Madraskaaran actor Shane Nigam Interview: Tamil industry has better work-life balance than Malayalam | EXCLUSIVE

Madraskaaran actor Shane Nigam Interview: The actor, who is making his Tamil debut with the film, touches upon various topics, from mastering the language to choosing his entry.

Shane Nigam

Malayalam actor Shane Nigam very well knew it is going to be a task when he signed up for his debut Tamil film Madraskaaran. It is not only his first film in a different language but also the one that requires him to play a proper city-bred Chennai boy, with roots in Pudukottai.

“It was very challenging, because people should not think it is a Malayalam actor doing a Tamil role. People should see only the character. Eventually, with the help of the team, I think I was able to achieve it,” Shane tells to OTTplay, as he admits to dubbing for the role himself.

“I took a lot of time for dubbing, especially to get the accent and stress on words at the right places. Dubbing was the toughest process in Madraskaaran,” he said.

Shane Nigam interview for Madraskaaran

Shane’s last film to have a festive release was RDX for Onam 2023. The film emerged as a solid winner for the season, as the actor hopes to recreate the same magic when his Madraskaaran comes out for Pongal 2025. “I never expected actually, since we had planned for January 31. With Vidaamuyarchi getting postponed, we are coming ahead. It was a pleasant surprise,” he adds.

Madraskaaran came to Shane at a time when the actor was already debating about doing a Tamil film. “There were some talks with directors before the pandemic, but it did not materialise. But after RDX, the call became stronger. I got a lot more Tamil offers than Malayalam after RDX. I decided that if I do a Tamil film, it should be a proper launch. Something that should be presented properly to the audience.”

After patiently waiting, and hearing Vaali Mohan Das’ script of Madraskaaran, Shane took a couple of months before coming into the project. “I want to check everything about every aspect, because it is not my next Malayalam film, but my first Tamil film. The first impression is the best impression and it was a laborious task,” Shane says.

But why Madraskaaran? The actor says it was the singular emotion that the script is holding, which he found interesting. Shane plays Sathyamoorthy, who works in Chennai and plans to go back to his native Pudukottai for his wedding.

Also read: Madraskaaran teaser out: Watch Shane Nigam play an action hero with a local flavour

‘I have bank of music of more than 100 songs’

Being a multi-tasker is not a new thing for Shane, given how he took part in dance reality shows. He scored a song for his critically acclaimed film Bhootakalam, and also was one of its producers. “Bhoothakaalam was part production, and it was produced by Anwar Rasheed. I did not have a big inconvenience on the production side and was free to act as well. So, it was not hectic for me. The music came as a surprise when during the last minute of the project, they were looking for a song. Since we could not get an apt song, I tried my hand and when Rahul heard the song, he said it would work.”

Admitting he is a person who likes to try a bit of everything, Shane reveals he has a bank of music consisting of more than 100 songs. “Most of the songs are not suitable for movies, and are more like personal expression. So probably they can be made into music videos,” says Shane, who has neither learnt music nor knows how to play any instruments.

‘Tamil film industry has more work-life balance than Malayalam cinema’

Having completed shooting for his first Tamil film, asked what is the difference between a Malayalam film set and Tamil, Shane says, “I feel it is a little more professional here, while there, it is more like friends working together. Thankfully, I got a good team and producer for Madraskaaran, who is spending on the needed things. In terms of working timings, in Malayalam, we work from 7am to 9.30pm, while here we start by 8-9 am to 6 pm. I find it healthy and there is a good work-life balance in Tamil. The working schedule is better here.”

Shane, whose films like Bhootakalam, Kumbalangi Nights, RDX, and even Madraskaaran, have multiple lead characters, says only when every role works in a film, the project becomes a success. “A single character concept does not work, because in every person’s life, there will be important characters that will affect them. If the opponent is not strong, there is no rise in the character. Only when that is justified, the protagonist’s role can be justified.”

As the actor reveals that talks are on for a Tamil and Telugu film, which will be announced soon, Shane wants to explore, and know how every industry works. Acknowledging that each industry works in a different way, Shane shares, “I like everything about films, the songs, the realism in it. However, nothing should look fake or out of place. Everything should be there in a film and everyone should have something to enjoy.” Having said that, the actor admits that he never changes his approach to films as per the language.

Also read: Little Hearts out on OTT: Shane Nigam’s film is now streaming on this platform

Signing off the conversation, Shane says how he has learnt to come out of his characters while not working, which eventually helped him to relax mentally. “Before I used to think only the movie and role, it was torture for me. But after the pandemic, I started to see life in another light. I began enjoying commercial films, and the good feeling films can give. That’s how Madraskaaran came to me as well. It has got a soft emotion,” he concludes.

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