Exclusive! Darbuka Siva: My focus has been to create characters organically in Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee

Darbuka Siva, who was seen in a notable role in Rajathandhiram, surprised one and all when he debuted as the music composer in Sasikumar-starrer Kidaari. Later, he turned many heads with his composition for Gautham Menon's Dhanush-starrer Enai Noki Paayum Thota. He was also the musician for critically acclaimed flick Rocky which hit the screens a month ago.

Now, he is debuting as a filmmaker with the coming-of-age drama Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee which stars a bevy of newcomers in lead roles. The actor-turned-musician-turned-filmmaker opens up on dabbling in various crafts, choosing an OTT platform for the release of his debut movie and the challenges involved in making a film which has no saleable stars in it in an exclusive interview with OTTplay. Excerpts...

Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee, which was completed more than two years ago, is having a direct-to-OTT release on Zee5. Tell us about donning the director's hat for the first time?

It was around 2013 that an idea struck me. I started writing it in a casual manner after taking a short break from my tryst with music. But little did I realize that the story could be made into a screenplay for a movie. The people with whom I discussed the story suggested that I make it into a film. That's how it all started.

Going by the trailer, the film's story is set in the 90s. Is the movie based on real life incidents?

Not really. It's partly fictional and partly real. I was in high school in the 90s, so I think I am aware of the sensibilities of that era. It was interesting to recreate that time period again. Some characters in it are based on a few who I know, while there are others which I have created from scratch.

It's been a while since campus dramas have been made in Tamil. What made you choose this genre for your debut directorial project?

I did not set out to make a campus drama; it all started with my excitement for teenage life. People generally say 'Write what you know'. I have amazing memories from my campus days, there are many things I could easily relate to. I knew I could give life to teenage characters.

Was the decision to release the film directly on Zee5 made recently?

A lot of thought went into before we zeroed in on going the OTT way. Moreover, there weren't enough takers for the film with regard to its theatrical release as it lacked notable actors. But I never had regret as it was my decision to make a film with newbies. After interaction with Zee5, they said they believe in our content and then things fell in place. I'm thankful to them for the direct release.

Is it still a challenge for filmmakers to release a movie which stars newbies as its lead?

Yes, it is. But I was aware of the difficulties from the beginning. Having said that, the advantage was that we had two months of rehearsals before going on floors. We couldn't have afforded it had there been a star in the film. Moreover, lack of stars helps the movie connect with the audience without any expectations. I didn't want to compromise on my story, and hence, chose not to go behind a star for my movie.

The movie's shooting was wrapped up in 2019. Why was there a delay in the film's release?

Luckily, we finished the shooting just before the pandemic began. We had troubles with regard to pulling off the post production works during the first lockdown. It took us some time to figure out how to work during the pandemic. All of us were in different places and it took a while for us to get a hang of doing post production work online. The editing and grading were done through Zoom calls.

There have been several hit campus dramas made in recent times in other languages. How different was your approach while handling the story of Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee?

I tried to be as honest as possible, and I had no plans to impress anyone. Nor did I compare its story with other campus dramas which dealt with teenage lives. My focus has been to create characters and conflicts organically and choose actors appropriately. I spent a lot of time developing intriguing character arcs. My whole idea was to imitate life; if that works for people, I will be glad.

How exciting was it to recreate the 90s for the film?

It was really a challenge to shoot the outdoor sequences. Once we started recreating the 90s, we realized we were going into a different world altogether. It was a good learning experience for me. The most interesting part was seeing the characters you created develop into something exciting, more than what you had imagined them to be.

Apart from directing for the first time, you also composed music for the project. How taxing was that?

There were a lot of unanticipated challenges from the beginning. I knew I couldn't afford to shoot as long as I wanted. At the same time, I did not have the liberty to choose the number of scenes I was supposed to helm. This is why I was keen on doing rehearsals with actors, because of which we could rectify a lot of things when many portions were shot on set. Nevertheless, the process of filmmaking keeps throwing surprises at regular intervals.

Acting, music and now film direction. Going forward, what will be your first priority among these?

It depends on what I'm offered and what excites me. If someone comes to me with an interesting script and says he or she has a role written for me, I would take it up for sure. It will be the same with music and film direction as well. The excitement level will be the same as I equally love indulging in all these crafts.

What do you think will be the future of OTT boom in Tamil?

Well, it's hard to predict, but I think there will be a proper balance with regard to content distribution. There will be a lot of content-driven movies and more avenues which offer film releases. Good content will rule the roost, irrespective of releasing platforms, no matter what. Filmmakers can blindly stick to their gut feeling and make movies.