Quotes from Sudha Kongara

I can't make a movie where I can't learn. I'd die of boredom.

I interviewed around 20 women boxers and all of them told me they learnt boxing to get a job. At one point, I asked one boxer if she had the passion for sports. She told me 'put some food in my belly and I'll talk about passion.'

I revisit stories and see if they are still living and breathing, because if you do a film you live with that story for another year. I can't do a film in six months and scoot.

I've been in the industry for 17 years. I am over that phase of wanting my first watch, car etc.

I have this huge dossier on sports that I had collected over 10 years. Every human interest story has been cut out and filed away.

There's so much drama in the lives of boxers. It's a contact sport and everyday they beat up people for a living.

I love Aparna Sen. I've watched '36 Chowringhee Lane' too many times to count.

I have been a huge fan of Gautham; I remember him editing 'Kaakha Kaakha' and I used to pray for it to become a superhit.

I wrote 'Paava Kadhaigal' the same way I wrote my feature films 'Irudhi Sutru' or 'Soorarai Potru.' I was more honest in this film rather, because you can afford to be real and get away with it.

Thanks to the magic word 'success,' which changes anyone's fortunes for good, I am not the same Sudha as I was seven years ago.

Mani is not just my Godfather. He is almost like a father to me.

Every year, I go to Suriya's house to tie Rakhi on Raksha Bandhan. On one such day, he asked me if I have a script in hand and that's when I gave him the half-completed script of 'Soorarai Pottru.'

If at all I make films till I die, I want to make ones that last.

It really feels special to know that 'Irudhi Suttru' has been selected to be screened at Tokyo Film Festival. I see this honor as an impetus to continue doing my good work.

It's criminal to make a film and not see it release.

I used to be a huge fan of Francis Ford Coppola.

Each story in 'Paava Kadhaigal' explores human relationships from a perspective that it has never been looked at before - how far would one go in the name of honor.

Directing a movie is one of the toughest tasks.

There is a cheat inside everyone.

The traits I picked from my conversation with Captain Gopinath was his honesty. He was completely possessed at each stage by what he was doing. When he was in the army, he was possessed there. He was possessed when he started Udupi hotel or while doing agriculture. He is a perfectionist and he is very impatient.

I have made an honest attempt in 'Drohi.' Thanks to the support from the producer Mano Akkineni and the lessons I learnt from Mani sir, the film has come out well.

Directing Suriya is a joy. He was my first and last choice for the role of Capt. Gopinath.

There is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that you know how to do your job and can go on to the next film with confidence.

Our country is one of the youngest in the world. Our youngsters need to be told inspirational stories.