Por Thozhil on OTT: Sarathkumar says he wants to act in The Equalizer, John Wick-style films

In light of the success of Por Thozhil on OTT, Sarathkumar opened up about his selection process for roles, emphasising his preference for scripts with well-defined ideas and visions.

Sarathkumar in Por Thozhil.

Actor Sarathkumar's latest movie Por Thozhil has become one of the highest-grossing movies in Tami cinema this year. While he thought the movie will resonate with the fans of crime thrillers, he didn't expect this movie to find such a wide acceptance worldwide.

In an interview with OTTplay, Sarathkumar opened up about his selection process for roles, emphasising his preference for scripts with well-defined ideas and visions that avoid confusing audiences with vagueness. "I look for movies that offer come connect to the audience. They should be very relatable and have some message for society. I am also a fan of larger-than-life movies that keep the audience engrossed," he said.

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Sarathkumar is in the process of reinventing himself to lend his skills to entertain newer generations of viewers whose preferences are rapidly evolving due to the rise of streaming platforms.

"People have changed. They have become very critical of the films. They are watching so many movies at home. (Unlike before), you cannot rip off from other films, even if they are in other languages. The filmmakers should be cautious. The audiences have become intelligent. We need to respect their intelligence," he added.

At 69, Sarathkumar continues to stay relevant amid all the changes in the entertainment industry by staying open to playing a range of characters. Just this year, he had at least five big releases, each characterised by distinct performances. In Varisu, he gave a melancholic performance of a defeated father suffering a terminal illness. In Ponniyin Selvean 2, he played the role of a seasoned warrior ensnared by extremely beautiful but treacherous Nandini. In Custody, he played a corrupt cop on a killing spree. And in Por Thozhil, he delivered a convincing performance as an honest yet ill-tempered cop. \

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"People have accepted me the way I am. They want me to do more films. I get requests to do more films like The Equalizer and John Wick. I am working on such scripts. My performance as a transgender in Kanchana also clicked with the younger generation. The kid used to call me Kanchana uncle. So my efforts to say relevant to the audience is what keeps me going," he revealed.

Not just with the big screen audiences, he also found acceptance among those who consume their entertainment through OTT platforms. His performance in the Telugu drama series Parampara is helping him gain new fans across the country. "Nadiu has become a hero of the subject. And we are waiting for season 3. It has bought a lot of accolades for me. A guy in the airport came to me and asked (in Hindi), 'sir, you were in Parampara no? The OTT has helped actors to get recognition not just in India, but across the world," he said.

Por Thozhil is now streaming on SonyLIV.

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