{"id":15306,"date":"2024-09-18T11:19:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T11:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/khabarok.com\/entertainment\/15306\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T11:19:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T11:19:25","slug":"harish-kalyan-interview-on-lubber-pandhu-diesel-and-his-take-on-stardom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khabarok.com\/?p=15306","title":{"rendered":"Harish Kalyan interview: On \u2018Lubber Pandhu,\u2019 \u2018Diesel\u2019 and his take on stardom"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Harish<\/picture><\/div>\n

\nHarish Kalyan in a still from \u2018Lubber Pandhu\u2019
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Interpersonal conflict seems to be a trope that has caught Harish Kalyan\u2019s fancy. One of last year\u2019s critically-acclaimed films, Parking<\/i>, featured his character facing off with a fellow tenant played by the ever-dependable MS Bhaskar. This year, Harish is opening his innings with Lubber Pandhu<\/i> \u2014 a film centred around cricket, featuring his character duelling against Attakathi Dinesh. Harish says there\u2019s more to Lubber Pandhu<\/i> than just the tussle. \u201cThe predominant reasons I accepted the film was because it\u2019s set against a sports backdrop and I\u2019ve not played many village-based characters. The fact that both of them came together in one script excited me. More than the play-off between two players, there are more emotional conflicts between all the major characters.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Set in Trichy, Harish says he did not have to work much on getting the slang right. \u201cThere were just a few words, such as \u2018ingutu, angutu\u2019 <\/i>that needed to be incorporated. Similarly, they use \u2018pulla\u2019 <\/i>while addressing a younger woman. I\u2019ve always played cricket but I\u2019m a batsman\/wicketkeeper, so I had to work on the bowling action as I play a fast bowler,\u201d adds the actor. <\/p>\n

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\"Sanjana<\/div>\n

\nSanjana Krishnamoorthy and Harish Kalyan in a still from \u2018Lubber Pandhu\u2019
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\nSpecial Arrangement\n<\/p>\n

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Interestingly, earlier this year, we had Blue Star <\/i>which was also a film about two foes turning friends in a cricket backdrop but Harish reckons his film is different. \u201cThis is more of a family sports drama. Family emotions, upliftment of women, and giving a different perspective about success are some of the aspects Lubber Pandhu<\/i> concentrates on,\u201d he says. \u201cAnbu (the character he plays in the film) respects talent over everything. The film also sheds light on the rubber ball tournaments that are unique to the urban setting along with the commentary. For example, when a star player enters the ground, they would be welcomed with an actual song. Why elder players, like the character Dinesh anna <\/i>plays, are engrossed in the sport and how the game itself causes trouble for both our characters form the crux of the film.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Ask Harish Kalyan for his favourite sports film and without skipping a beat, the actor names a film which incidentally stars him in a cameo. \u201cAs far as sports films are concerned, Jersey <\/i>has to be my favourite as it\u2019s not a story of a guy chasing his dreams but it\u2019s about a person who failed but keeps trying hard.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Harish believes that \u201ca film should get both critical acclaim and also do well commercially\u201d. Comparing his last film, Parking, <\/i>with Lubber Pandhu<\/i>, he says, \u201cBecause of the floods, the theatrical run of Parking <\/i>was affected a little but it gained a good name for itself and did commercially well in theatres apart from doing great on streaing. Lubber Pandhu <\/i>has more heroic moments, fun elements and family sentiment. It\u2019s packed with emotions and has a lot of theatrical moments to make sure it will be a wholesome entertainer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Earlier, actors turned heroes with an action film in just a year or two after their debut, but the current crop of actors doesn\u2019t seem to have a preset roadmap towards stardom and Harish is well aware of the reasons. \u201cThe current generation of viewers are exposed to a lot more content. We have the OTT as well as formats like web series and even YouTube, so there\u2019s never a deficiency of content. It\u2019s a task to make people choose a theatrical film. Only if that film does well, its actor gets star value. Past the films, it\u2019s the acceptance of the audience that makes an actor into a star or an action hero. I would love to do an action film,\u201d says Harish whose next release, Diesel<\/i>, is apparently one such attempt. <\/p>\n

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\"Attakathi<\/div>\n

\nAttakathi Dinesh and Harish Kalyan in a still from \u2018Lubber Pandhu\u2019
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\nSpecial Arrangement\n<\/p>\n

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\u201cDiesel <\/i>is probably the biggest film I\u2019ve done in my career in terms of the grandeur, the locations it was shot at, the action, and of course, the budget. It\u2019s mounted on a large scale. On the other hand, my film with director Vignarajan (of Andhaghaaram <\/i>fame) is a love story; it\u2019s a full-fledged romance for me after Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum<\/i>.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Circling back to the topic of stardom, Harish adds, \u201cThe transformation to a star can happen in one film for an actor, and it might take more for others. I was in the mindset to take things slowly and that\u2019s changing just now. I\u2019m also getting scripts accordingly, and I\u2019m trying to take the best from it. The idea is to do a mix of all genres and not just stick to action. The goal is to entertain the audience and choose scripts that will take us up the graph.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lubber Pandhu is releasing this Friday, September 20, 2024<\/i><\/p>\n

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