I DON'T WANT AUDIENCE TO BE PREJUDICED AGAINST MY FILMS

Kathir, who makes his Malayalam debut with Meesha, talks about his determination to prove himself in a new industry, his love for subtlety, stereotyping and more

- VIGNESH MADHU

HEY say you can only do a thing for the first time once, and Kathir had his acting debut with Madha Yaanai Koottam in 2013. 12 years later, he is doing the same thing for the first time, again. His maiden Malayalam film hits the screens on August 1. This might sound strange, as we are talking about an actor who has proved his credentials, courtesy of his performances in Pariyerum Perumal and Vikram Vedha, and still, Kathir believes this is a new chapter and a new opportunity to reinvent himself. Excited and happy about his Malayalam debut, he calls it a chance to learn and experience the industry all over again.

When was your first offer for Meesha? What prompted you to choose it as your Malayalam debut?

I have been offered at least 5-6 films in Malayalam before, but the roles were either inconsequential or stereotypical, like a Tamil villain in a Malayalam film. I was also not comfortable doing a film in another language without knowing the script. With Meesha, I got the idea instantly, but for almost a year, there were no updates. When director Emcy approached me, he requested another narration, after which I was convinced about my role and the scope for performance. Even then, I was still not sure of the reception. I felt my performance would be noticed by the Malayali audience and critics.

You have already proven yourself as a performer. How did Meesha pose a different challenge?