''WHATEVER HAPPENS, PLEASE DON’T CHANGE THE TITLE''

Newcomer Indra will be making his directorial debut through Tube Light. He has just not directed, but he has also played the lead role and composed music in the film.  In an exclusive conversation, Indra shares his journey into the industry.

An intro about yourself
After I completed my engineering, I was clear I had to enter the film industry but it is difficult for someone with no filmy background. It took almost a decade to make my first feature film. I was first into ad films, had my own ad film company and studio. I was also into corporate theatre training to improve the personality and communication of corporate personnel through dance, music and theater. I have trained close to 20,000 people across India. Every session was an acting/direction practice for me. These two tools helped me see cinema in a new dimension. I have also done short films.

Birth of Tube Light
I had done the story of Tube Light six years ago and I was waiting for the right time to take it up further. Once I was ready with the bound script, I approached my friend Ravi Narayan who was happy with it and that’s how Tube Light kick started.

Why the title Tube Light?
I strongly believe that any title of a film should go along with the characters in the movie. As regards the title Tube Light, there is a strong link between the films’ theme, the protagonist and a very crucial event in it. I could not think of any other title. I thought of giving the Tamil word for Tube Light which is Kuzhal Vilakku. But I realized that it may not be understood by the masses. So, I went in for Tube Light. You will understand that there cannot be any other apt title for this film when you see the film.

Dimwits are colloquially called as Tube Lights. Is there any kind of such connotation in your film?
Yes, there would be an extreme kind of tubelightism in this film. It is a romantic comedy on the lines of slapstick humor. I am a great fan of Jackie Chan and Charles Chaplin. My film will also be on those lines.

You are directing, playing the lead and also composing music in this film. How did you handle this?
People might feel it is difficult, but actually, it is easy. It gave me so much of freedom. I can make my own script, my own music and act the way I want to. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Of course, at the end of the day, I am only answerable to the audience. That’s a great challenge.

Music
I am a trained carantic music singer. There are four songs in the film out of which two will be in the charanam pallavi pattern and the other two will be in an experimental format. Since I am the director, I had the freedom to use the song as per my wish adhering to the demands of the script. I have not sung in the film but just hummed. Unni Menon, Chinmayee and Vandana Srinivasan have lent their voices.

Cast and crew
Dhiya is a new face who is my onscreen pair. Pandiarajan sir has done a role. I can very confidently say that Tube Light will be a film which would fetch good name for him. I have worked a lot on his body language, outfit, etc. He has done a crazy doctor’s role. It has come out very well.

You won’t get a tax rebate if you have an English title. Are you ok with it?
After the producer read the story and was impressed with it, he asked me about the title and with a lot of hesitation, I told him the title. He just said that whatever happens, I should only go with this title.

The film has completed shooting and is in post-production phase now. It will soon be ready for release. Best of Luck Indra with Tube Light!

Jyothsna Bhavanishankar

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