more-in The Tamil film industry has seen three strikes and many upheavals in the last two years. Actor Vishal, who is at the helm of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council and is the general secretary of the Nadigar Sangam, has been in the eye of the storm, steering the Kollywood bodies through several crises, garnering the support and facing the wrath of stakeholders in the industry. In an interview to Sangeetha Kandavel and Udhav Naig on Thursday, Vishal talks about his vision for the transformation of the industry and his own political ambitions. You are now at the helm of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council and the Nadigar Sangam. Three years ago you were just an upcoming superstar with an expanding market in Tamil and Telugu cinema. How did it all come about? It started with questions for which I never got answers. I asked [the office bearers]: Why won’t you build a building for us rather than giving it [the Nadigar Sangam’s 19-ground property in T. Nagar] off to a multiplex? It was not about the money. It was just about how the whole structure was run down without any discussion. They then starting saying, ‘If you care so much, stand in the elections’. And, we all decided to do so together and formed a team. We took off on a journey. We met all theatre artistes. We told them what was happening to the Nadigar Sangam’s 19-ground property. The elections were one of the most sought-after events. After the elections, there was no turning back. What was the toughest thing to do – the first was the negotiations with the unions, the second was with the government over entertainment tax and now with service providers like Qube? The most difficult thing throughout this journey was these past 48 days – every single day was stressful. It is not a joke to make people – the producers, the artistes, the FEFSI union – understand [the issues] to stop work. Anywhere, anyone could have broken [ranks]. They offered a huge amount for Mercury Films to be released but the producer said he would stand by us! Your time as Nadigar Sangam general secretary and president of the TFPC will end in 10 months. Do you think you can wrap up all tasks that you had planned by then? We have delivered all the promises that we made when we took over. The accounts are clean, the audited statements are clean and we have accomplished something that was not done in the last 30 years in the Nadigar Sangam. On the Producers’ Council side, we have to implement whatever we have said and we will do that in three months... We will soon empower our legal wing to safeguard our rights. You have been pushing for more and more transparency… We want transparency to ensure that banks start giving us loans. Only now we are trying to break the syndicate [the distributor-theatre owner nexus]. We have just told them we are round the corner and they can’t continue to do the same thing forever. When I say syndicate, there is no need to feel insulted, because it is true. Five people control [all the] theatres in Tamil Nadu. I don’t want them to be the only players. Same with Qube Cinema Technologies – today, 178 theatres have signed up with various other companies. We have broken the monopoly. Do you have plans to enter full-time politics? I’m already into politics. The problem is, people misunderstand it – it’s actually called social service. The minute you start doing social service, you are called a politician. I feel I’m already in politics in the two associations. 2019 will be a game-changer. Currently, I have responsibilities to finish first. But, all I would like to say is: Wait and Watch. How did you even think of contesting election in RK Nagar? You filed the nomination for RK Nagar and it was rejected. What were the learnings? It’s a failure of the democratic system. I saw Madhusudanan being announced as the AIADMK candidate on television. For the same election which was withheld last time. And then I thought... I don’t want to sit in my room. Let me prove a point in this particular election that anyone can contest and if you have it in you, you can win. I filed my nomination. My nomination was rejected and the Returning Officer was changed – they threw him out. So what were they trying to say – that means he made a mistake, right? How long will you take people for granted? And moreover, there was one boy who signed... and then said “That sign is not my sign”. I want to register this title for a film! Where does your film career fit in, in all this? I used to do three films a year. But when you have taken up a task, you have to finish it. I have done only one film since taking over the Producers’ Council assignment. To clean up the system is not a joke... it takes time. There have been many strong new players who have emerged in the political scene in the State over the last couple of years, including T.T.V. Dhinakaran, actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. What do you think of them? TTV will be a major force to reckon with. Kamal Haasan sir has announced his party and come already. Rajini sir said he will come to politics, but I would love to know his party name and ideology. Honestly, right now I don’t know what he means by ‘Aanmeega Arasiyal’. I know ‘Arasiyal’, I know ‘Aanmeegam’, but what is this Aanmeega Arasiyal? Seriously, I am unable to figure it out.

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