After over nine years, Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth makes her directorial comeback with ‘Lal Salaam’. The film is released today, February 9, in cinemas. Ahead of the release, Aishwaryaa sat down for a chat with CNN News18 and spoke about Lal Salaam, working with Rajinikanth, and her highly anticipated comeback. Although she did not reveal much about the plot, Aishwarya said that the film is set in the early 1990s and revolves around the events that unfold in a small town that is influenced by the political scenario.
“The film generally is based on true events that happened between 1990 and 1992. The screenplay is written around these incidents. The film talks a bit about politics, and how they exert influence over human emotions. It delves into events that drive a wedge between friends, and their families and how an entire town navigates this phase. Cricket plays an important role – it pretty much changes the whole fate of the town,” Aishwaryaa said.
When asked how the experience of directing the superstar was, she said, “As a director, he made it very comfortable from his side. The script was already done and he came into the script because of the content. He was extremely good and very nice to him. I should not be saying this because it sounds very cringe. He did not want us to alter anything for the sake of his stardom. This film is coming after Jailer – which was like a celebration of ‘Rajinism’.”
Jailer, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, is an action drama about a father who finds out about his son’s dark past. After Jailer, Lal Salaam arrives as a refreshing change, she said. “He told me that he needs to be ‘in the content’ rather than the narrative being around him. So, that was great for me as a filmmaker. It felt great because we had an artist of this magnitude saying that the content is more important.”
For Aishwaryaa, it was a moment of pride as she was directing her father. “As a daughter, it was more of a proud moment to be there because it felt like a moment of achievement for me, to direct superstar.” She revealed Rajinikanth was cautious about how assertive the movie was, particularly at a time of heightened electoral passions. “I was being extremely bold and he was a concerned father at that moment. He was very careful about what was being portrayed… I was a little adamant about the fact that I didn’t want to change certain things. But then, he had his reasons and we came to hit a balance,” said Aishwaryaa.
This is also the first time Aishwarya is teaming up with music composer AR Rahman. Speaking about the collaboration, Aishwaryaa said, “Rahman sir is at once child-like and spiritual. I have learned a lot from my conversations with him. I am extremely grateful to him for having been such a support for the film. And to me, personally, emotionally, we have developed such a lovely bond through this film, which I hope will last.”
Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth had in the audio launch expressed her disappointment over her dad being called a “Sanghi”. She said her dad is not a sanghi and if he were, he wouldn’t have acted in a film like ‘Lal Salaam’. Addressing the name-calling and character assassination seen on social media platforms, Aishwaryaa said, “People need to be very socially responsible when they put out their views. Everybody today has become the press. And anyone who has a mobile phone in hand can voice out what they feel… I think, being human on social media is very important.”
What is her plan after Lal Salaam? “I guess living in the moment is something I have learnt and I am living in this moment now,” she signed off.
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