‘Acting is Easier, Producing is The Real Challenge’

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who also produced Maa Inti Bagaaram, says the experience gave her a new understanding of the challenges of filmmaking. “I think the life of an actor is much more comfortable. As a producer, I saw how difficult it is to finance a film and bring it to theatres,” he says. “I’m proud to make this movie. We have the best team working on it.”

The actor, who was in Chennai to promote the film, spoke warmly about his connection with Tamil cinema. “This is my home and I hope to make you proud by giving you a good film. I am looking forward to acting in more Tamil films and I am fully open to listening to scripts from Tamil filmmakers,” he says.

On reports that Sai Pallavi was the first choice for the lead role, Sam said, “It’s true! Our production company, Tralala Moving Pictures, aims to support good female-backed films. After locking the script, we thought that a great actress like Sai Pallavi would lead the cast. She could not join as she was busy with other commitments. Later, the script was slightly modified for me and more action scenes were added.”

There is plenty of action in Maa Inti Bagaaram. When asked whether he preferred dance or action, Sam laughed and said: “I think action is more comfortable than dancing. I did all the action sequences myself. There are no slow motion or time-lapses. They are very realistic, there are real punches. I got injured a few times and even bled. So there’s the believability factor.”

Gautami, who plays Samantha’s mother-in-law, and cinematographer Om Prakash were also present at the event.

Directed by Nandini Reddy, the film follows Chandra (played by Samantha), a ruthless killing machine who struggles to adapt to life in a traditional household.

Meanwhile…

“He was meant for something bigger,” says Sam on CM Vijay.

Samantha called up her Theri co-star C Joseph Vijay, the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and shared a heartfelt note and pictures on her social media handle.

“When I landed in Chennai, I felt an immense sense of happiness. I was going to meet our CM. I always felt that Vijay Sir couldn’t just be a hero on screen. His energy, his presence and the way people responded to him always made me feel that he was meant for something bigger. What inspires me the most is the courage it takes to step into a completely new arena. Leaving behind what you have already mastered and taking on a challenge where the stakes are much higher. It’s easy, but because you believe you can make a difference.”