Thulirkal: Rising Star Kokilan Maheswaran!

CTYA’s Blog has started a new Feature on Fridays, Thulirkal. Thulirkal meaning bud reflects the young Tamil youth we will be featuring. These youth are the buds of our community, and are growing into to strong, achieving young men and women! Each week we will feature a Tamil youth of the week. For more information or to suggest a youth to feature, please feel free to email us at blogs@ctya.org!

This week, we’ve brought you our first feature, a talented young man, Kokilan Maheswaran.

Kokilan Maheswaran strives to inspire a generation of others who share the same goals and desires that he has for the culture of cinema, acting, and artistry. He wants to be an inspiration to such youth so that in the future, the Tamil community could welcome the acting field more openly. He has completed several modelling shoots, a few music videos, and 2 feature films. His latest venture is “The Numb” illustrates the repercussions of drug abuse. This film was directed by Priyanthan Sathasivam, and is slated for a 2013 release.

CTYA Blog Team: Thank you Kokilan for sitting down with us today. So, let’s get warmed up. Ok, now don’t think, just say what first comes to mind. 1, 2, 3…

  1. Hockey or Soccer? Soccer.
  2. Favourite Superhero? Batman.
  3. Favourite Movie? Vaaranam Aayiram.
  4. Blackberry? Iphone? Android? Android, S3!
  5. Night Hawk or Early Riser? Early Riser during the week, Night Hawk during the weekend.

CTYA Blog Team: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Kokilan: I’m a university graduate, aspiring to have a career as a film actor. Believing in this dream about 5 years ago, I played one of the lead roles in the film $9.50. Being my first film, I learned a lot and met some great people. 2 years later, my colleague, Priyanthan Sathasivam and I, started making the feature film, “The Numb,” under our production Basement Office Pictures.

CTYA Blog Team: Your upcoming film, “The Numb” is set for release this year. The film focuses on the repercussions of drug abuse. In a community where drug abuse is not widely talked about, why did you choose to focus on drug abuse in the film?

Kokilan: “The Numb” not only portrays drug abuse, but also heavily on family dynamics. Each viewer can relate the film somehow to their own lives. Everyone goes through family and love and it deeply influences the way we do normal day activities. The film wasn’t made to depict community issues, the story should make the movie go forward. The idea of drug addiction and abuse hasn’t been seen often, so why not show the world what it’s like? One of the reasons I chose this film is because it’s challenging and fresh. I will admit this could be a dream role and all the credit goes to my director Priyanthan Sathasivam for making this happen.  Research from films, documentaries, music, rehearsing months in advance of shooting and weight loss were used to get under the skin of the character. 4 months just went into getting ready to be the character.

CTYA Blog Team: Could you share a funny or profound experience while creating “The Numb”?

Kokilan: The whole experience was intense from the start of production. Some of the issues faced were time schedules, weather, equipment rentals and finance. Since the film wasn’t funded by an outside producer or sponsor, the money came straight out of our own pockets. It taught me personally to work harder, and to never give up.

CTYA Blog Team: Did you face any challenges from your family for pursuing acting? How were you able to overcome this challenge?

Kokilan: My family never was a constraint when it came to acting or shooting. I’m grateful that my family gives me the freedom to pursue film for now, just not sure what they feel about it when it comes down to a career. Going for a shoot has become a normal thing in the house, but when they view a final product, they never say a single word about it. Weird isn’t it? My parents actually let us use our apartment as one of the main locations in the film and my brother, Phaarathy was on the crew as the main boom operator.

CTYA Blog Team: When is your film set for release?

Kokilan: Possibly in March, but it’s too early to tell.

CTYA Blog Team: If you could meet any celebrity or other personality in the world, who would it be and why?

Kokilan: I would want to meet Surya, because only after his Vaaranam Aayiram I decided to take up film and acting. I started watching more films, listening to music, started working out, networking, and have become a more confident person mentally. Everyone needs an idol, because they will always remind you of how bad you want success, and to always provide 200% commitment.

CTYA Blog Team: In your opinion, what’s the most important quality needed to succeed?

Kokilan: Motivation, commitment, and a lot of patience.

CTYA Blog Team: Finish the sentence. “To me, Tamil youth are..”

Kokilan: …very talented and ambitious. They try new and different things that have brought new wavelengths to our community.

CTYA Blog Team: If you could say a few words to your younger self, what would you say?

Kokilan: Be more open minded and don’t be afraid to dream big.

CTYA Blog Team: Anything else you’d like to add?

Kokilan: Some of my work material can be found via the links below.

Main Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BasementOfficePCTRS

The Numb on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/thenumbmovie

Stay tuned for more updates about Kokilan’s Film, “The Numb” slated for release this year!

For more information or to suggest a youth to feature, please feel free to email us at blogs@ctya.org! Catch up with us next Friday where we’ll be bringing you another Talented Tamil youth story!

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