PremiumMaamannan director Mari Selvaraj: Kamal Haasan and I share a father-son bond
Maamannan director Mari Selvara has opened up on his relationship with Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan.
Last Updated: 03.59 PM, Jun 23, 2023
Not for nothing they say, nothing dies on the internet. A comment that director Mari Selvaraj made about 13 years ago has bubbled up from the depths of the internet and is overshadowing his upcoming movie Maamannan.
In 2010, Mari wrote a very angry letter condemning the landmark Tamil movie Thevar Magan and termed Kamal Haasan a "Brahmanical elitist" for making such a "casteist" movie. Cut to the audio release event of Maamannan, Mari went on to heap praises on Kamal and Thevar Magan.
The filmmaker at the event revealed that Thevar Magan was the main inspiration for all his movies, including Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan. And he also noted that Maamannan was inspired by Vadivelu's Isakki in Thevar Magan.
Following that sppech, many were quick to point out Mari's earlier comments, sparking a huge row on social media.
However, Mari was unfazed. He suggested that the change in his perception of Thevar Magan was a sign that he was growing as a person and an artist.
“A legend like Kamal sir has watched Maamannan. He knows what an emotional moment it was for me. When I wrote that letter I didn’t have the reading or the understanding. I was very emotional and I wrote with the knowledge I had at the time. But, I am growing now," Mari told Film Companion.
He also added that Kamal appreciated watching Pariyerum Perumal and he has also seen Maamannan. "Kamal sir said that ‘I have seen Maamannan. It is not just Maari Selvaraj’s politics. It is mine too.’ What more do I need other than this?" he added.
Mari even said Thever Magan still remains one of the best screenplays ever written in the history of Tamil cinema, suggesting it has his guiding light in practising his own craft.
“I was very emotional when I made that speech (at the event). It is like a relationship between a father and a son. It was like a conversation between a son who misunderstood his father and ran away from home. What if he speaks with anger to his dad, and the dad consoles him? It is that kind of a thing," he explained.
Maamannan stars Udhayanidhi Stalin, Vadivelu, Fahadh Faasil and Keerthy Suresh. And it's due in cinemas on June 29.