Excerpts from a chat with the director.

Ques: Why these long gaps between your films?

Vasanth: Film-making needs a lot of time and concentration. If you want some quality in your work, you have to spend some time on it. I don't accept all the work I get. I select my films and do only one at a time.

Ques: 'Keladi Kanmani' was simple story telling. How did the sophistication and style come about?

Vasanth: There was five-year gap between my first film and 'Aasai'. Film- making is a continuous learning process. In my first film itself, I was particular that it should not look like a beginner's film. I tried to handle a mature subject and developed my own narrative style. I've been trying to improve on that. I keep that challenge ahead of me from film to film. I don't mind falling, but I like to fall forward.

Ques: Whose work has influenced you the most?

Vasanth: My mentor is K. Balachander and I learnt a lot during my apprenticeship days with him. Apart from my Guru, I've liked films of Mahendran for their realism, of Balu Mahendra for their natural earthy dialogues and Maniratnam's films for their technical gloss and style.

Ques: Which would you give more importance to, form or style?

Vasanth: I feel the story is the soul of a film. We have to do all the decoration no doubt, but the story is the most important factor. People nowadays give importance to the dressing only. Earlier we used to buy vegetables from the neighbourhood vendor. Now we go to AC rooms and buy them. But still the vegetables have to be good. So also, the story is important. But because it is a visual medium, it has to have visual richness too. And that is where one has to keep in step with growing technology.

Ques: What made you decide to remake 'Sadak'?

Vasanth: There are various reasons. Balachander, my mentor, wanted to make a quickie. And when he suggested the idea, I couldn't refuse it. Secondly, I myself was fascinated by the subject. And thirdly, there was the challenge of giving a new image to Prashant.

Ques: Why Prashant, who has this lover boy image?

Vasanth: I've always liked challenges. I thought it would be interesting to experiment with an actor, who with his clean-shaven looks had this lover boy image. We were proved right, for Prashant fitted in easily as the angry young man.

Ques: What do you feel about the current crop of actors?

Vasanth: They seem to be well aware of the requirements of the industry and have no inhibitions. Since they have no ego problems or hang-ups, it is easy to vibe with them. And each actor has his own individual style and strength. And when I direct them, like say, Ajit, Surya, Vijay or Prasanth, I try to focus on their strengths.

Ques: Why are the new crop of directors failing after their initial success?

Vasanth: My personal view is that one has to learn the techniques of cinema before venturing into it. The trend these days is to ride piggyback on the talents of other technicians to give the impression of being a good director. But you can't survive that way for long. Earlier, there were good storywriters and there were films makers who knew the technique of filmmaking. But now, the writers are directing and vice versa.

Ques: What is a 'safe' film?

Vasanth: One good emotion and one good treatment. Dish out emotions like love and revenge, which our audiences identify with. Convey them in a straightforward manner. I think that would work it. But you also need to be sincere in what you are doing?

Ques: What are your future projects?

Vasanth: My next film is 'Rhythm' with Arjun. Another one is for Kavithalaya with Madhavan in the lead. And yet another one for Maniratnam.