Top 73 Quotes & Sayings by Gautham Menon

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an Indian director Gautham Menon.
Last updated on September 19, 2024.
Gautham Menon

Gautham Vasudev Menon is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor who predominantly works in Tamil film industry. He has also directed Telugu and Hindi films that either simultaneously shot with or remakes of his own Tamil films. Many of his films have been critically acclaimed, most notably his romantic films Minnale (2001), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), and his action thrillers Kaakha Kaakha (2003), Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006), and Yennai Arindhaal (2015). Vaaranam Aayiram won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Menon produces films through his film production company named Photon Kathaas. His production Thanga Meengal (2013) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

The lead character in 'Yennai Arindhaal' is like an extension of the protagonists of 'Kaakha Kaakha' and 'Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.'
I understand the angst of a filmmaker.
I put my heart into 'Vaaranam Ayiram.' I lost my father when I began the film, and the tragedy turned my entire script around. — © Gautham Menon
I put my heart into 'Vaaranam Ayiram.' I lost my father when I began the film, and the tragedy turned my entire script around.
Though I have an idea about the climax, it always changes when we start shooting.
The industry doesn't usually say nice things about my work. My films take a while till they are accepted as good and I think 'Yennai Arindhaal' too will go through that phase.
The music I listen, the book I read, and the people I meet; these are some things that keeps me going.
It is difficult, but I definitely do want to make a film in Malayalam at some point of my life.
Minnale' was so earthy.
I don't read the reviews because it somewhere affects my work. If some critic doesn't like a movie, I can't keep his criticisms in mind the next time I am making a film. Even if someone writes a great review about my film, I don't want to be affected by it.
How the audience as a collectivity feels about a movie is important.
If my tale has to revolve around a protagonist and there is action around him, I can only imagine him to be someone from the police or the Army.
I'm okay with suggestions but I want to do what I believe in, because I'm inspired by an idea.
I write my scripts on a whim, without worrying about plot points and graphs. — © Gautham Menon
I write my scripts on a whim, without worrying about plot points and graphs.
The initial response to 'Yennai Arindhaal' was that it didn't have all the quintessential commercial elements, though I consider it as my most commercial venture.
One reason why I've taken 11 years to make my second Hindi film is because I am comfortable working with the stars in the South, as they are with me.
I go straight into shooting with a script that's 80 per cent complete and I wait for my characters to grow on me before I finalise the climax.
When people think I've lost it, I'll make 'Chennaiyil' and show them I've still got it.
I'm not a big fan of fantasy; I'd rather watch 'Desperate Housewives' than 'Game of Thrones.'
Unless it's a song and something fancy, I would rather shoot on location.
If I could talk in only one language for the rest of my life, it'd be Tamil.
I would like to make a film in the four South Indian languages.
If I know somebody's right about something I take it from them.
Most of the romance in my films has been inspired by my father.
What you feel about a film is what you feel when you're in love with a woman. You fight for her love and it's always a struggle... there are misunderstandings and you're always trying to prove that there's more to you.
All the women close to me - my mother, sister, wife and friends - are strong and independent.
There's nothing quite like a quiet corner in a coffee shop to gather your thoughts and begin writing.
I understand that bureaucracy, hierarchy and managing politics is not easy.
It is in college that one gathers confidence as the mind is open to ideologies.
It's just that I can write something nice is what motivates me.
I may have got a little carried away and many critics found fault with some aspects of the film, but as a coming of age film of a character, 'Vaaranam Ayiram' worked with the audience.
Though I'm happy with the response to the film, I've been hearing the feedback that 'Yennai Arindhaal' has traces of my earlier films. It was meant to be like that. Since it's part of a trilogy, hence the reference to the other two films in the franchise.
For a film like Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, I was particular that nothing should be revealed prior to release.
I've portrayed cops as heroes for far too long, I think.
I try to be a friend to my boys just the way my dad was with me. Subconsciously that reflects in my writing.
If I am going to be afraid of the criticisms that my films get, I am never going to make films.
I don't like to shoot on sets at all. As much as possible, I try to shoot on location.
Yes, I am nervous before a film's release and withdraw into a shell.
I firmly believe in copyrights and am put off by plagiarism. — © Gautham Menon
I firmly believe in copyrights and am put off by plagiarism.
Ranbir was my first choice for 'Ek Deewana Tha.' I tried to get in touch in with. Forget about meeting Ranbir. I couldn't even meet his secretary. Yes, even the secretary refused to meet me.
Generally, I feel I'm cast aside because of the kind of movies that I make.
You need stars to create the buzz and bring audiences to the cinemas.
Even when 'Kaakha Kaakha' was released, there were people who gave it an average rating and said they couldn't figure out what was happening. Three days after its release, the producer called me and asked me to remove all of Jothika's scenes from the film. I told him; in that case, you can also remove my name from the director's slot.
I would seriously love to do a Malayalam movie.
In everybody's life, there is love, there is sorrow, there is melancholy. And there might be danger as well.
I am a romantic at heart.
And I'm not homophobic.
Ekk Deewana Tha' will have a surprise ending to watch out for.
The only aspect I'd probably change in some of my films is the death of the heroine. I wish I'd kept some of them alive. — © Gautham Menon
The only aspect I'd probably change in some of my films is the death of the heroine. I wish I'd kept some of them alive.
Vipul Shah wanted me to do the Hindi adaptation of my film 'Kaakha Kaakha.' I declined the offer.
I think I have made too many cop films.
Today, most big stars want scripts to be written in a particular way, show them in a certain light. They want people to like them for various reasons. It's all about how much people will like me in this film than about whether it's a good film or not.
Yennai Arindhaal' is perhaps the quickest film in my career.
I drove past one of the houses in Tiruvanmiyur and asked them if we could shoot there for 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya' because it seemed straight out of the pages of the script.
I write linearly without knowing the full story. I discover it as I write it.
Bollywood is a different ballgame. I am quite used to Tamil and Telugu films.
I like to show love in a way that will bring a smile or a tear to viewers.
Even bigger directors like Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma have faced flak, that doesn't mean they've shied away from filmmaking.
Even though I love Hindi films, I don't remember any backdrop visuals that are really striking.
Nayakan,' 'Sathya' and 'Thevar Magan' are my biggest influences.
In Mumbai, I feel like a stranger.
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