BECOMING a director isn’t nearly making films, net collection, commercials, or music movies. The alternative to direct a venture shouldn’t be a given simply because you have got efficiently accomplished a venture in one other medium. Transforming a ardour right into a career requires creativity and the flexibility to take action with confidence on the precise second when it’s wanted. It requires a variety of exhausting work and struggles. That’s precisely the way it was for Siddarth Thevadason.
“I was into writing and filming but I didn’t know what was the exact word to this profession.” Siddarth instructed theSun. The first-time director began off as a junior assistant in 2007. He was launched to the world of manufacturing by his good friend Siva, and requested to take part in a movie directed by the gifted Indian director Vishnu Vardhan. Siddarth mentioned: “I was just asked to be there because they needed more manpower and I thought it was just a contract-based job.” He later realised this was the start of a brand new journey, and he tried to profit from it.
Following his good good friend’s recommendation to be taught as a lot as doable in three weeks with out anticipating a lot in return, Siddarth did his greatest. Towards the tip of the shoot, he took his alternative to trade telephone numbers with the director. “I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Vishnu again and traveled with him for three days. He was kind enough to give me important tips on how to become a skillful director and I learned a lot from him.”
Since then, Siddarth turned obsessed with directing and grabbed each alternative to excel and be taught. His good friend Siva continued to introduce him to locations to widen his data.
“I took every chance, I became a writing assistant, location coordinator, and even a camera assistant. I wanted to learn as much as I can.” He defined, “[The years] 2007 to 2009 were a major turning point for me, I was given opportunities to [work] on documentaries and advertisement shoots.”
Siddharth continued working exhausting to construct up a great profession for himself. In 2011, luck got here knocking on his door when he was supplied the place of assistant director for an area TV station. Along the way in which, he met Dev, a cinematographer who wished to make a movie with Siddarth. Several makes an attempt had been made; nevertheless, the concept was thwarted by tight schedules and difficulties finalising skills for the film, and Siddarth’s dream of directing a film needed to be placed on maintain.
Two years later, he determined to renew filming once more. “I started it myself, I did the research and wrote the script accordingly.” When requested in regards to the means of casting, he mentioned: “I give [priority] to people who need a chance.” In 2018, he needed to postpone the filming once more fas he was unable to determine on the primary leads for the movie. “I put a lot of effort into getting the best cast, but most of the time, I was just not satisfied.”
But one 12 months later, he lastly felt that he had discovered the suitable folks. Of course, this wasn’t the tip of their struggles. Just once they thought all the pieces was lastly getting again heading in the right direction, the main stars left resulting from busy schedules once more, this went on for some time till the workforce lastly picked up new leads for the movie.
“When I finally thought everything was going well, I was shocked to hear that the producer was backing off from the film because of financial issues.” This was the second when Siddarth was prepared to surrender on his dream to make his first movie. Siddharth mentioned: “I wanted to give up, I couldn’t do it anymore.” However, his workforce members managed to influence him to hold on and warranted him that all the pieces was going to be okay so long as they continued working as a workforce. Filming ultimately came about, and regardless of having technical points, they wrapped up their shoot superbly.
In July 2021, Siddarth obtained the excellent news he by no means anticipated. The workforce celebrated their first success when their movie, a love story titled Vannam, bagged two awards on the Uruvatti International Film Festival in India. It additionally gained an award on the Toronto Tamil Film Festival, which Siddarth admitted was surprising, and considers it one in every of his biggest achievements. Since then, the movie has earned round 16 awards.
“Of course, I didn’t expect all these wins but this could not have been possible without my team, [I am] forever grateful.” When requested what had been his plans for the longer term, he mentioned: “Looking at my short film’s success, I want to do a feature film next.”
Malaysian audiences can look ahead to seeing Vannam for themselves this 12 months. You can look out for the movie’s trailer on SE Network’s social media channels (YouTube, Instagram and Facebook).
