Posted:
Last week I had a surprise phone call. It was from none other than ON Rathnam. There was no shooting that day as Radhikaa had gone off to London so he was able to talk to me. Talk to me he did, for an hour until I had to end the call as I was in the office and it was already 11 p.m. Dont know when I might get a chance like this again. He spoke and spoke and spoke...😲...such a cutie.
From what he told me, ONR is very passionate about his work. This is the first serial where he is a director. The other serials he was assistant director. When he was asst, R used to call him vaa, po, nee but now she calls him vanga, ponga, neenga. He felt very awkward but he was told that she is like that.
He made it clear to me that he is not a jalra and that he is not someone who is interested in making money for the sake of making it. Twice he nearly walked off because he couldnt take it but someone senior (I know this person too- everyone loves him) stopped him from doing so. The hours are long and even his wife was complaining...that he comes home after the son is asleep and he leaves before the boy gets up. But he is so committed to this project and he feels he has to give his best. Of course he argues with the crew and cast but he would admit that he was wrong if he was and likewise. Even to Radhikaa.
About the cast and the story lines - he had nothing but praise. Maha cried at the right time he asked her to cry. Nikila couldnt cry because she always relied on glycerine but he forced her to cry naturally. Sangeeta Balan wanted to leave because at first she did not think she had much to do but Rathnam convinced her to stay saying that he has plans for her and that he will make her into a MIL all girls will yearn to have. Vicky Krish had very bad back pain in the shooting of the episode where he goes to the forest to rescue Saravanan. According to the original story G was supposed to bring Sara back, but after filming of the fight scene, Vicky couldnt move so they had to change the story. But he did not complain. Rathnam is short-tempered and he would scold them but they all will listen to him. Rajkumar will do whatever he asks him to do without complaining.
Kathir is there for a reason. Gautham will marry his daughter to save Sara because Kathir is hell bent on killing Sara. They have found an actress for that role. He said that they havent even started on Vani's house - so there are more plots to come.
Arumugam too has a role to play. They will make us get so fed up with him but then suddenly there will be a change the way we perceive him. Likewise Karthik. We will feel so sorry for him at some point. Rathnam said he had Antha 7 Natkal and the other movie Kabhie Aveda something (SRK and Preity Zinta ) in mind with this plot.
There wont be Poongodi-Saravanan reunion. Thank God.😆
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Jodha Akbar
