From box-office discussions to changing perceptions about cinema, ‘Makkal Selvan’ Vijay Sethupathi weighed in on several topics at the 11th edition of The New Indian Express’ ThinkEdu Conclave 2023 held in Chennai on Friday. The actor, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the Prime Video series, Farzi, revealed that he hasn’t been watching himself on screen during the past four-five years. “This is because I don’t like my performances. I went to see Master and could last only till the interval. I’m rather shy and can’t watch my own performances,” he said.
At the event, Vijay revealed how he became an actor. “My intention was not to become a hero, it happened naturally,” he said. He also added that he did not know it was tough when he selected acting as his profession. “Innocence is bliss. Knowledge is a barrier. I did not know anything about this industry, and I knew that I did not know anything,” he shared.
The actor, who has seen a fair share of box-office successes and failures, doesn’t believe that a film’s merit is connected to box-office success. “It’s sad that a section of the fans are so invested in discussing these numbers,” said the Vikram actor. Drawing from a personal anecdote, Vijay spoke about how his home production Orange Mittai, written by him and starring him in the lead role, wasn’t received well by the audience. “I took inspiration from my father and wrote Orange Mittai. However, even my own family members felt the film was rather boring. Now, years later, many have good things to say about it,” he recalled.
Vijay also shared what cinema means for him, saying, “Movie is not entertainment, it educates people on what will happen if you choose a wrong path in life. As an actor, everybody has their ethics and morals.”
Among the actor’s memorable performances is his portrayal of a transwoman, Shilpa, in Super Deluxe, which fetched him a National Award. The character, Shilpa, taught him important life lessons, Vijay said. “While playing her, I recognised the femininity within me. It almost felt dangerous because I wondered if Shilpa would stay within me forever,” he added.
In his trademark style, he signed off by stressing the importance of art. “Films reflect human relationships and how we handle it. We see the impact of politics, contributions of people across genders… we understand more about a civilisation through cinema.”
The second and final day of The New Indian Express’s ThinkEdu Conclave 2023 lived up to the expectations of the previous day with 15 engaging and informative sessions including eminent speakers. Over 400 participants took part in the final day of the conclave.