Vishal Venkat: An Overview of his Achievements and Contributions

Early Life

Vishal Venkat, a budding director, delves into his journey to success with his debut film  Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal. Through the interview, he offers personal anecdotes about his experiences as a filmmaker, sheds light on the creative process behind the film, and expresses his ambitions for future projects.

Career

The 2000 movie Mugavari starring Ajith portrays the story of Sridhar, a music director with a supportive middle-class family. While some aspiring filmmakers dream of having such supportive families, Vishal Venkat, the director of Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, had the privilege of experiencing this in real life. He credits his family and friends for being a constant source of support throughout his struggles in the film industry, without whom he may not have achieved his success. Venkat’s debut film has received positive responses from audiences.

In recent interviews, Vishal Venkat, the director of Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, shared his personal journey as a filmmaker and the challenges he faced in pursuing his dreams. He mentioned that he did not receive support from his parents and friends during his initial years, unlike the supportive family depicted in the 2000 film Mugavari. He initially wanted to pursue cricket but later realized that he lacked the exceptional talent required to succeed in that field. Venkat admitted that dialogue-writing is not his forte and sought help from his friend and college senior Manikandan, who wrote the dialogues for his debut film. He believes in acknowledging his strengths and weaknesses and seeking assistance whenever necessary.

A Director’s Reflections in Film

The director of  Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal,Vishal Venkat, was not responsible for the original casting choices of the film. The production house supported him in approaching talented actors like Nasser, Bhanupriya, and Ilavarasu, and even the lead actor Ashok was selected in a similar manner. Despite the film’s heavy themes of grief, death, rage, and atonement, Venkat highlights that it ultimately conveys a message of hope and purpose in life. He admits to being drawn to darker themes but sees his debut film as a philosophical exploration of life’s meaning, portraying flawed characters that reflect his own personal struggles.

The Journey of Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal

Vishal Venkat, the writer and director of Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, reminisces about his college days, where he began his foray into filmmaking by writing and directing street plays with a group of friends. These experiences, along with working with directors Madhumitha and K Chandru, provided him with valuable insights into various aspects of filmmaking, including TV promos. Vishal also had the unique opportunity to work alongside Kamal Haasan while assisting Madhumitha during her tenure directing the weekend episodes of Bigg Boss Tamil. It was Kamal Haasan’s film ‘Anbe Sivam’that sparked Vishal’s interest in street plays, ultimately inspiring him to become a filmmaker. His debut film featured his friends, including Mirchi Vijay, Manikandan, Praveen, and Rakendu Mouli.

Vishal Venkat believes that his diverse experiences in various fields, such as non-fiction TV programs, reality shows, and advertisements, were instrumental in helping him identify his strengths and weaknesses. Despite facing pressure from his parents to get married during the lockdown, he was determined to make a film before doing so. Prior to writing Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, he faced multiple heartbreaks and had plans for films with Ashok Selvan and Yogi Babu that didn’t come to fruition. However, he was eventually able to make his directorial debut with the film, as everything fell into place for him.

Casting, Themes, and Hope

Vishal Venkat, the director and writer of Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, was not involved in the initial casting decisions for the film, which featured renowned actors such as Nasser, Bhanupriya, and Ilavarasu. However, the production house’s support and confidence allowed him to approach these actors, and even the lead actor, Ashok, landed his role in a similar manner. The film tackles heavy themes such as grief, death, rage, and atonement, but Venkat believes that it ultimately conveys a message of hope and purpose in life. Despite his penchant for dark themes, he considers this debut film a philosophical exploration of life’s meaning, featuring flawed characters that embody his own personal struggles.

Vishal Venkat plans to continue his exploration of the themes of hope and the human psyche in his upcoming projects, irrespective of genre. He is yet to decide whether to follow audience expectations or to take a different path. Venkat also has an idea for an action film with philosophical elements. He believes that hope is a crucial emotion that reminds us of our innate goodness. He concludes that understanding the human psyche and hope will always be essential to his filmmaking.

Vishal Venkat Social Media

Vishal Venkat maintains an active presence on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. He has a verified Instagram account under the handle @vishalvenkat1891, where he has accumulated more than 5,073 followers. Vishal utilizes this platform to provide his followers with regular updates about his personal life and professional work, as well as to express his views on social issues and extend support to various causes. While he also has a verified Facebook page with over 7k followers, he seems to be less active on this platform as compared to Instagram.

Vishal Venkat Movie List