Gearing up for a December 20 release is Balaji Tharaneetharan’s Seethakaathi, a film about Ayya, a theatre artiste turned actor. Archana plays Vijay Sethupathi’s wife in the film. She is said to have a strong role with not many dialogues, but a screen presence where her suffering in silence can be exceedingly sensed.
In a press statement, she says it’s difficult for her to separate her character from the actor. “Not just during the shoot but even when I see his pictures and visuals from the film, I can’t think of separating them both. I’m sure it is like this for everyone in team, and will be for audiences too.”
But playing Ayya’s wife made her love the character even more. She says, “It’s an inevitable when your soulmate is not a materialistic man, but a kalaignan (artist). I’m not sacrificing for him in the film. I’m standing beside him as someone who breathes art and lives it as a responsibility.”
She adds, “The reason I feel these emotionals about this is because of the man called Ayya. My character in Seethakaathi feels joy, sadness, fear and pathos.”
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She also praises Balaji Tharaneetharan and says he is one of the few directors who thinks out of the box. “I keep wondering what really inspired him to take up this unique theme. Today’s filmmakers usually focus on a certain type of film, but his out of the box thinking amazed me. He is the creator Ayya and I believe people will celebrate him for that.”
Directed by Balaji and produced by Passion Studios, Seethakaathi stars Vijay Sethupathi and Archana in the lead. J. Mahendran, Mouli, Rajkumar, Bagavathi Perumal, Karuna and Bharathiraja play in supporting roles. Actors Parvatii Nair, Remya Nambeesan and Gayathrie will be seen in cameos.
Music for the film is by Govind Menon, who had also composed for Vijay Sethupathi’s 96. Lyrics is by by Madhan Karky and Thiagarajan Kumararaja.