‘I didn’t want any similarities’: Suriya on finding his own path in cinema
Suriya recalls an incident that pushed him to forge his own identity in cinema, while sharing his thoughts on the unique romance and emotions of Vishwanath And Sons.
Actor Suriya recently opened up about an incident from his early acting days that made him conscious of comparisons with his father, veteran actor Sivakumar. The actor shared the memory during a promotional interaction for his upcoming film Vishwanath And Sons.
Suriya recalled accompanying a friend to a minister’s family wedding when he was around 22 or 23. After being introduced as Sivakumar’s son, he was told that he might eventually follow his father’s path in cinema. The remark stayed with Suriya and triggered his determination to establish an identity of his own.
According to the actor, he subsequently stopped watching his father’s films closely. He specifically avoided observing Sivakumar’s mannerisms, modulation and dialogue delivery because he did not want these aspects to influence his own performances. Suriya explained that his intention was to create a distinct path rather than constantly face comparisons with his father.
Suriya also spoke about his unexpected entry into acting. He revealed that he did not even know he would face a camera until a few days before it happened. What initially began as a decision influenced by circumstances at home eventually became a responsibility because of the unconditional love he received from audiences.
Talking about Vishwanath And Sons, Suriya said the project was something he had wanted to explore. He recalled how director Venky Atluri and producer Suryadevara Naga Vamsi approached the project with enthusiasm and discussed his earlier films. According to Suriya, the experience of working on the film remained pleasant throughout the process.
The actor also highlighted the film’s portrayal of women from different age groups. He noted that it is challenging for a filmmaker to create three women characters with distinct shades. Suriya felt there has been a gap in Tamil cinema when it comes to portraying women from different generations with such varied perspectives, particularly after the works of filmmakers such as K Balachander and Bharathiraja.
Suriya further revealed that Vishwanath And Sons revolves around a conflict involving people separated by a 20-year age gap. The team reportedly conducted research across different age groups while developing the characters and their perspectives. Suriya also mentioned that Jyothika offered her opinions during the process, helping the team look for common ground between the different viewpoints.
The actor believes Vishwanath And Sons does not have a direct reference point. While action films can draw comparisons with popular franchises, Suriya feels the upcoming film belongs to the kind of emotional romance that audiences enjoy revisiting. He hopes the film will leave viewers with a smile and create conversations after its release.
Directed by Venky Atluri, Vishwanath And Sons is backed by Sithara Entertainments and is scheduled to hit theatres worldwide on August 14. Bookings for the film are set to open today at 6PM, adding to the anticipation ahead of its theatrical release.
