Quotes from Gautham Menon

No matter how liberal or modern a family is, there will always be resistance when someone discloses that they are dating someone.

Most of the romance in my films has been inspired by my father.

YVM' is a feel-good romance.

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.

There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the characters are thinking are written. Once the film is shot and the lines are dubbed, I tone it down in postproduction if I feel it gets heavy.

Even though I love Hindi films, I don't remember any backdrop visuals that are really striking.

I don't like to shoot on sets at all. As much as possible, I try to shoot on location.

I'm okay with suggestions but I want to do what I believe in, because I'm inspired by an idea.

You need stars to create the buzz and bring audiences to the cinemas.

Back in the day, I was keen on working on a film with the superstars - Mammootty and Mohanlal. But they wanted me to make a film with them in Tamil.

Ekk Deewana Tha' will have a surprise ending to watch out for.

I firmly believe in copyrights and am put off by plagiarism.

Though I have an idea about the climax, it always changes when we start shooting.

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.

I've portrayed cops as heroes for far too long, I think.

I think I have made too many cop films.

If I am going to be afraid of the criticisms that my films get, I am never going to make films.

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.

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.

Whatever the script demands, I do.

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.

The lead character in 'Yennai Arindhaal' is like an extension of the protagonists of 'Kaakha Kaakha' and 'Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.'

Unless it's a song and something fancy, I would rather shoot on location.