Handling one bubbly child on a film set is hardly child’s play. How then do you handle four identical bundles of energy?
Ask first-time director, Guru Ramesh, who took on the challenge with Enna Satham Indha Neram (What is the noise at this time?), releasing in India this weekend.
“They are well behaved and intelligent kids who grasped things fast,” he said of his stars — eight-year old quadruplets Aditi, Aakriti, Akshiti and Aapti.
The film has found a place in the Limca Books of Records (India’s version of the Guinness World Records) for featuring quadruplets in the cast.
Born to A. Vivekanandan and Shruthi, the four are making their cinema debut.
“Actually it was their high energy levels that kept us alive. They would reach the set on the dot at 5.30am. And, at the end of the day when we were tired, the girls would pick up the microphone and entertain us with rhymes and songs,” recalled this former assistant of director Suresh Krishna.
“This is an emotional thriller centred around the four little girls. There is humour too.” Beyond that Ramesh does not divulge.
Noted director Jeyam Raja turned actor for this film. He plays the father of the quadruplets, while Assamese dancer Mano is their mother.
Finding quadruplets posed a challenge. Facebook (do we have to tell you that?) came to Ramesh’s rescue and his joy knew no bounds when he learnt that they lived in “namma Chennai [our own Chennai].”
“It took some time convincing the parents to allow their daughters to act but once they were on board, it was smooth sailing,” adds Ramesh.
Malayalam actress Malavika Wales makes her debut into Tamil cinema here, opposite Nithin Sathya.
For Mano, Enna Satham Indha Neram, marks her second innings. She was last seen in the Ajith-starrer, Kadhal Mannan, fifteen years ago.
“I had consciously stayed away from films, but when Guru Ramesh narrated the script, the role appealed to me.” She also manages a dance school in Chennai.
“As the girls’ mother I am a strong and independent woman, something I could connect with immediately,” Mano said. “Sharing screen space with director Raja is precious to me. I am happy to be a part of this film.”
Raja said, “The children drew me into the film.”
For one who has been calling the shots for others, the director realised that it was not easy getting into an actor’s shoes.
“Direction was planned, but not acting,” he said. “I was initially apprehensive but looking at the children I learnt to shed my inhibitions.”
Puravalan Narayanasamy, a stage actor from Singapore, makes his cinema debut as a police officer.
“It was a dream come true and has been a wonderful experience.”
“On the eve of my shoot, the director and team wondered if I would be able to pull of the character, which was an intense role,” he remembers.
But all doubts were put to rest when he arrived on the set the next morning in his police attire and even sporting a moustache. Delivering his lines in one take Puravalan brought the house down with applause.
“It makes me proud as a Tamilian to have been a part of this unique film.”
Produced by A.V. Anoop, Enna Satham Indha Neram, has just one song, scored by Nagaa. Sanjay.B.Lokanath is the cinematographer.
