Dashamakan: A North Chennai Action-Political Drama Takes Shape
On a vibrant set, choreographer Raju Sundaram was directing a lively dance duet featuring actors Harish Kalyan and Preity Mukhundhan for the upcoming Tamil film Dashamakan. Director Vineeth Varaprasad, known for his previous work Lift, shared insights into the project, describing it as a North Chennai-based subject blending action and political drama. "We are shooting a love song between Harish and Preity," he said, emphasizing the film's focus on the actual area of Dashamakan.
Harish Kalyan's Dedication to Authenticity
Harish Kalyan, who plays a struggling lower-middle-class rapper in the film, revealed his commitment to the role. "After Beer Song (Diesel), this is my second number choreographed by Raju master. I play an outrageous character," he stated. Noting the booming indie rap culture, Kalyan explained that the film highlights societal issues through rap lyrics. To ensure authenticity, he rapped a song himself, learning beatboxing and rapping from actual rappers who appear as his area friends in the film. "It adds to my character and would be more authentic if I did it myself," he added.
Preity Mukhundhan's Experience on Set
Preity Mukhundhan, portraying a free-spirited Anglo-Indian girl living in the same neighborhood, praised the collaborative environment. "It's been a chill set, and the crew has made sure that I'm comfortable," she said. She commended Harish Kalyan's dedication, noting he is always on time and prioritizes the story. Regarding Raju Sundaram, she observed, "Raju sir gets done with dance sequences quickly and smoothly." Mukhundhan also discussed the challenges of juggling multiple films, stating, "Now, as I'm working on multiple films together, I've to simultaneously prepare for different characters and accordingly accommodate shooting schedules. It's been challenging, yet satisfying."
Director Vineeth Varaprasad's Vision
Vineeth Varaprasad detailed the casting process, revealing that close to 400 rappers were auditioned to maintain realism. "All the rappers shown in the film are actual rappers. We auditioned close to 400 rappers to maintain authenticity," he explained. He highlighted the performances of veteran actors Sathyaraj and Sunil, noting Sathyaraj brings nuance to his role, while Sunil often requests additional takes for perfection. Varaprasad also praised Harish Kalyan's preparation, saying, "Harish spent a lot of time with them, did the homework and learnt rapping, too."
Cinematographer and Costume Designer Insights
Cinematographer Karthik Ashokan, for whom Dashamakan is his second film as a DOP after Eleven, credited the director for the visual aesthetics. "Vineeth, as a producer-director, never says no and provides us with everything we want," he said, describing the script as interesting and promising something new for Tamil cinema.
Costume designer Rithesh Selvaraj, with prior experience on films like Ranam and Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil, discussed the collaborative creative process. "The director, DOP, and I worked together on the colour palette, as we've to maintain certain characters in specific colours," he explained. Selvaraj appreciated Vineeth's clarity, which facilitated his work and made him feel included as part of the direction team.
Overall, Dashamakan emerges as a film deeply rooted in authenticity, with a focus on rap culture and North Chennai's essence, backed by a dedicated cast and crew aiming to deliver a fresh narrative in Tamil cinema.
