Anjana took 3 years to create Veppam (Sega)

Chennai: Director Anjana Ali Khan's debut venture 'Veppam', which will also be released simultaneously in Telugu as 'Sega', this Friday, took nearly three years to shape up to what it is today. 'I had a script ready in 2008, but could not start shooting until early 2010,' says Anjana.

'But thanks to Gautam Menon, whose production house Photon Kathas also commenced around the same time, for coming forward to help me out. The faith he showed in my script was a huge motivating factor,' recollects the director.

'Veppam' is a story based in Chennai and revolves around five main characters played by Nani, Karthik Kumar, Nithya Menon, Bindu Madhavi and a Koothup- pattarai artiste Muthukumar. Anjana says that people in the age-group of 18-29 years should be able to connect with the film.

The title of the movie is synonymous with the climate of Chennai. 'One thing that we all keep complaining about is the heat and soaring temperatures in the city, also known as 'Veppam' in Tamil ('Sega' in Telugu),' the director explains. Though everything looked set, hurdles came in droves for Anjana while shooting for the film.

She recalls, 'When we started to shoot, I was particular that there should be no break in the first four days of the shooting. But on day two, our cameraman sustained injury in his leg.' However, help came from unexpected quarters. A cameraman-friend of Anjana stepped in.

'Thanks to Manigandan, my friend and a cameraman,' says Anjana. 'We started rolling at 4.30pm, which was already about two and half hours beyond schedule. It went on till 10pm and as it was a slum area; there were nasty fights and before it could create a bad scene, we packed up. We shot it all in 46 days.'

'Veppam' was predominantly shot in Chennai and its slum areas. Two songs were shot in Pondicherry and Kodaikanal each. There have been many scenes shot in the slum areas of Mylapore, Mandaveli, Visalakshithottam, Kuppams near Alwarpet and the like.

Asked why the slum factor is essential in the film, Anjana says, 'It acts as a backdrop, but the film is not based on slums. The film has a commercial element, including four songs. It is sleek without being elitist and is a fast-paced action thriller.'

Another highlight of the film is its candid shots, admits the director. 'There are a lot of them. I can cite this one shot which we shot in the slums near Mandaveli, Thirumylai MRTS flyover, where Muthukumar runs around in search of Nani and he keeps asking whoever he comes across, 'Have you seen my brother?'