Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi appears to have established her place in Tamil cinema with her fourth directorial venture. The film Kadhalikka Neramillai, featuring Nithya Menen and Ravi Mohan, premiered during Pongal and has garnered positive reviews from both critics and audiences for its innovative, daring approach and its ability to challenge conventional norms. Expressing her satisfaction with the film's success, Kiruthiga, who is married to Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and is the daughter-in-law of Chief Minister MK Stalin, remains humble and recognizes that she has much to learn in her role as a director. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Kiruthiga shares her insights about the film, her husband Udhayanidhi, and other topics.

Your latest film, Kadhalikka Neramillai, is a very urban romance drama. Did you ever think about how the mass audience would react?

I considered this narrative to be particularly compelling to share at this moment, despite having conceived it some time ago. Its relevance has increased significantly in the present context, and it encompasses a romantic element. The notion that love ultimately prevails, even as desires and circumstances evolve, underscores the enduring strength of love. I chose not to focus on the advertisements or the potential appeal to a broader audience, which I believe was beneficial; had I done so, the essence of the story would have transformed.

How did you decide to cast Ravi as Siddharth?

The decision not to pair Nithya and Ravi together was quite innovative, and Ravi demonstrated a genuine commitment to the narrative. It is rare to encounter actors who embrace a storyline that offers balanced significance to both the male and female leads, particularly in contrast to conventional films that often emphasize action and violence. Ravi exhibited commendable courage in agreeing to explore this unique approach, aiming to present the audience with something refreshing. Ultimately, it reflects the actor's discerning sensibility that contributed to this endeavor.

Your debut film Vanakkam Chennai (2013) was a rom-com and your next film Kaali (2018), an action drama. Kaali wasn’t well received so did you decide to go back to rom-coms?

I do not allow the genre of a film to influence my storytelling process. My focus on genre typically arises only as the release date approaches, when audiences begin to categorize the work. Upon examination of my films, it is evident that they are consistently centered around drama and emotional depth. For instance, "Kaali" explored themes of emotion through the journey of an adopted child grappling with his identity and seeking his origins. While the film may not have resonated with all viewers, it provided me with valuable insights regarding future projects, including script development and casting choices. This experience has proven to be an invaluable opportunity for growth, even in the face of setbacks.

Both your web series Paper Rocket and Kadhalikka Neramillai were beautiful visually. Was that an aspect you worked on consciously?

I believe this is indeed a crucial aspect of the learning journey. My enthusiasm for storytelling and filmmaking is profound. During the production of my first film, I lacked experience and had limited exposure to global cinema. Currently, I engage with critically acclaimed and foreign-language films, analyzing their strengths. I also converse with directors locally to gain insights into improving our filmmaking practices, which enhances my learning experience. With age and experience, one gains greater clarity on how to elevate a project. Nevertheless, I still feel a gap in my filmmaking knowledge and aspire to enroll in film courses.

You’ve spoken about how Nithya Menen is a wonderful and unique talent, a gift for directors.

Collaborating with her was truly a pleasure, and she perfectly embodied the character of Shriya. When you create a character from your imagination, and someone interprets it in a way that exceeds your expectations, it is an incredibly rewarding experience. We developed a strong friendship and shared a remarkable alignment in our sensibilities and perspectives on life. It felt as though two friends were working together on set. In the future, whenever I seek to cast for my film, Nithya will be my first choice, as finding someone of her caliber will undoubtedly be a challenging task.

Were you particular that AR Rahman should score the music for this film?

How will I answer this question? (laughs) I think the fact that AR Rahman said okay to my script was a big thing. Being a filmmaker, this was one of the high points in my life. We all live for that moment to do a film with AR Rahman’s music. I think for every film after this, I am going to be particular that Rahman should say okay to it. Working with AR Rahman, Nithya Menen, and Ravi set the bar high, and I felt the responsibility that I should deliver a good product, which they’ll also be happy about.

What did Udhayanidhi say when he saw Kadhalikka Neramillai?

Udhay was pleasantly surprised and happy. (Smiles) Even Paper Rocket surprised him. Udhay said, ‘you look like you’re just sitting around and doing nothing. Did you really write this and shoot it?’ I think that's the impression I give - very chilled out. I'll never fuss about anything. The whole family, including, my father-in-law (Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin) saw the film the day before the release and liked it. I knew it wasn’t like a traditional Tamil film and what was delivered at the end was more than what I expected. They were my first audience, and when they received it well and said it was really nice, I became more confident.

Udhay is Deputy Chief Minister and extremely busy with politics. Do you still spend as much time together?

I think we actually spend more quality time together now because we’re both busy. I think we are more respectful and more appreciative of each other. Earlier, both of us weren’t that busy; we used to be together a lot and took spending time together for granted. Today, making time in our busy schedules has become essential and I feel it’s working. I tell my friends when they crib about marriage or their partners that if you keep really busy, then you consciously make time for each other and that works better. This is my new relationship mantra!

Have you thought about your next film?

Yes, I have written it already! I have this habit of scripting my next film when I’m working on the current one. It’s actually in a very quirky space – it’s not a rom-com. I think by now you realize all my movies are always tapping into human emotions, right? We'll be pushing the boundaries on the next one as well.

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