For Vishal, Suseenthiran’s Pandiya Nadu is an all-important film, which gets positive reviews. Not only is the actor playing a role that was ‘completely alien’ to him, he has also taken on the role of a producer for this film. In a chat with us, Vishal tells us why working on this film was an experience he will cherish…

How satisfied are you with the film’s output? I’m extremely happy and confident. The journey started on a positive note. As soon as heard the script, I told Susee I wanted the film to release for Deepavali. This will be an important film in my career, a product I will be proud of.

What’s your character like? The character, Sivakumar, is alien to me; he stutters when he is scared and stays away from violence. His body language is new to me, and most of the time, I had a tough time adapting to his persona. In fact, Sivakumar’s body language — right from how he says hello to how he displays emotions — is a replica of Susee.

What were our expectations from Suseenthiran? I know Susee does realistic films, and his line of thought is interesting. I think I’ve paid him for two films — a realistic one and a commercial venture. He has clubbed both these elements and given them to me in one film.

Tell us about your experience working with Bharathirajaa and the rest of the crew… Bharathirajaa sir is the soul of the film, and he has induced life into it. It’s a middle class revenge drama, and you can’t ask for a better actor than him to play a main role. I love having fun on the sets, and I had a madpack in Vikranth and Soori. And, Lakshmi Menon is a professional, and many think our pairing is good.

What do you think will be the film’s highlight? The climax sequence tops my list. I asked Susee more than a thousand questions as it was a sequence I have never done before. But it’s a scene that the audience will connect with. Imman’s background score will only enhance its appeal.

Pandiya Nadu, produced by Vishal for Vishal Film Factory, releases today