Poojai is director Hari’s 13th film.
Like his earlier films, this is a commercial entertainer. You can expect cool action sequences, songs shot in exotic locales and emotional family drama, all in true Hari style. His heroines, though glamorous, will be demure and traditional women. It’s a package that has sold well right from his first film; Thamizh, as his lead actress Shruti Haasan confirms.
“Hari knows the pulp of the audience — his films have the right mix of action, love and drama. Hari sir is super fast on the sets and keeps you on your toes.”
Poojai a triangular action story, begins in Coimbatore and culminates in Bihar. Vishal Reddy and Haasan play the lead pair, with an ensemble cast including Satyaraj, Radhika Sarath Kumar, Jayaprakash, Thalaivasal Vijay, Prathap Pothen, Manobala and Soori (the last two providing the laughs). Several Bhojpuri actors have also acted in this film with a real-life politician from Bihar playing an important character. Andrea Jeremiah makes an appearance in a song sequence opposite Reddy.
Praising Reddy, who has produced the film under his banner Vishal Film Factory, Hari said: “Vishal was just excellent. He had planned everything so perfectly that we completed [the] shoot within 90 days as planned. Every day after the shoot Vishal would check the accounts and keep a tag on the expenses. He is meticulous.”
Of Haasan he added: “In my films women are shown with respect. Although she is glamorously attired, her character, despite being a traditional girl, is daring too. I knew Shruthi would fit the bill well.”
“I play Divya, a 20th-century, free-spirited girl, who is traditional at the core,” adds Haasan. “She has completed her studies and is in the transition phase looking out for a job. She falls in love and the story is about how she changes because of love. I don’t drive a car, but for this role I had to learn driving.”
Poojai carries a tagline that reads ‘Ayoodha Puja.’
Hari explains that it refers to ‘ayoodhum’ (weapons) in the story. He has also experimented in the film by taking 40 top angle shots.
“Poojai is a family tale with emphasis on relationships and love, action is just an integral part of the story,” he adds.
Hari is clear that making commercial films is what he is adept at and says he knows no other genre. After his graduation, he aspired to get into the police force.
“It was only when I appeared for the preliminary examination of the IPS that I realised it was beyond my ability,” he recalled.
Growing up in Saligramam in Chennai, (known for its film studios), Hari next contemplated getting into films. After assisting directors Alex Pandian, Nasser and K. Balachander for around ten years, Hari opened his career with Thamizh.
His cop dream was translated onto the screen with his next film, Samy, starring Vikram. Be it Kovil, or Ayya, Vel, Hari’s pact with commercial films continued. Hari relived his dreams with Singham and Singham 2.
A dedicated worker who reports on the set at 6.30 am and expects the same from his team, Hari believes in good pre-production work.
“Discussions and exchanges are vital with a team of assistants, so that once the filming begins there are no doubts,” he advises aspiring filmmakers.
After Poojai, Hari will be meeting Surya for a discussion on his next film and if my guess is right, the script for Singham 3 is probably brewing in Hari’s mind.
Scriptwriting will keep him busy for the next six months.
“Actually you should say a year, since I work at a stretch for 16-18 hours a day, sometimes even twenty hours while writing a screenplay,” signed off Hari.
