‘Love Today’ Star Pradeep Ranganathan Breaks Indian Industry Molds With ‘Dragon’: ‘Anything Is Possible in Life’

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Emerging Tamil cinema sensation Pradeep Ranganathan, known for his dual roles as director and actor in “Love Today,” is breaking traditional industry norms with his new project “Dragon.” In this venture, he takes center stage as the lead actor under the guidance of longtime associate Ashwath Marimuthu, who previously directed “Oh My Kadavule.

The move from behind the camera wasn’t entirely spontaneous; instead, it marked the conclusion of a long-standing journey that commenced during Ranganathan’s student filmmaking years. “It all began with my short films,” Ranganathan shares with EbMaster. “When I directed my first short film alongside another actor, everyone at college approached him. I was standing right beside him, but no one realized I was the director. After everyone left, he’d apologize for not introducing me, saying ‘I’ll introduce them to you next time.’ I’d reply, ‘No need, it would be awkward if you called them again.’

During his second brief movie production, destiny stepped in when the principal actor withdrew due to exams. “Given the circumstances, I had no other option but to take on the role myself because I’d already invested money into it and couldn’t bear the thought of losing it,” he shares. “After starring in that short film, I developed a fondness for the acclaim as an actor. I began appreciating the appreciation and affection people showed towards actors.”

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In his second small-scale film, luck took a turn when the main actor quit due to exams. “Since I’d already put money into it, there was no other option than for me to step in as the actor,” he recounts. “After appearing in that short film, I grew fond of the appreciation as an actor. I started enjoying the admiration and affection people displayed towards actors.

Starting out in performances sparked a deliberate approach to my career planning. I decided to direct my initial full-length movie, ‘Comali’ (2019), because I understood no one would back a film with me making my acting debut. By finding someone else to play the hero, I could direct that film and make my first film a significant production with substantial funding. Once that movie became a success and I demonstrated my abilities, I had an advantage for launching myself as an actor.

“Love Today” (2022) was produced for $605,000 and went on to gross $12 million. 

In “Dragon,” Ranganathan discovered an ideal collaborator in Marimuthu, whom he’s been acquainted with for ten years. Their lengthy relationship established a special creative partnership characterized by utmost transparency. “He understands my strengths and weaknesses as a director, as a friend, because I’ve always been honest with him,” Ranganathan explains. “I may not be this open with another director during our brief four to five months of collaboration before filming. But Ashwath knows me.

Even though they were friends, Ashwath insisted on maintaining a firm grip over the directorial role. As Ranganathan puts it, “He was a meticulous director who didn’t let our friendship influence his decisions. He didn’t allow for creative liberties just because I was his friend; he didn’t give me room to insert dramatic elements or improvisations.” Instead, Ashwath had a keen understanding of Ranganathan and wrote specific lines to match his unique body language, making the role more fitting for him.

Though they were friends, Ashwath was firm about keeping control as director. According to Ranganathan, “He was a precise director who didn’t let our friendship sway his choices. He didn’t provide me with opportunities to add dramatic flair or improvise; he didn’t give me leeway for that.” Instead, Ashwath had a deep understanding of Ranganathan and wrote parts tailored to highlight his distinctive body language, making the role more suitable for him.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming film where I, Ranganathan, will deliver a subtler performance compared to my past roles. Unlike my over-the-top portrayals in ‘Love Today’, this character is more grounded and realistic, as director Ashwath wanted a more understated performance to align with the film’s overall tone.

As a movie enthusiast, I find “Dragon” not just an entertaining piece, but a thought-provoking exploration of success and failure in our lives. It’s like this: when you attend a college orientation, you might see ten photos of the most successful alumni. Over the next decade, thousands of students will have graduated from that same college. Are only those ten individuals successful? What about everyone else? Won’t they feel unsuccessful in their own lives? The movie challenges this notion, suggesting that it aims to make every viewer feel content and triumphant with their lives.

Moving forward, Ranganathan is slated to appear in the sci-fi movie “LIK” (Love Insurance Kompany), a film helmed by Vignesh Shivan who previously directed “Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kadhal”. This film offers a glimpse of Chennai in 2035-40. Apart from this, he has been writing his next directorial project for two years, an action movie where he intends to act. He shares, “When I focus on myself, people trust me. When I aspired to be an actor or a hero, nobody believed in me. They thought that people wouldn’t accept me due to my appearance, but the audience loves me.

The achievement of “Love Today” has granted both affirmation and obligation. “I feel I’ve taken on more responsibility,” he ponders. “People have provided me with a platform, shown such faith in me. It feels like they’ve instantly placed me in a leading role.” So when I make my next film, I must ensure it lives up to the expectations people have for me.

Initially, my path was marked by obstacles, one of which being the refusals from prominent actresses unwilling to collaborate with me on “Love Today.” With due respect, I acknowledge their decisions because every aspect of our industry carries a commercial aspect. However, from my perspective, these were merely rejections that amused me.

Pondering his unique path to achievement, Ranganathan maintains a humble demeanor, underscoring the significance of resilience and flexibility. “Life has shown me that everything is attainable,” he muses. “I never dreamed I would end up here.” Just as if you encounter an obstacle on your journey by car, you wouldn’t turn back home, but rather find another route to continue forward, so too have I approached my goals – I’ve never thought ‘this is impossible.’ Instead, I’ve always found ways around any hurdles. If something doesn’t work out, that’s it. The sky’s the limit, and anything can be accomplished.

The film titled ‘Dragon’ is set to be released on the 21st of February, which marks another significant step in Ranganathan’s ongoing journey of breaking industry conventions and surprising audiences.

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2025-02-19 18:47