Exclusive! Arun Vijay: As a father, it was a proud moment watching Arnav perform in Oh My Dog

One of the highlights of Sarov Shanmugam's Oh My Dog, which dropped on Amazon Prime Video on April 21, is the coming together of Arnav, Arun Vijay and Vijaykumar, the real-life son-father-grandfather trio essaying the same roles in it. The film's story revolves around the relationship between a school-going kid and an adorable dog.

Arun Vijay, who gets to share screen space with his real-life father and real-life son in the movie for the first time, is excited about the rare feat his family has pulled off, and is hopeful that the film will cater to all sections of audience. He gets chatty about his feelings as a father watching his son perform, the excitement of his father Vijaykumar, teaming up with Mahima Nambiar again and the rapport between Sarov and Arnav. Excerpts...

What was your initial reaction when Sarov narrated the film's story to you?

I was really excited when I heard the script. It's been a while since we have had a full-fledged children's film. The icing on the cake was the story which touches upon the bonding between a child and a puppy. I thought it would be quite an engaging experience for the Tamil audience. What primarily attracted me was the pure emotion in it and the fun-filled treatment in the screenplay. I started picturizing the visuals when Sarov was narrating the sequences.

How excited was Arnav when he knew that he was making his acting debut? What were your feelings as a father?

I felt that his character is almost similar to his real-life persona. Arnav is an avid pet lover and he's a brat who often indulges in naughty things. So, I felt that he could easily fit into the requirements of the character. He was so thrilled after knowing that he is going to act in a movie.

He was bitten by the acting bug a long time ago and would often ask me to check for stories that suit him. I used to pacify him saying that he should be patient enough to wait for the right stories. I loved the idea behind Oh My Dog and when someone like Suriya sir expressed interest in producing the movie, what more can I ask for. I was more excited about him sharing screen space with me and my father. This is such a unique opportunity - not everyone gets such a debut - I think he is a blessed child.

How did Vijaykumar react to the news that the three of you are going to act together for a project?

My dad was overwhelmed about Arnav making his entry into filmdom. Actors who belong to three generations from a family coming together for a project is something which happens rarely. Appa was delighted to see his excitement. He was sure that Arnav would do a great job; in fact he was more confident about him than me.  

What were the different kinds of acting tips you offered to Arnav?

When I made my debut, my dad allowed me to learn things in my own way. He never tried to influence me with his ideas about acting. I ensured that I did the same with Arnav. I wanted him to come up with natural reactions and behaviour, and luckily, Sarov could bring out the best in him. All I told him was not to go out of the frame while acting in front of the camera. Sarov and Arnav had a good rapport, which I believe, has reflected on screen as well.

You have acted along with your father earlier. How was it to act along with Arnav?

To be honest, I was taken aback by seeing him emote effectively in many scenes. Some of his reactions reminded me of actors who have been trained for a long time. The interesting part is that he started providing suggestions to a few of his co-stars. It was good to see him grasping things quickly. As a father, it was a proud moment for me to watch him perform.

You and Mahima Nambiar play a couple again after Kuttram 23. Tell us about your on-screen chemistry with her...

It was lovely working with her again. Sarov was skeptical about her accepting to play the mother of a six-year-old, but I encouraged him to approach her. I was confident of her lapping up the character as it has scope for adequate performance. Fortunately, she found her role interesting and came on board immediately.

Oh My Dog marks your OTT debut. As someone who forayed into the filmdom at a young age, how do you look at the changing face of cinema?

All of us are aware of the global presence Amazon Prime Video enjoys. I felt that a fun-filled movie like this which has the capability to cater to various sections of audience should reach as many people as possible. Every family would be able to connect to its universal script. With an OTT release, we felt children can repeatedly watch the film from their respective homes.