Maddy wants to bend rules

Maddy wants to bend rules

The actor talks about his English and Tamil films

Subhash K Jha

Madhavan has been running around in the emergency unit of a hospital lately. He has been shooting for his first English-language film, Nothing But Life. Directed by Rajiv Anchal and shot in Mexico, the film tells the story of two people battling for their lives in the emergency unit of a hospital.

"It's a film that takes risks with audiences' tastes, pre-empts trends and bends rules," says Madhavan. "And that's exactly what I'm looking for now because I'm at a juncture in my career where I no longer want to do run-of-the-mill roles. Nothing But Life will be taken to international festivals before being released in India."

Apparently, the role of the MIG fighter-pilot Ajay Rathod, in Rang De Basanti, was originally ear-marked for Shah Rukh Khan while the role of the rich and confused tycoon's son Karan Singahnia that the Tamil-Telugu star Siddharth played, was meant to be played by Madhavan. Why the role shifts? "I couldn't do Siddharth's role because my latest Tamil film Thambi took seven months of my time," he replies. "I opted for the less footage-requiring role of Flight Lieutenant Ajay Rathod. And I'm glad. I don't think I suited the part I was to play originally. I think Siddharth suited the innocent bewildered industrialist's part perfectly."

Madhavan's latest Tamil film, Thambi, which opens on Feb 24 is a film about a crusader's fight for justice. Doesn't that spell violence? "We've avoided violence as far as possible," he says. "In one sequence where we needed to show blood on screen, we actually changed the colour scheme to a sepia tone. Somehow blood in colour looks really frightening. I don't want to be part of anything that glamorises violence." In fact, the film has been passed with a U certificate. "Can you believe it? Thambi is an action film. And it's suited for children," he adds. "I think we need to make films that reflect reality without losing hold on basic aesthetic and moral values."


• I'm at a juncture in my career where I no longer want to do run-of-the-mill roles
— Madhavan