What it is like to be one among a crowd?
Upcoming Tamil film Kootathil Oruthan follows the life of Arvind, a average school student who falls in love with Janani, the class topper.
Directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker T.J. Gnanavel, this romantic comedy features Ashok Selvan and Priya Anand in the leads. Selvan, who made a mark with Soodhu Kavvum and Pizza 2 is back onscreen after three years. His last release was the mystery thriller Thegidi in 2014.
What happens when Selvan expresses his love Janani? She does not even remember his name.
Gnanavel found the spark for this story during his journalistic career.
“During an interview with [actor] Karthi, he mentioned that being the middle-born was not as privileged as the first and last born,” remembers Gnanavel who entered films as the dialogue writer for Tamil films including Payanam, Dhoni and Rakthacharithra.
“Surya, being the eldest, was the mother’s darling. And their younger sister, Brinda, was daddy’s girl. Karthi mentioned that he was caught in the middle. It made me ponder,” he said.
Looking around, Gnanavel realised that in many homes the middle-born child is often an introvert.
“He is given hand me downs and little attention,” he said.
While discussing the story with Selvan, the actor revealed that he too had gone through an identity crisis being the middle child.
Selvan’s look for Kootathil Oruthan is so unlike him. The trailers reveal Arvind as a young bespectacled man with oily hair neatly combed in place.
“The best joke is that Ashok’s father could not recognise him in the posters,” adds Gnanavel.
During the filming at an engineering college, the security guard refused Selvan entry inside presuming he was a spectator.
Kootathil Oruthan is supported by a host of talented actors, namely Nasser, Bala Saravanan, Samuthrakani and John Vijay.
Gnanavel prefers to keep silent on Samuthrakani’s role.
Kootathil Oruthan releases in India on July 28.
