Mysskin is kollywood Samurai
 

Who’d imagine that there’d be a Japanese connection to a Tamil film director with a Russian name? But step into director Mysskin’s office and you discover just that.

Black and white photos of Akira Kurosawa and Takeshiki Kitano adorn the walls. Manga comics and haiku poetry top the bookshelves. Zen Flesh Zen Bones is not just the name of the book he is presently reading, but also seems to describe the man himself!


What's in a name...
So what's with the Russian name? He chuckles, "A name should convey some magic. My real name is Raja but as there are too many Rajas in India, I changed it. I love Dostoevsky, so I took the name of Mysskin from his book." Mysskin means a simple man devoid of baggage — and that’s how the director describes himself.

Journey into films...
A student of the Gopalapuram Boys Higher Secondary School, Mysskin obtained a diploma in electronic engineering. But after 70 jobs in 7 years of marketing, he concluded that he was a failure because he was doing things that he didn't like. "I loved reading, singing and Nature and these contributed to story, music and scenes — the 3 basic ingredients of films. So, I decided to give my love for cinema a try," he grins.

But instead of joining a long line of assistant directors, he took a short-cut and educated himself on cinema. For a year, he worked at Landmark - reading books in his spare time and taking notes on everything from Fellini to Kurosawa. Films happened thanks to a meeting with director Kathir and later when Vincent Selva made him associate director for the film Youth. But it was only after working as an assistant in Ek Haseena, Ek Diwana and Jithan that he made it big with his debut film Chitram Pesuthadi.

From director to hero...
His Anjaathe was a big success story for which he received accolades for his grip over his craft. Today, almost every actor wants to work with the man who gave new identities to Bhavana, Narain, Prasanna, Pandiarajan and Ajmal. But he has now turned hero with his next venture Nandalala, a film which stars a 6-year-old too. "Every actor I approached loved the script but felt it was not the right time to do this role of a mentally challenged man. So I decided to turn hero. But I am working with Surya in my next project," he confirms.

Makeover man...
But playing hero is hard work. Mysskin weighed 90 kilos before he lost 9 kilos in 40 days, with a strict workout and with an only 'juice and fruits' diet. His target weight is 65 kilos before he starts shooting in July. The moustache, beard and long hair are gone. Only the cap and dark glasses remain.

 

Mysskin's movie mantras...
Does success taste sweet? "I am very happy today. After Chithiram, I wrote the script of Nandalala but found no takers. In sheer anger, I wrote Anjaathe in 37 days. Anjaathe crafted me and prepared me for Nandalala. I discovered my visual side." Mysskin believes "Every film should be a battle. Every director should feel he is a Samurai, in a battle of life and death. There is no looking back. He has to give his best.
Movie making is as tough as giving birth to triplets. If you believe strongly in what you make, the audience will like it too."

Signing a superhero...
Mysskin's next is a superhero project with Surya, "I wrote it 3 years ago. Vishal was supposed to do it but felt my salary was too high. But then, it's a 30 crore project! Surya is shooting for me from May 2009." Mysskin has already got Panavision cameras and plans for a graphics and stunt team from abroad. It's about an ordinary person who discovers his extraordinary qualities. Surya will have to train in martial arts and a search for a suitable villain and heroine is on. Mysskin is all praise for his hero, "Surya is very close to me. Our relationship is very warm and smooth. I admire his total application and ability to transform himself into the character. We will do many projects together," concludes the man who wants to make a historical film next.