Kaantha (காந்தா)

This.

"Saantha begins again."

This news bit.

And the phone call that came after.

Everything changed.

We can shoot whatever you want… The latest lenses… German camera.

Everything. Everything!

Last time, the movie stopped midway.

This time, I'll make it for you.

Think about it.

Tamil cinema's first horror film.

You're a very lucky man.

Okay…

The phone call that changed everything…

You never asked me who it was from.

- Who? - Who else?

Your disciple.

The one and only…

The king of acting.

T. K. Mahadevan.

What does he want?

He wishes to act in Saantha again.

And what did you say about it?

Obviously, a "yes"!

I was anxious to get this film made.

Just think about this.

Saantha with T. K. M.!

Financiers will queue outside the studio for his name alone.

We can shoot this film in a grand manner.

- We can clear the debts of the studio... - Hey!

I am the one to decide who needs to act in my film.

Ours was one of the first three studios in Madras.

Today we are in such a bad shape.

If we end up shutting the studio down…

I will have to blame you.

For your previous film…

You wanted 5,000 extras for the battlefield scene.

Did you not get it?

You wanted pearls and precious stones from Jaipur.

Didn't we get it for you?

But when the studio is struggling and asking for help…

Isn't it your turn to help out?

My father has always told me…

We can lose anything…

Money can be lost.

But we should never lose good artists.

My father always had a special respect towards you.

Even if not for the film…

For my father…

For this studio…

At least for everyone relying on you...

Yes.

SAANTHA DAY 01

You there, move the mic. I can see its shadow.

Don't touch the mic…

If you like, move the camera.

Brother, to hear is secondary. First is to see.

Ayya told us. The scene is here, the mic will stay here.

Babu… Babu, come here.

He won't move his mic. There will be shadows in the frame.

Babu, this comes from Ayya.

Ayya said that?

- Then we cannot move the mic. - Exactly.

And you can't move your camera.

Then, move the lights!

Baybu!

- Baybu! Baybu! - Stanley.

Baybu, no. Babu!

Why are there two 'Kennedys'?

- 'Kennedys'? - 'Glasses'.

Ayya had asked for two or three glasses…

Ayya's here

- Babu. - Yes, Ayya.

- What is the first shot? - Chandran seeing the ghost's painting...

I mean, Neeli and gets spooked…

He is in it, right?

He is, Ayya.

When the hero arrives, we can start the shoot.

- First, go clean that up. - Okay, Ayya.

Sit. Sit.

Ramu, give us the room.

Your pronunciation needs to emote exactly in every word.

Your Burmese Tamil accent should not show up.

Sure, Ayya

Okay…

What is the story of this film?

Who's the hero?

You.

Everyone will tell you, it's him.

As the writer of this film. As the director. I say this.

Hero, heroine,

everything is you.

I saw my mother hung herself to death…

This story is my wish of how she should have lived.

It was only after seeing you…

That I decided to make this film again.

I have agreed to a lot of compromises to make this film

Kumari.

You have to make me a promise.

Whatever happens, your attention should not waver.

Promise me that you will act the way I ask you to.

Swear to me.

Everyone look, TKM is here.

- Greetings, Anna. - Welcome, Anna.

This set was made just for you.

Look at the sheer scale of it all...

- Babu. - Anna?

What scene are we starting with?

Today, you and Chandran talk about seeing a haunted painting.

Let's not do that, Babu.

We will start with a good scene.

Me and my wife...

Who's the one playing her?

Is she close by?

Bring her quick!

- W-What is her name? - 'Kumari'.

Okay

The scene where I come back from work early

and surprise her. Let's do that.

We will start where we left.

Scene 60,

Page 64.

Wow!

- Any changes? - No.

There is, now.

I changed the climax.

I'll fill you in later.

One more thing.

The film isn't called 'Saantha' anymore.

'Kaantha'.

- Works better, right Martin? - Of course.

It's catchy

- The audience will like it, too. - Absolutely!

It's going to be a golden jubilee hit!

Ready.

KAANTHA

Ayya, shot ready.

Should I tell anything to Anna?

He merely comes in and sits down.

That's it. Nothing fancy.

- Tell him that. - Sure, Ayya.

'Saantha'. Scene 60. Shot 1. Take 1

Action.

My dear, hope I didn't startle you?

To float in the flood of happiness,

I freed myself from the shackles of work

to come here and be with you.

Babu, is the shot okay?

Ayya, is the shot okay?

Wasn't it good, Babu? Didn't everyone applaud?

Did you think I was making this film for your damn applause?

Who applauded this? Who was it?

Your applause created these half-assed actors!

Did you forget who this film is about?

And you're thinking about applause

Ayya…

If you'd prefer, I will do as you say.

If I... If I prefer?!

I know damn well what I want and what I don't.

Babu.

Shot…

…okay.

What? 'King of acting'?

Making quite a scene.

Things I learned from you.

What's the plan, then?

I will make this movie.

You can watch it from a corner.

You think my acting is half-assed?

Let's see you fight the urge to applaud my acting.

This movie will be released with the climax I want.

You can watch that too from a corner, too.

Babu!

Scene change!

Relax. A little more…

Just like that. Hold it.

Look here, look here…

Keep your hands on your waist.

Wider eyes.

Chin up.

Be like a King. Very good.

Mahadeva.

This is nothing.

You are destined for much bigger cameras.

Over there.

Stanley.

- Looking good. - Thank you.

Camera should be on my right side.

Right side, Stanley.

- My fans… like right side. - Okay, sir.

I'll change.

You heard him. Move the camera!

Kumari will tell her lines and then comes your dialogue.

This is your mark.

Kumari, here is your mark.

Ayya?

What's the matter, Kumari?

Kumari, this is your mark.

Ayya?

Ayya!