Emerging from the fringes of Tamil cinema with a distinct narrative style, Arun Matheswaran has swiftly cemented his status with a touch of avant-garde filmmaking, despite dealing with initial commercial hesitations. With his debut in 2021, ‘Rocky’, he navigated a restrained release, ultimately finding acclaim through word-of-mouth validation. The subsequent venture, ‘Saani Kaayidham’, featuring the notable talents of Keerthy Suresh and Selvaraghavan, opted for a digital premiere via Prime Video, clouding its audience impact and its financial footprint. Yet, these films intriguingly steered megastar Dhanush to embark on multiple ventures with Matheswaran, drawn in, presumably, by the director’s cinematic fluency and his adept storytelling.
Anticipation builds as Arun opens up about his upcoming feature, ‘Captain Miller’, discussing his penchant for muted color palettes, the casting of Shiva Rajkumar, and his broader creative pursuits.
In an inspiring recollection, Arun traces the genesis of his film to childhood stories shared by his military-affiliated uncle and poignant historic references, including the Sri Lankan Civil War of the 1980s. Initially conceived within this context, production hesitations nudged the narrative toward the British Army era for broader appeal. Matheswaran elucidates on not labeling this work as a “road movie,” though mobility is etched in its characters – dacoits with no fixed abode. The core, for him, remains the intense drama and the transformation of the protagonist following a seminal life-altering decision.
Distinctly detached from classical ‘commercial’ frames of filmmaking, Matheswaran found balancing widespread appeal while maintaining his singular voice challenging. Yet, he asserts ‘Captain Miller’ bridges this gap, propelled by a richer narrative and necessitated by its larger production scale.
With Dhanush as the leading man, expectations soar not just for delivering a film but for capturing the essence of the star’s celebrated and grounded performances in movies like ‘Asuran’ and ‘Karnan’. Arun reveals that ‘Captain Miller’, despite the action-packed trailers, is layered with 60% heartfelt drama that guides the character’s journey – a task requiring a nuanced actor behind the superstar persona.
Matheswaran also touches upon his directorial technique – preferring sustained emotions and space over rapid scene transitions, though ‘Captain Miller’ demands a departure with its intricate timelines and scene density.
Teasing about his palette preferences, Arun jests about being possibly color-blind, aligning his cinematic hues with his personal aversion to stark colors, imagining a simpler life in monochrome.
Collaboration with Dhanush proved effortless, with the star internalizing the script and character depth without needing exhaustive directorial guidance. Their synergy allowed Dhanush to convey profound subtlety in performance, countering the expectation for grandiosity in large-scale productions. Arun applauds Dhanush for embracing the character’s humble beginnings, ensuring authenticity in the portrayal of his subsequent rebellion.
This narrative structure, Arun hints, may evolve into a trilogy, with ‘Captain Miller’ serving as a central piece between a planned prequel and a sequel. Mindful of managing audience expectations, he emphasizes the importance of generating a fulfilled standalone story arc while concurrently carving out links to an expanded universe.
Musically, Arun finds a collaborator in GV Prakash, whose score accentuates the characters’ emotive journey, particularly in engrossing viewers during the film’s world-building stages.
The film’s textures are enriched by the addition of Shiva Rajkumar, not merely as a cameo, but as a resonant presence, juxtaposing his seniority against Dhanush in a pivotal scene, chosen following an inspired reaction to Rajkumar’s earlier performances.
Candidly discussing the action elements, Matheswaran draws a distinction between the implications of violence and the narrative necessity within the film’s thematic scope.
Looking beyond the mainstream ecosystem, Arun is committed to exploring the realms of alternative cinema, using commercial successes to fuel his independent productions, even contemplating deploying his cinematographic skills.
Above all, Arun Matheswaran remains a storyteller at heart, an independent visionary yearning to craft his narratives, undiluted by commercial compromise. As ‘Captain Miller’ approaches its theatrical release on January 12, cinephiles and critics alike eagerly await to witness the fruition of Matheswaran’s cinematic journey and the continued evolution of a unique voice in Tamil cinema.
