It’s a film that’s been called “outstanding”, “brilliant” and “exceptional” by critics and the audience. A good two weeks after release, the recent Tamil hit Kaaka Muttai (Crow’s Egg) has collected over 9 crore and is still holding steady at the box office. Made on a shoestring budget of just 2 crore, this feel-good film revolves around the lives of two slum-dwelling kids who yearn to sink their teeth into a pizza. Kaaka Muttai had grabbed two National Awards - for the Best Child Artiste(s) and Best Children’s Film, even before its release this June, and had a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2014.
Prathibha Parameswaran caught up for a chat with the two kids from Kaaka Muttai - Vignesh and Ramesh, who are from a fishing hamlet in Kasimedu in North Chennai and have now been catapulted to fame, thanks to the film.
Q: How did you both get picked for your roles in the film?
Vignesh: This happened about a couple of years back. I was hanging out with my usual gang of around 10 children from our neighborhood at the beach, when one day we spotted director Manikandan and his team taking a few pictures of the location. We kept following them, he also took our pictures. He picked me and Ramesh out and took our snaps separately, I had no idea why. Later they came home, spoke to mom and they later asked me if I could act in a film. I said I knew nothing about acting, the director said he will help me.
Q: Do you remember how was it to be in front of the camera for the first time?
Ramesh: The director taught us everything. I had no idea about acting at all. I remember it was super fun being on the sets with everyone.
Vignesh: Well, they had some test shoots. We were trained a little bit, told not to look into the camera and so on. I got my position correct, my dialogues were perfect and all was well, but my face was expressionless. I was wooden like a doll and then the director would enact the scenes behind the camera and I would simply follow it. I think the credit really goes to him for bringing out the best in us.
Q: How has the response been from schoolmates and family members after the film’s release?
Ramesh: Everyone loved the film, my schoolmates now come up to me requesting me for a chance to act in a film. My teachers and friends take my selfies and autographs. My two brothers Ranjith and Rajesh have also appeared in minor roles in the film. They too loved my chinna Kaaka Muttai role.
Q: Do you plan to continue doing films? What do you dream of doing after you grow up?
Ramesh: I like all subjects, I just want to study well now. I have always wanted to be an actor even before I did this film, I hope I make it one day.
Vignesh: None of us expected the film to be such a big hit. I got to see and learn a lot being part of it. When I went to Delhi, we couldn’t follow anything that the others were saying as I didn’t understand the language. I want to learn to speak English well. I’m now in tenth standard, I plan to focus on my studies for the next few years. I am sure, I’ll get some offers after that, we’ll see then.
Q: Any favourite actors or role models from the Tamil film industry?
Ramesh: I love Dhanush, I liked his Anegan and Velai Illa Pattadhari. I got to meet him too, he said we had done well in the film.
Vignesh: My idol is Ajith Kumar. I like him because he’s stylish, acts well and is very hard working. I wonder if he has watched the movie. My wish is to meet him at least once and show him the film. Hope he likes it.
Q: It’s been reported that you were more excited about your maiden flight to Delhi than the National Award?
Ramesh: Yes, the flight was really exciting. I loved the whole trip.
Vignesh: Soon after we boarded the flight, the air-hostess’ safety instructions really freaked me out. I was scared all through the flight, until we landed. I had no idea what this award was all about. When the director informed me I had won an award, I was like “Seri, vandhu vaangikkiren sir.” (Okay, I’ll come and get it.) Then he explained how big it was, and later everyone we met started congratulating us and that’s when we understood that we’d achieved something great.
Q: One of your producers had recently arranged a meeting with cricketer Dhoni, what did you talk to him about?
Vignesh: Oh we love Dhoni and Suresh Raina. Among the bowlers, Ashwin is our favourite. My only question to him was, if he had watched Kaaka Muttai. He said he hadn’t watched it, but was looking forward to watching it with subtitles.
Ramesh: He spoke in English. I didn’t follow much of what he said. He gave us an autograph, we’ve kept it safely.
Q: How was your first pizza?
Vignesh: We tasted it for the first time on the sets, on the same day we shot that last scene. They gave us the pizza for the scene. It looked nice, but tasted really horrible.
Ramesh: Yes, the pizza tasted disgusting. I would prefer my grandmother’s dosai any day.
Also Read:
Why Kaaka Muttai Is That Rare Universal Film You Must Watch
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)