For director Elan, whose debut film Pyaar Prema Kaadhal, was a commercial success and much-loved romance drama, there is something very uncanny resemblance to his upcoming second directorial, Star. While the former traces the journey of two individuals with opposing views on life, Star is a story of an underdog’s travel to his dreams. Both of which tends to present a journey to audience.

“I am not very much into having an external villainy factor to be brought into my stories. I like to have an internal force which drives the drama, and my taste in films are also such in a way that it traces the journey of the protagonists. I think that is what I am attracted to as well,” Elan says.

On having the personal connection

The director subscribes to the philosophy of how circumstances can make someone the antagonist in else’s life, and continues to add, “I think the only genre where you can bring a villain is action and there will be clash with the here. But with the genres I am dealing with, there is no need to pin point an antagonist as one person. And even if you see them as films, such characters can also make you feel distanced and forceful. I don’t want to force fit something and even in real life, I have not seen any villains, it is only circumstances that make them.”

Elan affirms that all his scripts will have a personal reference and connections, and Star is no different from that. Drawn from his father (actor Pandian) and his own experiences, Star will explore the hero’s journey of making it big in the movie industry. “I think all my films will have personal experiences. As once said by Parasite director Bong Joon-ho that ‘very personal is very unique’, I believe on that a lot. Even if it is a very usual story, if you draw them from your personal experiences, it is will be still unique because those events would have happened only in your life,” Elan explains.

Mentioning how several of those moments occurred during the writing stage, Elan adds that he has incorporated elements that happened in his father life, hearsays subtly. Calling Star is very personal film, when asked about how he enriched the script with a simple rags-to-riches plotline, Elan says, “It takes a long time to write such stories and you might also feel that you are going through a lot psychologically. But at the same time, even as the trailer is linear, when asked why audience should watch the film, it is for the moments in the film. That will be the biggest strength for this kind of genre films. Again, I have taken the moments from my life, and hoping that audience find them unique and refreshing.”

On Star and inspirations 

Elan says that they were very conscious that Star is not a “cinema padam” and reveals that scenes related to cinema will be scarcely there in the film. “It is all about his dream and how passionate he is. I have shown him every emotion related to cinema using my character as a device. Even though the protagonist wants to be an actor, it can be replaced with any other ambition and the film will still be relevant,” he adds.

Star is a coming-of-age drama and when asked what is his most favourite film from the genre, Elan in a blink of eye says Vaaranam Aayiram. “I saw the film during my college days along with my parents in Kamala Theatre. I still remember how he would have mentioned the film as tribute to his father. Similarly, I too wanted to make a film for my father and that thought inspired to do Star.” Talking about the resemblance that Star song College Superstars has to Ethi Ethi, Elan says, “We did not have any idea to replicate it, but at the same time we wanted to make a college song with young crowd. It so happened that many people found the similarities.”

Elan explains how the aesthetics and thought-process of audiences have changed progressively post the pandemic. “I find it more liberating as a writer and got the confidence to explore more healthily. For example, with Manjummel Boys being a hit without heroine, and still being a hit, is a good example of how much ways a director has now to explore his thoughts,” he adds.

Process of filmmaking 

For Elan, he firmly believes that careful planning in pre-productions a key factor that helps him in executing the film. He also asserts how it is the pre and post-production of the film he enjoys the most. “We got something very magical on the edit table that none of us had thought of. A known filmmaker watched the film and asked a question and we found the answer on the edit table. This is the first time I found magic on edit table and it gave me a creative high,” he revealed.

Star will mark Elan’s second collaboration with Yuvan Shankar Raja. The director says that his script writing process will include writing the musical parts as well. “I like to present a film musically, I am a fan of Disney movies, so I visually imagine where and what kind of music can be incorporated. I have an idea to make a musical action film too. Speaking about Yuvan sir, he is very simple to talk to and communicates on layman’s terms. He gave a theme for Star and it was really good, but I wanted something more dark and painful. All I had to tell him is the mood, and he delivered another theme,” Elan reveals.

Speaking about Kavin, Elan reveals how only after he got in, they knew how may elements in the story happened in Kavin’s life as well. “He took it very personal and the output was very authentic from his hearth.”

Wrapping up the conversation, Elan says that his biggest takeaway from Star is to trust in the process and let destiny lead its way. “Everything happened in the right divine timing and I began to believe on this concept more with Star. I think the stars indeed aligned,” he signs off.

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