Bharat
Bala,
who
is
directing
Dhanush
in
Mariyaan,
has
good
words
about
the
'Kolaveri
di'
hitmaker.
The
young
director
has
opened
up
about
the
actor's
preparation
and
dedication
for
his
role
in
the
forthcoming
Tamil
film.
"A
few
days
into
the
shoot
and
I
was
referring
to
Dhanush
as
Mariyaan
because
he
had
immersed
himself
into
the
character
by
then.
Since
we
shot
the
film
in
reverse,
it
was
emotionally
and
physically
draining
for
him
to
arrive
at
the
transformation,
but
he
did
it," Bharat
Bala
said.
Talking
further
about
Dhanush's
professionalism,
the
director
said,
"He
took
classes
for
ocean
diving.
He
was
required
to
dive
in
one
breath
and
go
up
to
40
to
50
feet
underwater.
He
would
jump
with
the
diving
suit,
go
deep,
settle
down
and
get
rid
of
the
suit.
Once
he
was
ready,
we
would
the
shoot
the
scene."
Queried
why
he
chose
Dhanush,
Bharat
Bala
said,
"I
cast
him
after
I
watched
his
performance
in
Aadukalam,
which
literally
moved
me.
I
believe
he
agreed
to
work
because
of
the
vast
landscape
this
film
offers
for
him
to
perform
as
an
actor."
In
Tamil,
the
film
refers
to
a
man
who
never
dies,
but
Bharat
Bala's
Mariyaan
is
someone
who
is
adventurous
and
courageous.
"The
film
is
like
a
fisherman
who
would
not
throw
a
net
to
catch
fish,
but
instead
dives
deep
into
the
ocean
and
picks
what
he
wants.
He
goes
out
of
his
way
to
get
what
he
wants
and
that's
what
makes
him
adventurous
and
courageous," he
said.
"I
was
determined
to
make
the
film
(Mariyaan)
in
Tamil
from
the
start
for
two
simple
reasons.
Firstly,
I
believe
Tamil
audiences
are
more
open
to
fresh
stories
despite
their
weakness
for
commercial
films.
Secondly,
since
my
film
is
based
on
a
true
story,
I
didn't
want
to
tamper
with
the
setting,"
Bharat
Bala
told
IANS
in
an
interview.
Elucidating
with
an
example,
he
said,
"One
of
the
recent
Tamil
films
that
did
exceptionally
well,
boasting
a
fresh
story,
was
Karthi-starrer
Paruthiveeran.
Even
though
the
film
had
its
share
of
commercial
moments,
the
audience
lapped
it
up
for
its
portrayal
of
a
story
never
told
before."
Bharat
Bala
made
a
name
for
himself
by
producing
patriotic
videos
like
'Vande
Mataram'
and
'Jana
Gana
Mana'.
He
also
directed
'Jiyo
Utho
Bado
Jeeto',
the
music
video
of
the
official
song
of
the
2010
Commonwealth
Games.
Mariyaan
is
his
first
Tamil
film.
His
first
film
was
the
critically
acclaimed
Hari
Om
in
English
(2004).
Bharat
Bala
Mariyaan,
featuring
Dhanush,
is
a
story
about
human
will
to
survive
in
extreme
conditions.
"The
film
is
an
emotional
journey
of
a
common
man
to
an
unknown
place
with
the
hope
to
come
home
and
lead
a
better
life.
It's
based
on
a
newspaper
article
about
three
oil
workers
from
India
being
kidnapped
in
Sudan," he
said.
He
says,
he
calls
it
"emotional"
because
the
story
"tests
the
human
will
to
survive
in
the
most
unimaginable
conditions".
Mariyaan
On
The
Sets
While
the
film
may
appear
dark,
he
clarified
it
will
be
a
beautiful
journey.
"Even
though
it
is
about
the
fight
for
survival,
it
deals
with
several
other
emotions
such
as
love,
separation
and
struggle.
The
story
recounts
a
beautiful
journey
about
the
separation
of
the
protagonist
from
his
loved
ones
and
his
struggle
to
reunite," he
added.
Mariyaan
Venturing
Into
Uncharted
Territories
It
was
shot
predominantly
in
the
Namib
desert
and
Kanyakumari.
It
also
features
Parvathi
Menon,
Salim
Kumar,
Appukutty
and
Jagan
in
important
roles.
He
said
Mariyaan
will
also
venture
into
uncharted
territories.
Parvathi
As
Panimalar
On
asking
about
Dhanush's
co-star
Paravthi
Menon,
Bharat
Bala
claimed,
"Parvathi
plays
one
of
the
important
roles
in
the
film
called
Panimalar.
I
was
looking
for
someone
rooted
to
the
South
Indian
landscape
in
looks,
features
and
body
language.
She
has
a
very
compelling
role
to
play."
Mariyaan
In
May
"AR
Rahman's
music
is
embedded
into
the
narrative
in
such
a
way
that
it
serves
as
screenplay,
while
(French)
cinematographer
Marc
Koninckx
will
add
a
different
perspective
behind
the
lens.
Marc's
work
will
definitely
be
new
to
the
grammar
of
Tamil
cinema,"
he
added.
Bharat
Bala
is
eagerly
awaiting
the
release
of
the
film
in
May.
It
is
produced
by
Venu
Ravichandran.