JAYALALITHAA WAS MY INSPIRATION TO PLAY KOTTRAVAI'

...says Sriya Reddy, who along with Bharath and B discuss their web series Thalaimai Seyalagam, working with director thabalan their script choices, views on politics and more.

-  NARAYANI M

EVERYTHING in life always comes full circle. Sometimes, it brings one to a familiar place just to show their personal growth. Actors Sriya Reddy and Bharath stand as an example of this, as they reunite with director Vasanthabalan after 18 years since Veyil, for his recently released political thriller series Thalaimai Seyalagam. Reminiscing the early days of her career and her upward graph, Sriya recalls, "Veyil and Kanchivaram were some of my first Tamil films. It was only after that I went on to do commercially viable films like Thimiru." The series, which stars Kishore in the lead as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Arunachalam, marks the director's OTT debut. Bharath, who has been acquainted with Vasanthabalan for almost two decades, says that filmmakers like him strongly believe in a story and the process that goes behind it, "There are a few directors who don't work for money and Vasanthabalan belongs to that category. I have worked with director Sasi in Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu (2013) and he too is the same," he says.

Interestingly, Bharath expressed his shock when Vasanthabalan revealed that he was making a web series.

"He briefed me about the story and my character, but I was wondering how he would do a series as he is wellversed in feature films.

Yet, when he signs a project, I trust him completely as I know the quality of his work," lie shares. Adding on to it, Sriya says, "He connects his soul to his characters and scripts. It is the same reason why we are talking about Veyil even after all these years." Actor Dharsha Gupta, who plays Bharath's romantic interest as a fellow cop in the series, reveals that her admiration for vasanula the director and the actors made her say yes to the project.