Manoj Sakarapani may not be known widely to American film audiences but he is quite popular among movie goers in India. Since his appearance as Rahul in the 2017 blockbuster Sivalinga, Manoj’s remarkable performance among marquee names like Bhanupriya (winner of two Nandi Awards), Santhan Bharathi (of the National Film Award winning Mahanadhi), and Vtv Ganesh (multiple Vijay Award nominated actor) has confirmed him as one of the brightest actors of his generation.
Mr. Sakarapani will appear this summer in the Tamil language Action film Vetri Kondaan (which translates to “He Won” in English) alongside Vimal, another of India’s most celebrated actors. Anticipation and excitement is high for this film which is believed to be the summer blockbuster of the massive Indian film industry.
Executive Producer Mr. K. Balakrishnan (director known for his work on the hit series Big Boss Tamil and a number of Star Vijay and Sun TV Productions) approached Manoj about a role in Vetri Kondaan after witnessing his performance in the blockbuster Indian motion picture Sivalinga. Astonished at the actor’s ability to command attention amongst so many of India’s accomplished veteran actors in Sivalinga, the EP was keen to bring Sakarapani’s charismatic presence to Vetri Kondaan.
After investigating Manoj’s body of diverse work in Canadian and Indian films, Balakrishnan instantly hired Manoj for the film as the doctor who is vital to the storyline. While the film is yet to be released, rumors have already made their way into the press about the astonishing performance Mr. Sakarpani gives in the film. He concedes, “The only way I know how to act is to throw myself completely into each role. I’m very happy that the early feedback I’ve already received is so positive.
The hero of our film is played by the very famous actor Vimal and he was so generous and full of praise about my performance during our scenes together, it was quite a moment for me. He’s really an amazing actor and I’ll never forget how when we finished one scene and the camera stopped…he just yelled out, ‘I really cannot believe that you’re not actually a doctor!’ and everyone on set started laughing. The cast and crew were truly wonderful and supportive during the filming.”
Manoj relates that what he loved about this role, and about acting overall, is the ability to present the emotional complexity that resides in all people; that often vague delineation between the compassion and professional conduct that we all govern, none perhaps more so than a doctor. Combining these qualities into a character which seems so believable that the audience is convinced they may have known him is the payoff for an actor as talented at Manoj.
He states, “The greatest challenge as an actor is to become someone that you are not and will likely never be, but to do so in such a way that you convince yourself that you are in fact that person. In the case of Vetri Kondaan, the doctor I became has no time for idle chit chat because he is focused on saving lives in the biggest hospital of the country. He has an incredible pedigree and is very demanding but that’s because every decision and every moment affects the very lives of his patients.
My mother was very ill in the hospital at one time and I saw both the empathy and the drive of medical professionals such as this. These people achieved wonderful things for my mother and my family and I consider it an honor to portray those whom are in this line of work.”
Vetri Kondaan will be released in theaters this July. For those who cannot wait until summer, Manoj Sakarapani can be seen in films such as Sivalinga, Don’t Let Go, and The Don is Dead.
Writer: Coleman Haan