Actor Shane Nigam interview: On his Tamil debut ‘Madraskaaran’ and why he wouldn’t do another ‘Bhoothakaalam’-OxBig News Network

When Malayalam star Shane Nigam sits for a chat with us, his exhaustion from having sat through dozens of interviews is evident. He coughs through the chat and keeps his answers short, and yet, doesn’t resist a request for a live rendition of ‘Rafta Rafta Woh Meri’, Mehdi Hasan’s popular Ghazal which Shane has recreated in his upcoming film Haal(He previously composed and sang ‘Raa Thaarame’ from 2022’s Bhoothakaalam, and he says he has a few indie tracks ready for release).

The icing on the cake is that this exhaustive promotional drive is not for a Malayalam film; Shane is taking his first bow in Tamil with Madraskaaran, set for release later this week. The film, co-starring Kalaiyarasan and Niharika Konidela, is undoubtedly the next logical step for the actor who has enjoyed quite some attention from Tamil audiences, especially on social media.

Tamil fans of Malayalam cinema first took notice of Shane in his small but effective cameo towards the end of Dulquer Salmaan’s Kammattipaadam. Then came films like C/O Saira Banuand Parava, but it was 2019’s Kumbalangi Nights that truly broke Shane’s fame out of Kerala, a fandom that would then reach its peak withRDX: Robert Dony Xavier thanks to the viral hit ‘Neela Nilave.’ “I have always felt this love from Tamil Nadu, right from Parava days. But RDX was special; only after offers for the main lead came my way, and Madraskaaran too happened because of that,” he confesses.

Conviction to do Madraskaaran as his Tamil debut, he adds, came from the script that director Vaali Mohan Das had written. “I would have done this script no matter which language it was to be made in because there’s a haunting element to it. Even after listening to the script, I took some time to confirm it, and somehow the story kept coming back to my mind. I then knew that I had to do it.”

Excerpts:

Looking back, your turn in ‘Bhoothakaalam’ is one of your finest yet. It was a complicated role, of a broken man, unpredictable and vulnerable, who furthers breaks down psychologically due to the supernatural element. What did ‘Bhoothakaalam’ do to you as an actor? 

It wasn’t an easy role. With Bhoothakaalam, I was the first person to listen to that script. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown and I was eagerly waiting to do an OTT film. I listened to many scripts but this was quite convenient because it didn’t need many locations. Moreover, I understood that Rahul Sadasivan had a unique perspective on horror. Thankfully, we got Anwar Rasheed, who co-produced the film along with me. I was quite involved in the script, even during the pre-production stage. Rahul and I used to discuss the scenes and dialogues; we used to act out the scenes, record them on our mobiles, and then pick out the dialogues. So maybe it turned out so well because I was involved in it.

Actor Shane Nigam
| Photo Credit:
Thamodharan B

It was such a disturbing, atmospheric film for the audiences to come out of, and you have previously mentioned how you take time to get in and out of characters…

It was very draining. We were emotionally exhausted after doing many scenes. It was only after Bhoothakaalam that I decided never to do another film that deals with such psychological issues. Yes, I enjoyed the process, but once it is done, I have a life where there is nothing — I can’t return to my character, I have to be Shane Nigam again, and I have to get into another character soon. That space is difficult. There’s a lot of emptiness that comes with such emotional exhaustion.

Does needing time to get in and out of characters limit you from doing multiple projects simultaneously?

Yes, I can’t do that. I tried that and failed miserably. I was shooting Veyil alongside Qurbaani, and it proved to be a difficult process.

When it comes to the character you play in ‘Madraskaaran’, can you name something that stayed with you long after the shoot wrapped up?

This isn’t a character we have never seen before, but our take on it is unique. The note the film ends with is very different, and I am saying that as an actor who acted in it and as an audience while watching it during the dubbing sessions. Only those who have watched the film will understand what I mean by this.

Something unique about the Malayalam film industry is how the new wave of filmmakers has helped the coming of young actors like yourself. In Tamil, however, we don’t have many actors like Mathew Thomas, Naslen K Gafoor, or you. What do you think is the key to unlock this space in Tamil?

Firstly, more scripts for the younger generation are being made in Malayalam. Everyone likes stories set in schools since there is scope for cute scenes. A story set in college is also interesting because a lot happens in that phase of life.

Moreover, in Malayalam, nobody watches films because they like an actor; they will go to the theatres only if the movie is good. The fans might fill the screens for a few days, but a movie will run well only if it is good. That is the new wave of Malayalam audiences.

When did you discover Tamil cinema?

Right from my childhood. My mother used to recollect how when I was in kindergarten, whenever a Rajinikanth song was playing on the jukebox, I used to run into my room, wear a Rajinikanth costume, and come out only to find that the song was over. Then there will be a Hrithik Roshan song, and I will repeat the same. I used to go to theatres to watch Tamil movies.

Actor Shane Nigam
| Photo Credit:
Thamodharan B

You are taking a plunge into an all-new world. Did you analyse the kind of films coming out in Tamil to calculate how you can go about it?

I don’t feel like that. I am just doing whatever I have done so far. From the preparations to shooting and now to the promotions, everything feels the same. I am doing my job whatever the language is. At this time, any movie in the world can become popular if the film is good. We all want that to happen.

Do people come to you with opinions on the kind of roles you need to be doing now? How do you want to shape your career?

Nobody says anything to me; not even my mom. I follow my instincts. I don’t see how other heroes are going about their careers because their lives are entirely different from mine. I don’t live like an actor.

Are you listening to more scripts in Tamil? What’s coming up next in Malayalam?

Yes, I am listening to scripts, and a project is in the final stages of being materialised. In Malayalam, I have finished Haal. I am currently doing a movie on Kabaddi set in Palakkad. It’s a Tamil-Malayalam bilingual featuring Selvaraghavan as an antagonist. Alphonse Puthren and Shanthnu Bhagyaraj play pivotal roles.

Madraskaaran releases in theatres on January 10