINGER, ACTOR AND FILMMAKER ARUNRAJA KAMARAJ

- ISHWARIYA KRISHNAN

Arunraja Kamaraj’s most recent success was the remake of the film Article 15 with actor politician Udhayanidhi Stalin. The multi-faceted personality Arunraja tells us more about his career and the pursuit of his dream.

You're a singer, songwriter, actor, and director. What are you most passionate about?

Direction. I began as an assistant director, then moved on to writing songs, singing, and finally acting. I'm supposed to learn everything in order to become a director. It was only a path to my ultimate goal of becoming a director. I also acted in the film Ka Pae Ranasingam with actor Vijay Sethupathi after becoming a director. Everything is going with the flow.

Every character you played was unique. A majority of them were humorous, but the films you directed were political and sports-related. What exactly is your real personality?

I am a serious person who is also an introvert. I have a personal interest in social awareness scripts and read a lot from time to time. If I am working for another director, I must learn their specifications and meet them. When I direct my own film, I am free to write and structure scenes however I see fit.

My greatest ambition has always been to become a director, and my journey has only just begun. Kanaa and Nenjuku Needhi, on the other hand, fall into very different genres in my films. There is no specific thought process involved. I prefer to take on a subject and work hard to deliver it correctly.

The film Article 15 received critical acclaim for its incisive commentary on caste-based discrimination. What inspired you to make a remake of Article 15, which was an actual hit in Bollywood?