RS Durai Senthikumar interview: ‘Garudan’ is like a relay race with Soori, Sasikumar and Unni Mukundan

For director RS Durai Senthilkumar, a hero is an ordinary man with the grit, resilience, and capabilities “to tackle the most extraordinary of circumstances, for a larger cause or his own benefit.” His upcoming action film Garudan shows a God’s eye view of three such heroes, who make the film a relay race of sorts, “as each of them takes up the baton and spearheads this story one after the other.” A multi-hero subject such as this is right up Durai’s alley as such an effort to give ample space to secondary leads and supporting characters is visible in almost all his films. Heroes are aware of that as well.” This is why, Durai says, actor Soori — who has famously started a second innings as a serious actor since Vetri Maaran’s Viduthalai — has chosen a multi-hero subject like Garudan for his sophomore attempt as a hero. “He knows that despite the presence of others, he could shine in a story like this.” Garudan features Sasikumar and Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan as best friends, and Soori as the watchful protector of Unni’s character. That’s what led us to Unni Mukundan.” Contrary to what most might assume, Durai did not choose Soori as a hero after his popular turn in Viduthalai; in fact, the project materialised before the release of Vetri Maaran’s film, and it was Soori who seems to have given the seed of this story to Durai.