Simbu and Gautham Menon on ‘Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu,’ friendship, and the ‘Atman’ philosophy

In an exclusive interview, STR and GVM talk about collaborating for a third time with ‘VTK,’ moving out of their comfort zones, and their respective 20-year journeys in the film industry

They are back. Six years after Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016) and 12 years after Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), Gautham Vasudev Menon and Silambarasan TR join forces again for Vendhu Thanindhathu KaaduPart 1: The Kindling. 

In a marked departure from their earlier projects together (as well as the pandemic short Karthik Dial Seytha Yenn), the filmmaker-actor combo brings us a “low-lying gangster film” revolving around a village teenager Muthu — yes, Simbu does play a 19-year-old — journeying to the big city and getting embroiled in a series of events that turns his life upside-down. 

VTK also sees Gautham partner with acclaimed writer B Jeyamohan; the film was born out of a short story written by the latter, in an unusual collaboration that everyone in the industry — as well as the audience — now anticipate with curiosity. 

But back to the GVM-STR relationship; Gautham debuted with Minnale in 2001 and (an adult) Simbu with K adhal Azhivathillai in 2002. Their 20 year-long careers have traversed remarkably similar paths of glory and frustration since then, pockmarked with blockbuster successes and floundering misfires in equal measure.

What has remained constant though, is the attention and allure that both of them command from the public; neither is far away from the headlines, controversy, or indeed, fandom. And if their easy bromance in person is anything to go by, VTK could just be the latest in a fledgling line of future associations to expect from the duo. Produced by Ishari K. Ganesh of Vels Film International, the movie also stars Raadhika Sarathkumar, Siddhi Idnani and Neeraj Madhav, with a theatrical release set for September 15.

Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Gautham: To shoot a love story like Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya was actually more difficult. Or Vaaranam Aayiram, when we recreated moments that happened in my life. The most difficult thing to do was shooting that funeral scene when Suriya is lying down, where my father was in real life. To relive that emotion was difficult, and there was no comfort zone about it.