Vettaiyan actor Kishore: ‘Rajinikanth’s childlike innocence secret to his superstardom’

Notably, multilingual actor Kishore Kumar G (known mononymously as Kishore) stars as Superintendent of Police Harish Kumar. Its 20-second teaser, which was released recently, has piqued the curiosity of many, especially Kannada cine-goers, as Kishore is the quintessential Kannada actor; it shows him in the serious, intense role of a top cop. Promotional materials suggest Vettaiyan will tackle pressing social issues, notably extrajudicial killings by police officers.

Essaying the role of the man in khaki

Vettaiyan arrives in South Indian theatres just as debates around extrajudicial police encounters are intensifying across India, especially in Tamil Nadu. Kishore, who’s made a name playing officers, dons the khaki yet again as Superintendent of Police Harish. “I am a cop in films so often that I may get an honorary post in the force,” Kishore told The Federal in a lighter vein, when asked about why he’s been cast so frequently in police roles lately.

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Currently shooting in a remote location in Telangana, Kishore shared in an earlier conversation: “I always wanted to become a police officer. But I couldn’t fulfil my dream. But, through my acting career, I have managed to realise that dream.” He delivered an impressive performance in Kannur Squad (2023), a Malayalam crime thriller directed by Roby Varghese Raj. His role in khaki (for a change as Forest Officer) in Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022) brought him appreciation from several quarters.

“I am one of the stars portraying police officers in Vettaiyan. Coordinating schedules with busy actors from various industries can be challenging for the director, especially given that Vettaiyan features an ensemble cast and also has a substantial canvas. I accepted this role because of the sensitive filmmaker Gnanavel and my beloved Rajini sir. I’m also eager to see how audiences will receive this landmark film featuring Rajini sir,” Kishore shared.

‘Filmmakers must be genuinely socially responsible’

Kishore appeared hesitant to talk about his character, likely due to restrictions from the production house. However, he acknowledged, “Yes, Vettaiyan addresses the controversial issue of extrajudicial killings.” He underlined that Gnanavel approaches the topic with sensitivity, exploring every angle without prejudices.

The actor firmly believes that every filmmaker should be socially responsible. “Cinema is a powerful medium that can influence society and particularly the younger generation beyond imagination. Filmmakers must be genuinely socially responsible. In the film about Veerappan that I did, despite our best efforts not to glorify him, audiences whistled during a scene where he attacked police officers. That reaction shocked me; it was a manipulation of emotions. While Kantara had hundreds of takeaways, the most popular interpretation painted it with religious overtones, didn’t it?” he asked.

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When asked about Vettaiyan, he remarked, “Vettaiyan is a perfect blend of two powerful elements: the sensitive and uncompromising vision of Gnanavel sir and the star power of Rajini sir. Balancing the two is not easy, but Gnanavel sir has managed this with finesse. You’ll understand what I mean when you watch Vettaiyan.”

On Thalaiva, and mastering Tamil

Ever since Kishore first shared the screen with Rajinikanth in Kabali (2016), he has been deeply impressed by Rajinikanth’s childlike persona, which he believes is the secret to his superstardom. “Playing Veerasekaran alongside Rajini sir, I was completely in awe. After each shot, he’d ask, ‘Did you like it? Was it good?’ with this spark in his eyes,” Kishore recalls. “That childlike innocence is what sets him apart, much like Kannada’s own Dr. Rajkumar. He’s the same man whom I watched as Kabali, unchanged by fame. Sadly, I think many of us have lost that innocence in the race to chase success.”

One question that often comes to the audience’s mind is how Kishore speaks Tamil so fluently even though he is a native Kannada speaker and a former lecturer in the language. Those who watched Kishore in Polladhavan (2007) as Selvam were surprised by the way he spoke Tamil in the film. “When I went to watch Polladhavan in a Madurai single-screen, someone in the audience told his friend about me, ‘He is the only actor who got the Tamil right’. The credit must go to Vikram, an assistant to director Vetrimaran, and sound engineer Manikandan. They made sure every word, every intonation, was on point,” he said. Kishore added. “There is no secret about it. My wife speaks Tamil. I learnt broken Tamil by speaking one or two words. I used to strike up a conversation with her brother’s son. You know children never turn judgmental about anything. That was how I learnt Tamil. Now I dub for my roles in Tamil.”