Director Sri Ganesh on Kuruthi Aattam: The audience values emotion above everything else

As long as films speak the language of emotions, we are cool, says Sri Ganesh, who's awaiting the release of Kuruthi Aattam, which will hit the screens on August 5. Featuring Atharvaa Murali and Priya Bhavani Shankar in lead roles, the film has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Sri Ganesh, who took the industry by storm with 8 Thottakkal, heaves a sigh of relief. "I am glad that the releasing date is close by," he smiles, adding that Kuruthi Aattam was delayed because of financial reasons. “There was no delay from the creative side. However, things are sorted out and the film will resonate with the audience, although it has been four years since we announced it.” 

Kuruthi Aattam is an action entertainer set in the backdrop of Madurai. "Despite having gangsters, action sequences, and an underlying message, this one will be high on emotions, propelling the story forward. Our audience values emotion above all else," he observes.

Sri Ganesh believes that the success of smaller films is due to their compelling storytelling. "There are fewer avenues for smaller films to reach people because our films are currently in transition, and there is a lot of politics around the budget of the films, and the high cost of marketing sometimes makes it more difficult for smaller films to be released!"

According to Sri Ganesh, the story and the director’s treatment of a film decide its length. "The treatment determines how long a film will be, and songs have been an important aspect of Tamil films since their inception, so I cannot say it breaks the flow of emotions, but as new filmmakers enter the industry, they are using songs in the background to fit the situation. As a result, it is dependent on the genre and the director's orientation," he says.

On a lighter note, the filmmaker claims that audiences are forgiving when they get to enjoy their star, but beyond that, it is all about the story and their emotional connection with it. "They want to see the star on screen for a longer time, which distinguishes it from films that rely solely on content because an audience can forgive a bad story with a star, but a film with no star will be doomed if it fails to convince the audience with the story!"

With cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman and editing by Anul Krish, the film also has Radha Ravi and Radikaa Sarathkumar in pivotal roles.