Filmmaker Selvaraghavan has collaborated with his actor-brother Dhanush in various films ever since the director’s debut in 2003 film Kadhal Kondein. In their fourth collaboration, Naane Varuvean, Dhanush plays the dual roles of Kathir and Prabhu, twins who share a troubled relationship. In a conversation with Krishna, the filmmaker recalls how effortlessly Dhanush was able to switch between the two roles while filming.
“He switches off and on between roles. He becomes Kathir suddenly and then switches off and then goes off to read a novel the next minute. I think that is a gift,” he recalls with a laugh.
Their years-long collaboration also makes it easier to work with one another, observes Selvaraghavan, who has directed Dhanush in films such as Pudhupettai (2006) and Mayakkam Enna (2011). Apart from starring in the film, Dhanush also shares writing credits for Naane Varuvean. “Since he wrote the script, he knew the basics of what was happening. There’s not a lot to say to him about a role. Since we’ve worked on many films together, he knows what I expect. But when it comes to other actors, I needed to provide a platform for them and act it out.”