After captivating audiences with diverse roles, from a rugged young man in Taramani, to an assassin in Rocky, and even a commoner embroiled in supernatural events in Asvins, actor Vasanth Ravi is now set to embark on a new cinematic adventure. This time, he stars in ‘Weapon,’ a film directed by Guhan Senniappan, known for his work in Sawaari (2016) and Prime Video’s first Tamil original series, Vella Raja.
“The idea is to avoid repeating genres, and my choices are largely driven by the scripts I receive,” says Vasanth. “I also seek strong character points that will generate audience interest and curiosity.” He adds that this was not a conscious decision, but that undertaking such projects early in his career makes for a smoother transition towards commercial films. “Despite all of this, I am not someone who plans his choices meticulously. If the story and the director convince me, I am open to doing a full-fledged commercial film,” he elaborates.
Vasanth acknowledges the seismic shifts in the cinematic landscape, attributing them to contemporary filmmakers like Lokesh Kanagaraj and Nelson Dilipkumar. “The space has changed dramatically from the 1990s and early 2000s. These directors have attuned themselves to the general pulse of the audience, and I would love to be part of such films,” he remarks. “In another decade, things will change again, and we must constantly adapt to new audience tastes and directorial approaches.”
Speaking about his current endeavor, Vasanth highlights the vision of Guhan Senniappan, who has a penchant for comics and anime. “For me, listening to his script felt like a fantasy. He introduced different worlds and discussed how he wants to connect them, aiming to create the Tamil equivalent of Hollywood’s cinematic universes,” Vasanth shares. Initially, he had doubts about how the action, CGI, and sound elements would turn out. However, Guhan’s clarity in the making process alleviated his concerns. “The fantasy elements in the film are convincing and are presented realistically,” Vasanth adds.
Vasanth further notes the film’s strong technical team, which helped clear his initial apprehensions.
. “National Award-winning audiographer MR Rajakrishnan is on board, and the music is composed by Ghibran. During dubbing, I could see it was fifty percent of what Guhan narrated. When I saw the final cut with all the CGI, sound, music, and color grading, I was totally convinced,” he says. Rajakrishnan, who also worked on Kalki 2898 AD, expressed his understanding and appreciation for Guhan’s vision upon seeing the final product, which assured Vasanth of the film’s quality.
Vasanth, known for his roles in ensemble casts, such as in ‘Jailer’ where he shared screen space with superstar Rajinikanth, notes that “since I am just starting my career, I aim to position myself as the lead. I don’t mind multi-starrers as long as my presence is significant.” He reflects on ‘Jailer,’ stating that working with Rajinikanth was invaluable, and despite having less screen time, the father-son dynamic in the film left a strong impact.
Addressing the larger repercussions of a film not doing well, Vasanth demonstrates his business acumen. “Hit films resonate with the audience as much as they do with the creators. Beyond being blockbusters, I hope my films will be talked about decades down the line. On the other hand, flops can affect producers’ willingness to take on new projects, and I feel a sense of responsibility for that,” he says.
As the discussion shifts towards the lack of young romance stories in Tamil cinema, Vasanth reveals that he has a fantasy love story in the works. “The creators are full of diverse ideas, but producers also need to invest in such films. Currently, Tamil cinema producers seem to prefer thrillers and action films, perceiving them as more profitable. However, if a feel-good romcom like Premalu becomes a hit in Tamil, it might encourage more producers to explore this genre,” he explains. Vasanth points to the Malayalam industry’s success with such films, suggesting that if Tamil cinema follows suit, it could lead to a positive change.
Weapon is all set to release in theatres on June 7, signaling yet another exciting phase in Vasanth Ravi’s rising career in Tamil cinema.
