Producer Swargachitra Appachan ( Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, Manichitrathazhu, Ramji Rao Speaking and most of Fazil’s Malayalam films) interview given two years back is reproduced in the background of the news that on a complaint of cheque bouncing from SAC, father of Thalapathy Vijay, the Chennai magistrate court has sentenced the producer for three months jail and pay back the owed money with legal costs. Appachan produced Friends with Vijay earlier and it was a super hit. He produced Azhagiya Thamizh Magan with Vijay released on November 8, 2007. Released 13 years back, the film had Vijay in a dual role , a first in his career. Shriya Saran and Namitha were the heroines
Excerpts (translated from Malayalam)
Meeting with Vijay for the first time : My film Aniyathi Pravu in Malayalam was being remade in Tamil by Fazil. The shooting was in Kochi. I dropped on the sets. Fazil introduced me as the producer of the original. Vijay stood up and wished me and drew up a chair beside me. We chatted for some time. I asked Vijay as to what he was getting paid for this film. He said Rs 17 lakhs. I told him that after the film release, he will get Rs 1 cr. Vijay said – Sir, if I get Rs 50 lakhs is enough. I told him that I wanted to do a Tamil film with him. He said that if I came with a super hit film, he was willing.
Two years ( 1999) FRIENDS directed by Sidiqque and produced by Lal was a hit. I told Siddiq (director) that it can be done in Tamil and Vijay had agreed to do a film. In Tamil, heroes do not back out. I met Vijay and he said that he would see the film with his father at Goodluck Theater. They saw the film and said a slight change in climax was needed but left it to the director. I paid him Rs 1.5 cr for the film. The film was a super hit.
On getting Suriya on board for Friends : We needed somebody who would fit the role. Editor T R Sekar said that Vijay and Surya were friends in real life and studied together in Loyola College. So me and Sekar , senior editor of MGR films, went to Sivakumar’s house. Sivakumar was all respect to Sekar and then offered tea and biscuits. Then Sekar said that I had come to book Suriya for a film with Vijay as hero. Sivakumar stood up in anger and used a word which I could understand was not abusive but something similar. He said that Suriya has stopped working in films and he is concentrating on cricket and CA course. The atmosphere was such that we did not even touch the tea and scampered out.
As we reached the gates, a lady called us from behind. It was Suriya’s mother. She with folded hands said that her son is very much interested in films and to try him out. We gave our Ashok Nagar flat address and left. The reason for Sivakumar’s outburst was because of the critical response to Neruku Ner in which Suriya acted with Vijay. We were not aware of it. Magazines like Ananda Vikatan wrote harsh reviews saying that Suriya should not spoil the name of his father and should take up some other profession. At that time, I was not upset with Sivakumar’s reaction but was sad that a real life bonding could have worked out well on screen between the actors. I was thinking about other actor’s in Tamil and Malayalam to fit the role.
Next day, Suriya came at the time said and he refused to even sit before us. I pulled up a chair and made him sit. Director Siddiq was with me. After completing the film, I paid him Rs 5 lakhs to which he said that he did not want it. I compelled him to take it. I saw him later at some places and he has the same warmth to me.
The present cheque bouncing case details: According to SAC case in Saidapet Court, Appachan had borrowed Rs 1 cr in 2008 saying that it will be returned in 15 days time. Azhagiya Thamizh Magan with Vijay was released on November 8, 2007. Released 11 years back the film had Vijay in a dual role , a first in his career. Shriya Saran and Namitha were the heroines. Two times the cheque was presented and it bounced. Due to this a cheque bouncing case was filed.
The film was directed by debutant director Bharathan who was a dialogue writer for director Dharani. It bombed miserably. Eight years later, Vijaya Productions signed Bharathan to direct Bairavaa with Vijay. This film too bombed though the banner gave away gold chains to director and crew.
According to a lawyer, the producer Appachan is financially solvent and has big ticket properties owned by him. He not paying up the money would mean that he feels that he does not have to pay as he would have given it back in some form or the issue took a turn for a ego battle. The lawyer says that the person who has the money pays up to avoid the nuisance and bad publicity .As the verdict is in lower court, it can be easily appealed in the higher court.
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