Vijay Antony interview on 'Hitler': I have no political agenda

Vijay Antony in a still from ‘Hitler’ Photo credit: Special Arrangements

Vijay Antony is undoubtedly a trendsetter; After all, his biggest hit as a composer, ‘Nakka Mukka’, opens with a line that predicts it to be the “huge hit of the year” and to promote his latest film, he has come up with something unique. The usual PR-driven interviews of celebrities for promotions happen in the same place, giving them a template look. Fed up with this, Vijay, along with an art director and his team, created a dynamic set-up where the entire look and feel of the interview room was changed for each interview and everything from the chairs and promotional posters in the background. The lights are changed to ensure that each video looks unique.

“As we grow and gain knowledge in cinema, I am also learning how important promotion is. I realized in my previous film interviews that they all took place in the same room, and that the videos were weak and lacked depth. I wanted to see quality people in the film wherever I showed up and wanted to maintain a standard during this promotion as well,” says Vijay who is gearing up for his latest release, Hitler.

Vijay still consistently releases multiple films every year, a practice that was common among most actors decades ago. He called it a product of circumstances beyond his control, “My films released on time, but some of my other films were delayed. So when they finally release, the span between films is reduced. Although it was not the plan, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Vijay Antony Photo credit: Johan Satya Das

“If the film does well, it will become a blockbuster irrespective of the release date. Biswasam And petta which released on the same day and both became hits. If two films of Rajni sir or Vijay sir are released on the same day, it will become a blockbuster. It’s the content that matters most. I make sure there is at least a four month gap between my two releases; Only then can a film be promoted well,” he added.

Playing devil’s advocate, I ask Vijay if this can lead to overexposure and he responds that it boils down to the power of content. He replies, “Irrespective of how often your title releases, what matters is what the movie talks about and whether it’s entertaining for the audience. I only notice while describing how good the story and screenplay are. In romeoThe female lead character does not like her husband and people around her will make fun of her. But the husband loves her and sacrifices a lot, so I see Romeo in the same vein Pichaikkaran,” says Vijay on why he is its USP Hitler. “If a wrongdoer calls other people bad, then who is he? He must be a good man. To the wicked, the hero of this film is a Hitler.”

“If Mani Ratnam Sir had given a chance to (Hitler’s Director Dana SA) to assist him, means he has a lot of value in him. I enjoyed his previous film Vanam Kottattum And if he brought me an action script, I believed I could take it up with confidence,” says Vijay over phone. Hitler A political film. “I personally have no political agenda and I think the director would say the same. The film shows only political characters and their work,” he added.

“A film that does well is what I would call a commercial film. romeo A film where I tried to do comedy India Pakistan Pichaikkaran was high on emotion and Collagen A thriller was I don’t care about the genre of a film,” says Vijay. Ask him how he differentiates his characters in all the thrillers he’s acted in — a genre he loves — and he replies, “I don’t do anything. There is talk that I am interfering in the making of a film. But if I’m the producer, I have to listen to the story and figure out the budget; Sometimes, I am the music director and sometimes the editor too. So I follow what I have to do, but I don’t give any input on how the film should be.”

Vijay Antony Photo credit: Johan Satya Das

Vijay is also a producer who predicts how the industry will soon shape itself, “There will be no such thing as big-budget films in the future, as most films will rely on strong content instead. Only inexperienced producers can hold themselves back by paying actors huge salaries. There was a time when quality films the bridgeHaven’t found a buyer for a year, but soon, those who understand the craft and business will succeed.”

Vijay, whose interviews are going viral for the philosophical thoughts he infuses in them, concludes by saying, “We are all like cotton balls bursting from the trees, wherever the wind takes us. When we try to go against it and fail, we spiral into depression and anxiety. Every situation will change us, but we have to go through them. When we keep our focus on one particular aspect, we lose sight of better things coming our way. So keeping expectations low and working for what we want seems like the way to go.”

Hitler hits theaters on September 27, 2024