Exclusive! Badava Gopi: OTT is the future; digital platforms enable writers to come up with fleshed out roles

Badava Gopi, who wears multiple hats, is excited about his latest release - Meme Boys - the web series which dropped on SonyLIV a week ago. The actor-cum-stand up comedian, who is known for his spontaneous humour and witty one-liners, expresses excitement over being part of a vibrant team and says that it was absolute fun to work with a young crew.

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Gopi opens up about his character in the project, association with a young team, impact of long form content and the supremacy of digital platforms. Excerpts...

The story of Meme Boys and its sequences are primarily targeted at young audiences. What was the factor which made you sign the series?

Firstly, it is a fun-filled project which has ample entertainment. I felt the character offered to me is the extension of the role I played in Dhanush -starrer 3. I essay the role of a college professor in Meme Boys who shares a cordial relationship with students. He isn't a tech-savvy person and doesn't mind seeking technical help from students. I loved how the character was designed. 

When director Arun Koushik, show runner Gokul and writer Rajeev approached me, I asked them about the payment. They said it isn't a big budget project and seemed a little hesitant in opening up about my remuneration. I told them 'I'm asking about the amount I should pay you for offering the role'. We were all quite thrilled about the different stages of its production.

What were your preparations and contributions for the character like?

The team was well prepared with even the smallest details of all characters sketched properly. They ensured that no actor should find their respective roles confusing. Ever since the project went on floors, I was waiting to act along with Guru Somasundaram. We have several sequences together.

He plays the dean of the college and I play an assistant to him. He resorts to various methods when it comes to playing his roles to perfection. It's a joy to watch him perform. I learnt a lot after working with him for 20 days, and I realize my process of acting has changed after interacting with him.

How was it to work with a new team which mostly comprised young crew members?

Many people I know personally who belong to my age often talk about blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. So, I ensure that I spend most of my time with people who are much younger to me. It keeps me going and I always realize that I get inspired by their enthusiasm and energy. Some of them invite me to be part of their short films and projects. Meme Boys, too, boasts a new set of young actors and technicians and I had a blast working with them.  

What do you think is the USP of Meme Boys?

It's a story set against a campus backdrop. It has a lot of fun-filled moments that one expects from a vibrant campus drama. The fresh star cast and its theme are highlights of the series. As the title suggests, it revolves around memes created by a few students that land them in trouble. 

People who are curious about memes and the world associated with it will love the project even more. You need to have knowledge on various topics like politics and cinema to enjoy popular memes that do the rounds on social media. Meme Boys provides a sneak peek into the world of memes packed with ample humour and engaging conflicts.

How do you differentiate response received from OTT projects and theatrical releases?

I don't think it is necessary to compare them. Today, OTT platforms have become so huge that writers and actors get a chance to showcase their skills. Unlike films in which you need to worry about duration and engage the audience with every scene, OTT content offers space to develop every character beautifully. Moreover, gone are the days where OTT films and series revolved around violence, sex and drugs. 

Many family dramas and funny content are now coming up on digital avenues, thus expanding its number of subscribers and audience. The duration of some of the web series are almost equal to the run time of two films. It enables writers to come up with well fleshed out roles. They don't need to limit their creativity or screen space of a character in OTT owing to duration issues. OTT is the future in every sense.