After over nine years, Aishwarya Rajinikanth is making her directorial comeback with ‘Lal Salaam’. In a freewheeling conversation with CNN-News 18, Aishwarya talks about directing her father Superstar Rajinikanth and his advice to her during the making of the film.
“The film is basically based on true events that happened between 1990 and 1992. The screenplay is written around these incidents. The film talks about a bit about politics, and how they exert influence over human emotions. It delves into events that drive a wedge between friends, their families and how an entire town navigates this phase. Cricket plays an important role — it pretty much changes the whole fate of the town,” Aishwarya said.
Asked how the experience of directing the Superstar was, she said: “As a director, he made it very comfortable from his side. The script was already done and he came into the script because of the content. He was extremely good. I should not be saying this because it sounds very cringe. He did not want us to alter anything for the sake of his stardom. This film is coming after Jailer which was like a celebration of ‘Rajini-sm’.”
Jailer, director by Director Nelson, is an action drama about a father who finds about his son’s dark past. After Jailer, Lal Salaam arrives as a refreshing change, believes Aishwarya.
“He told me that he needs to be ‘in the content’ rather than the narrative being around him. So, that was great for me as a filmmaker. It felt great because we had an artist of this magnitude saying that the content is more important.”
For Aishwarya, it was a moment of pride as she was directing her father. “As a daughter, it was more of a proud moment to be there because it felt like a moment of achievement for me to direct the Superstar.”
Rajinikanth, says Aishwarya, was cautious about how assertive the movie was, particularly at a time of heightened electoral passions. “I was being extremely bold and he was a concerned father at that moment. He was very careful about what was being portrayed… I was a little adamant about the fact that I don’t want to change certain things. But then, he had his reasons and we came to a balance,” she said.
This is also the first time Aishwarya is teaming up with music composer AR Rahman. “Rahman sir is at once child-like and spiritual. I have learnt a lot from my conversations with him. I am extremely grateful to him for having been such a support for the film. And to me, personally, emotionally, we have developed such a lovely bond through this film, which I hope will last.”
Aishwarya Rajinikanth had, in the audio launch, expressed her disappointment over her dad being called a “Sanghi” and had clarified that had it been so, he would not have acted in a film like ‘Lal Salaam’.
Responding to widespread name-calling and character assassination on social media platforms, she said: “People need to be very socially responsible when they put out their views. Everybody today has become the press. And anyone who has a mobile phone in hand is able to voice what they feel… I think, being human on social media is very important.”
What is her plan post Lal Salaam? “I guess living in the moment is something I have learnt and I am living in this moment now,” she signs off.
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