Soori, a versatile actor known for his comedic prowess, has entered a golden era in his career, pivoting from comedy to more dramatic roles. Having made a significant mark with Vetri Maaran’s Viduthalai Part 1, he has now become a notable name in the international film festival circuit. Last year, Viduthalai Part 1 saw him taking on the mantle of the leading man, which seems to have opened doors to a series of successful ventures.
His films have been widely appreciated in various film festivals internationally. At the Rotterdam Film Festival, Soori’s Viduthalai films had a special premiere. Additionally, Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai, directed by Ram and co-starring Nivin Pauly and Anjali, also made its debut. The Berlin International Film Festival also featured Kottukaali, in which Soori plays the lead role. This particular film is produced by Sivakarthikeyan and directed by PS Vinothraj, whose film Koozhangal (Pebbles) was India’s entry for the Oscars in 2022.
Soori, visibly excited, shared his feelings about attending these international premieres. “Watching a film with our people gives a sense of satisfaction; that’s one experience. But to take our film across borders and oceans and visit a theatre filled with hundreds of foreigners with me and the makers in the center is a different experience altogether. To see them dissect our films gave me so much joy,” he said.
At these festivals, he enjoyed a unique experience watching the audience resonate with his work. “At Rotterdam where the Viduthalai films and Yezhu Kadal… premiered, festival goers were surprised to see me. When some of them came to Berlinale and caught Kottukaali, they were shocked to see me again. It’s rare for Indian films to get selected for these festivals and to see that I’m a part of multiple such films makes me happy,” Soori added. “Their perspective and questions are different from what we are used to here. To retrace where I started from and see where this journey has taken me feels like a dream.”
Despite enjoying this unique phase in his career, Soori remains grounded, knowing the importance of commercial films. “Viduthalai gave a different impression about me to the audience, and the promotional material of my upcoming films might give a hunch on the sort of roles I’m getting. Garudan will be something between these films thanks to its commercial elements,” he says.
Garudan, Soori’s upcoming film, sees him portraying the character Sokkan, a man torn between loyalty and justice. “It’s different from what I did in Viduthalai; this film also has a lot more action and emotion,” Soori said. He noted that while the action sequences in Garudan differ from those in Viduthalai, they are still quite realistic. “This type of action is something I’m new to. I think people feel I’m doing back-to-back action films because of Viduthalai and the raw feel Kottukaali’s promotional material gave. But I wonder how that’s possible given just one such film has been released.”
Although Soori has worked alongside Sasikumar in several films like Udanpirappe, Kennedy Club, Poraali, and Sundarapandian, Garudan offers a fresh dynamic, seeing Soori in the lead role. However, he insists that the dynamics on set remain unchanged.
. “I’m very proud that Sasi anna is part of the film. He plays Aadhi while Unni Mukundan is Karna. We could not think of anyone else for the role of Aadhi,” said Soori. “He (Sasikumar) is a hero and I wondered how he would respond to being approached for this project. But we thought we should give it a shot and reached out through a common friend. Sasi anna happily agreed to do the film and questioned why I was apprehensive to approach him. At the shooting spot, it didn’t feel like I was doing a lead role and anna was in my film; it felt like every other film with him in which I’m the comedian. He being a part of Garudan adds a lot of value to the film.”
Adding another layer to Garudan’s music, Yuvan Shankar Raja has taken the reins as the music director, following Ilaiyaraaja’s work in Viduthalai. “Raja appa is an ulaganayagan, and I got to work with him. Now, I got to work with his son who has made a mark for himself in the last 25 years. For all these years, many of our phone ringtones have featured his tunes, and I feel lucky to have worked with him,” says Soori. Reflecting on the evolving female leads, he adds, “It happens to be a part of the story, and it’s not that I’m demanding one (laughs). I like how the romance isn’t over-the-top or oversaturated, but very practical and simple.”
Interestingly, despite his newfound fame in more serious roles, Soori has not given up on comedy. “When Viduthalai was released, I mentioned how I would love to keep doing comedy films. But now, I’m being approached for lead roles mostly. While I’m happy, I’m still up for a full-fledged comedy film but haven’t gotten them. But that’s alright, and I’m sticking to the roles I’m getting. It all comes down to connecting with the audience. I believe if I do something drastically different from what I’m capable of, it won’t sit well with them either. I judge myself based on what the audience thinks about me.”
Reflecting on his 25-year journey in acting, Soori prefers to stay unpredictable with his choices. “I wanted to become an actor, and that happened. I never expected to become a film’s lead, but that has happened as well. Though what might happen after this is not in my hands, I know I want to be in a better position than what I am now and have to work hard to get that,” he says.
Wrapping up, Soori shared updates on his upcoming releases. “Kottukaali is planned to come out in August, and after September, they are planning to release Viduthalai Part 2. Yezhu Kadal should also come out in between, and I have also zeroed on three stories. After the release of Viduthalai, I will know which one will go on floors next.”
Garudan is expected to hit theatres on May 31, generating immense anticipation amongst fans and critics alike.
