For one who began his career playing the soft romantic hero, Jayam Ravi has come a long way. Of late, his experiments with new characters have revealed the actor in him, be it Dhruvan of Peranmai, or the effeminate Bhagavan Bhai of Aadhi Bhagavan.
His brother Raja’s film Thani Oruvan brought new challenges.
Playing a policeman is not merely wearing the uniform, said Ravi.
From getting inputs from a policeman friend, Inspector Jagdish, and discussing IPS Mithran’s character with two senior police officials, Ravi had the homework ready prior to shooting.
“I wanted my character to be as real as possible.”
Ravi is not new to physical training, having prepared his body for Peranmai and the yet-to-be released Bhoologam (where he plays a boxer). For Thani Oruvan, he trained under professionals in rope climbing and handling weapons.
“At the end of the day, my muscles would be sore,” said Ravi.
He kept in mind always his brother’s advice: ‘When a man dreams of becoming a cop, from that very moment he becomes one and starts living life by those values.’
“I took that seriously because this story is about a lone man who does not wait for the enemy to strike him, but goes out in search of one.”
Pitted against Arvind Swamy onscreen, Ravi, a fan of the Roja actor, felt honoured to work with Swamy, who he called “completely down to earth”.
What about the bond with Raja, his older brother?
“I call him Anna and respect him very much,” added Ravi.
“He taught me to ride a bicycle and then the motorbike, eventually taking me on a ride into cinema. I know the side of him that beats for good cinema and for a better society. Thani Oruvan is a reflection of Raja’s dreams. And, a tribute to policemen, a story for the people.”
