The cracks of the Parasakthi team have come to light at last. At a promotional event recently held, director Sudha Kongara and star Sivakarthikeyan exchanged terse comments and verified rumors that conditions in the studio at the time of the film’s production were far from perfect.
Sudha Kongara’s Grievances
Sudha Kongara, who spoke first at the event, made a direct jab at Sivakarthikeyan’s working style. She highlighted her stern discipline on set, saying, “My discipline was uncomfortable for the actors. I made everyone, including Sivakarthikeyan, wake up at 3:00 AM. They found it very difficult, but I made sure they understood the consequences of being late.”
She also showed that she and the lead actor were not very friendly to one another initially. “We didn't click at the start. I eventually had to call him for a four-hour private discussion to resolve our misunderstandings,” she added. Sudha also denounced Sivakarthikeyan's habit of not checking the "monitor" (playback screen) after a shot, calling it "a grave mistake" by an actor.
Sivakarthikeyan’s Sharp Rebuttal
Sivakarthikeyan was not one to remain silent, and he gave a well-placed reply when he took the stage. Dismissing Sudha’s allegations that he didn’t like starting shifts in the early hours, he said, “Waking up early for a shoot is nothing new for me; I’ve been doing it since the start of my career. It wasn't 'difficult' at all.”
He gave the director a sharp "tongue-in-cheek" reply on the monitor controversy: "I don't like looking at the monitor. My job is to act as the director instructs. If she watches the monitor and asks for another take, I will give it. I don't need to see it myself."
The actor also mocks Sudha’s assertion that the film is a historical record. Though Sudha has been pushing Parasakthi like “history,” Sivakarthikeyan added: “This is not a true story. It is a fictional tale. We have taken many cinematic liberties and haven't shown things exactly as they happened.”
Box Office Woes
The public sparring arrives at a time when Parasakthi isn't setting the box office ablaze. Even though Sreeleela is the female lead and the film contains a heavy political note, the film's loose plot and the conflict between the main squad appear to have dampened the audience's energy.
