Rajavel: I am not a fan of horror films
Recounting the multi-pronged challenges he faced during production and post-production, Rajavel says that it was an enriching experience on the whole. The film demanded peculiar performances, and he credits his stint as an assistant director with Ajay Gnanamuthu for his preparedness. "Performance-wise, the actors faced teething troubles as they had to emote facing a wall with no reaction on the other end to respond. I did a test shoot with my assistant directors and made them enact the interval scene. I used the footage as my instruction manual to let the actors know exactly what I needed. There was confusion for 3-4 days, and from then on, it was smooth sailing. On the post-production side, I had to ensure that Kaali Venkat sir's portions were in sync with 2012 Chennai. Despite most of the drama unfolding within the confines of the home, there is a substantial amount of outdoor scenes as well. Focus was needed on the CG front, where cars and bikes of the current period had to be cut out. Also, the metro rail works in the background, too, and had to be removed. So it was a task. Having worked in close quarters with Ajay Gnanamuthu sir, seeing him get involved himself hands-on in every department, it wasn't too much for me to handle."
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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Rajavel: I am not a fan of horror films
Rajavel confesses that he is not a fan of horror movies and that he has only watched a few films of the genre. This is a shocking statement on several levels, as he flirts with horror in Housemates and was also a part of the writing team of the successful and novel Ajay Gnanamuthu film, Demonte Colony. "Unique concepts and stories within the horror genre fascinate me. But I am not a fan of the genre. At least not the ones with the clichéd possession-exorcism storylines. The horror employed in Demonte Colony and Housemates is unique. Truth be told, I watched a lot of popular horror films only before I wrote Housemates. Films such as The Sixth Sense and Insidious define my taste in the genre." Recounting the multi-pronged challenges he faced during production and post-production, Rajavel says that it was an enriching experience on the whole. The film demanded peculiar performances, and he credits his stint as an assistant director with Ajay Gnanamuthu for his preparedness. "Performance-wise, the actors faced teething troubles as they had to emote facing a wall with no reaction on the other end to respond. I did a test shoot with my assistant directors and made them enact the interval scene. I used the footage as my instruction manual to let the actors know exactly what I needed. There was confusion for 3-4 days, and from then on, it was smooth sailing. On the post-production side, I had to ensure that Kaali Venkat sir's portions were in sync with 2012 Chennai. Despite most of the drama unfolding within the confines of the home, there is a substantial amount of outdoor scenes as well. Focus was needed on the CG front, where cars and bikes of the current period had to be cut out. Also, the metro rail works in the background, too, and had to be removed. So it was a task. Having worked in close quarters with Ajay Gnanamuthu sir, seeing him get involved himself hands-on in every department, it wasn't too much for me to handle."
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Housemates Movie Review: A zany horror that mostly delivers the goods
Unless it's a star vehicle, it is quite the daunting task to keep the audience engrossed with a clichéd first half. Even if a decent or brilliant second half follows, more often than not, the damage is already done. However, debut director Rajavel, despite hitting us with one cliché in the initial scenes, somehow convinces us that our patience would be rewarded with something wacky. And in Darshan's Housemates, the clichés do not act as fun-sponges, and the ideas introduced are amusing. Housemates begin with Darshan's Karthik, who is anxious to register a house in his name to convince his girlfriend Anu's (Aarsha Baiju) father for their wedding. Though Anu's father is reluctant to marry off his daughter to Karthik, they tie the knot eventually. As soon as Karthik realises the middle-class dream of getting married and owning a house, Anu senses something is off. Living all his life in a rented house, owning a haunted place might not have been on Karthik's bucket list, and Housemates is about how this couple tackle the conundrum, and react and respond when they discover they were tilting at windmills. Rajavel, who worked as a writer in the Demonte Colony franchise, impresses with his directorial debut by taking a calculated risk in the first 30 minutes of the film. Every single thing feels familiar; be it the TV automatically turning on, the creaking of the door, flapping curtains, and the clattering of cupboards. Just when we feel the writing to be ordinary, Rajavel compensates with a smart pre-interval block. And from here, Housemates singularly focuses on the predicament we are introduced to at the interval. Darshan and Aarsha fit the bill of the lead characters. The other lead characters, played by the fantastic Kaali Venkat and Vinothini Vaidhyanathan, are good team players. With Darshan, Aarsha and Dheena pulling off the lighter scenes, Kaali and Vinothini shine in the emotionally charged parts.
News18
30-07-2025
- News18
Darshan's Next With Thamizh To Release On Christmas? What House Mates Actor Said
Darshan's next with director Thamizh is based on Perumal Murugan's novel Pookuzhi, which explores caste injustice and hatred in Indian society. Darshan is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming project, House Mates. Helmed by debutant director Rajavel, the film is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2025. The film follows the incidents happening in an apartment complex, highlighting the everyday emotions and experiences of middle-class families. Following the release of House Mates, Darshan will be next seen in Seththumaan-fame director Thamizh's untitled film opposite Darshana Rajendran. Now, during an interview, the actor has shed some light on his new project. Darshan Talks About His Next Project With Darshana Rajendran Speaking to OTTPlay, the actor talked about his upcoming movie with Darshana Rajendran, who has acted in films including Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Paradise, and Hridayam. The yet-to-be-titled Tamil film is based on a novel written by Perumal Murugan. He said, 'It's based on Perumal Murugan's novel Pookuzhi. He wrote the film's dialogue, while Deepak, the director of Witness, is the cinematographer. The film is ready for release, and we aim to release it after House Mates. Probably by the end of the year," as quoted by Hindustan Times. In addition to this, Darshan shared that the project will be an intense film. He said, 'When I heard the story, I was completely surprised. There are only a few shots, but each one is really long. We shot using the sync-sound approach, and because there are so many single shots, any one error means we have to start over. The working method was new, yet there was a lot to learn. I cried a lot during the climax and final day of shooting." What Is Perumal Murugan's novel Pookuzhi About? Pookuzhi is a romantic story that explores caste injustice and hatred in Indian society. It revolves around a couple and the wrath of the society they face due to their inter-caste marriage. Notably, Thamiz and Perumal Murugan have previously collaborated on the 2022 film Seththumaan. It was another hard-hitting film based on food politics and how the caste system affects it. The film, featuring Manikkam, Ashwin, and Prasanna Balachandran, is based on Perumal Murugan's story Varugari and follows an elderly man and his grandson, who are hired by local villagers to cook pork. First Published: July 30, 2025, 17:49 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
