These films have created an impression that Sarathkumar is going to do such meaty roles in the future. What do you’ve in store?
Yes, that is the USP. Now, I have to be very careful. My next outing is also a cop film and it is a cause of concern because I don’t want people to get tired of my police officer roles. Obviously, I am doing five to six films that are of different genres. But my immediate releases like Param Porul, The Smile Man and Hit List are all cop stories. Each has a different flavour though. If Loganathanan is a staunch cop who carries the baggage of childhood trauma in Por Thozhil, I play more jovial and grey-shaded police in Param Porul. In The Smile Man, I play an amnesiac seeking revenge. I hope it works. I have also worked with Sasikumar in NaNa, which will be out after two months. I think I am choosing well.
Apart from the writing that differentiates your cop roles, what are the aspects you keep in mind as an actor to ensure your characters are unique?
Yes, we work on several factors to create that distinction. For instance, I ensure I look different in each of my films. Every little detail, even the hairstyle, changes. If you had seen most of my films, this has been my forte all my career. You can’t put actor Sarathkumar’s face and write a film name. My character’s image speaks for the film. If you put an image of my role from Nattamai, people will tell you the title. Be it Natpukaaga, Arasu or Suryavamsam, every film had a different look. This has helped me all along and I try to do that even now. Similarly, my body language when I play a serious cop is different from my jovial police role.
Even though Ashok Selvan plays the vulnerable hero in Por Thozhil, there is some softness in your tough character as well. How did you approach this character?
There are many different hidden emotions inside Loganathan. It is very clearly shown towards the climax. When he sees a kid run and sit outside while his parents are fighting, my character looks at him and feels sorry. At that point, he gets affected in some way and you can see how the softness in him comes out. Perhaps he has started to like the company of Ashok Selvan’s Prakash and is ready to express such emotions when around him. Loganathan kind of finds solace in the fact that they share a comfortable relationship where they can work together and this emotion will drive the plot forward in the sequel.