A quick chat with Manoj

 

Acting was definitely not his first love. "I was almost forced into acting", says Manoj, son of ace director Bharatiraja. And Bharatiraja had made stars out of nobodies. But when it came to his son, he couldn't do much. For, 'Taj Mahal' Manoj's first film, was a flop. But one couldn't fault Manoj's acting in that. The guy had performed like a seasoned veteran. It's the script that let him down.

On the flop of his first film Manoj admits that he did feel a bit bad initially. "But I got over it in a month. Shooting for my second film 'Alli Arjuna', directed by Charan, where I am paired with Richa Palot had started. My father's film 'Kadhal Pookkal' came in quick succession. It centres round the lives of the fisher folk and I am teamed with Murali. With so much happening there was no time to brood. And now I've got it completely out of my system."

If not acting, what was Manoj interested in? "It is always direction that fascinated me. I even assisted Maniratnam in his film 'Bombay'. And I learnt a lot from him. The experience will come in handy when I direct my own film", says Manoj. And when will that be? "Not in the near future. I am enjoying my acting now. Definitely at a later date."

Manoj is an expert keyboard player, and learnt to play the piano when he was just eight years old. "I then went on to learn the guitar and other percussion instruments."

On singing for '16 Vayathinile', the album he had cut with Meena, Manoj says that singing had always been a passion with him. "While in school I even had a troupe called 'Black Snow'. And it was quite popular. When the chance to sing for a private album came, I ventured into it. It was a different experience."

Any more such adventures? Is he into playback singing too? "No I am not into playback singing. But yes, plans are on to sing for another private video album. It's titled 'Kadhal Oviyam' and we are composing the music for it."

Naming the albums after his father's films. Was it deliberate? "Yes, it's deliberate", he laughingly admits. Manoj has other loves too. Apart from music and more music "I love video games. You can also spot me at a Bowling Alley for Snow Bowling is yet another of my loves", says Manoj.

I still have lots of questions,; questions on his secret passions, his love, the fan mail he receives and all that. But then, when you chat with him on line this Friday, you should have some thing to ask.