Quotes from Gautham Menon

I may have got a little carried away and many critics found fault with some aspects of the film, but as a coming of age film of a character, 'Vaaranam Ayiram' worked with the audience.

When I was approached to remake 'Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya,' I felt that it was a good way to reach out to a wider audience, every director wants that.

I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.

Even bigger directors like Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma have faced flak, that doesn't mean they've shied away from filmmaking.

Today, most big stars want scripts to be written in a particular way, show them in a certain light. They want people to like them for various reasons. It's all about how much people will like me in this film than about whether it's a good film or not.

Yes, I am nervous before a film's release and withdraw into a shell.

There's nothing quite like a quiet corner in a coffee shop to gather your thoughts and begin writing.

The only aspect I'd probably change in some of my films is the death of the heroine. I wish I'd kept some of them alive.

I understand that bureaucracy, hierarchy and managing politics is not easy.

Vipul Shah wanted me to do the Hindi adaptation of my film 'Kaakha Kaakha.' I declined the offer.

The industry doesn't usually say nice things about my work. My films take a while till they are accepted as good and I think 'Yennai Arindhaal' too will go through that phase.

I try to be a friend to my boys just the way my dad was with me. Subconsciously that reflects in my writing.

Ranbir was my first choice for 'Ek Deewana Tha.' I tried to get in touch in with. Forget about meeting Ranbir. I couldn't even meet his secretary. Yes, even the secretary refused to meet me.

For a film like Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, I was particular that nothing should be revealed prior to release.

I'm not a big fan of fantasy; I'd rather watch 'Desperate Housewives' than 'Game of Thrones.'

I write my scripts on a whim, without worrying about plot points and graphs.

It is in college that one gathers confidence as the mind is open to ideologies.

If I could talk in only one language for the rest of my life, it'd be Tamil.

I don't read the reviews because it somewhere affects my work. If some critic doesn't like a movie, I can't keep his criticisms in mind the next time I am making a film. Even if someone writes a great review about my film, I don't want to be affected by it.

Nayakan,' 'Sathya' and 'Thevar Magan' are my biggest influences.

I put my heart into 'Vaaranam Ayiram.' I lost my father when I began the film, and the tragedy turned my entire script around.

Even when 'Kaakha Kaakha' was released, there were people who gave it an average rating and said they couldn't figure out what was happening. Three days after its release, the producer called me and asked me to remove all of Jothika's scenes from the film. I told him; in that case, you can also remove my name from the director's slot.

Though I'm happy with the response to the film, I've been hearing the feedback that 'Yennai Arindhaal' has traces of my earlier films. It was meant to be like that. Since it's part of a trilogy, hence the reference to the other two films in the franchise.

The music I listen, the book I read, and the people I meet; these are some things that keeps me going.