Costume designer Sathya NJ discusses the concept behind his viral idea designs that give a distinct shade to senior artistes
Sathya NJ chanced upon a video of Nasser — who was sporting a bushy beard — attending the Tamil Movie Producers Council meet earlier this yr. The actor’s unkempt beard caught Sathya’s consideration and he started to visualise Nasser in a classic, western look. In actor-comedian Vivekh’s case, it was his salt and pepper makeover that impressed Sathya, who noticed him by means of a distinct lens, as a uber-cool gangster. Each circumstances resulted in a viral photoshoot, with the actors posing for his idea designs.
The ‘what if’ triggered an concept. Sathya started reimagining Tamil movie personalities as a lockdown exercise, now he intends to proceed the venture as a collection.
This fashioned the bottom for his designs, although he admits that he has been grinding the identical batter. “It isn’t that the designs are distinctive. The innovation lies within the considering and I had a intestine feeling this might work and it did,” says Sathya over telephone from Chennai, a day earlier than the shoot of Ravana Kottam, through which he performs a supporting character.
Sathya says he needed to interrupt the notion audiences have about actors, recognized for taking part in supporting characters. The intent is to convey these less-spoken-about artistes to the fore, and provides them a distinct dimension.
For example, comic Manobala, who audiences normally see in plain, formal garments. Sathya noticed him in a distinct shade, in a yellow jacket with a white T-shirt and denims, in a yellow background.
The designer admits that it was troublesome to promote his concept to celebrities, who, he says, had been outright uninterested at first. He needed to follow-up on senior actors reminiscent of Nasser and Vivekh for weeks, generally, months, to get their approval. “Nasser sir was hesitant until the final second. Nevertheless, when he noticed the primary photograph of himself within the costume, he received excited. The truth is, he known as me after the shoot and mentioned, ‘For those who aren’t happy with the work, I don’t thoughts dropping in for a reshoot’.”
Turning the highlight on
Sathya received the same response from Vivekh. This photoshoot was such a success on Twitter, with over 23k likes, that individuals in contrast the actor’s type assertion to stars Ajith Kumar and Vikram (from Dhruva Natchathiram). Vivekh lastly posted a tweet, asking followers to not evaluate and respect individuality. “Vivekh sir gifted a Tommy Hilfiger watch after the shoot, and mentioned that he has been getting presents to play a hero,” says Sathya.
He states that his intention is to not type actors within the limelight. “A few of the heroines requested me to type them. However I don’t wish to compromise on that entrance. That’s not my plan. I would favor styling somebody like Seetha ma’am [actor], who we now have approached,” he says.
Actors Mansoor Ali Khan, Karunas and his spouse Grace, choreographer Sandy, tv character Gobinath and Bigil lady Indraja Shankar are just a few others he has styled to this point. He provides that the aim is to type 100 celebrities.
“Administrators, too, are starting to consider actors in a distinct mild. That’s success, in keeping with me,” he says.
