In the 2005 film Ghajini, Suriya's character, Sanjay Ramasamy, says, “There is a very slight difference between self-confidence and arrogance. ‘I can do it' is self-confidence. ‘Only I can do it' is arrogance.” Director Ashwath Marimuthu seems to have faced a similar dilemma while preparing for the release of his third film, and second Tamil movie, Dragon.
Since the release of the teaser, followed by the trailer and an intense promotional campaign, Ashwath has been labeled by some as an overly confident filmmaker, accused of overhyping his movie beyond his abilities. In response, Ashwath said, “Tomorrow, I can start a rumor about you, post something negative on social media, and people will believe it. In fact, someone online suggested I should be more humble and not shout on set. But the truth is, I don't shout on my sets. Veteran filmmaker KS Ravikumar even mentioned at the Dragon pre-release event that he admired how I managed to be quiet on set while getting the work done. Why would he say that if it weren't true?”
Ashwath questioned the notion that he shouldn't be confident about his own film, asking, “Would you watch a movie if the director lacked confidence in their own work?”
Misconceptions and Criticism
The trailer for Dragon led to several preconceived notions, with some critics expecting the film to glorify negative themes. Addressing these concerns, Ashwath explained that the movie is about the value of education and the journey to success. He said, “What's the point of telling a story through a character who's already successful? The audience connects with a character's rise after a fall. Of course, I didn't show the entire film in the trailer. Why would I? If I had, people would have claimed I revealed too much.”
Ashwath believes that most moviegoers just want to enjoy a good film, whereas certain sections of social media are quick to criticize. “We don't need to take all criticism seriously,” he added.
Dealing with Online Trolls
When asked about targeted online trolling, Ashwath responded, “Why would anonymous people spread lies about me? They create false narratives, and others believe them. But who knows me better — anonymous internet users or those who work with me? I run a calm, quiet set, yet people believed baseless rumors. However, I see perceptions changing now. People understand where my confidence comes from.”
He expressed his realization of social media's power to manipulate public perception, stating, “Social media can project a lot of things about people. But you can't fool the audience forever. They can see through fake personas.”
Moving Forward with Confidence
Despite the negativity, Ashwath remains firm in his approach, saying, “I am not going to change. People see through fakeness. You can't cheat an audience for long with statements from anonymous accounts.” He acknowledged that these experiences have been painful but believes in moving forward gracefully.
Navigating the Cinema Ecosystem
Ashwath shared that these challenges haven't affected his writing process, nor his desire to create fun films. Reflecting on his debut movie, Oh My Kadavule, he said, “It could have easily been misinterpreted, given the sensitive theme of a man loving someone else after marriage. But it gradually became successful because nobody expected much from it. With Dragon, however, expectations are high, and so is the scrutiny.”
Despite the controversies and preconceived judgments, Ashwath remains confident in Dragon, emphasizing that his film is about perseverance, education, and the journey to success. Whether the audience resonates with this message or not, one thing is clear — Ashwath Marimuthu won't let negativity dim his passion for storytelling.
