Director C.S. Karthikeyan :Journey of Passion and Perseverance

C.S. Karthikeyan, an emerging filmmaker in the Tamil film industry, made his mark with his directorial debut, “Saba Nayagan” 2023. Before venturing into direction, he gained experience working as an assistant director under Kamal Haasan Sir in “Vishwaroopam” 2013 and its sequel “Vishwaroopam II” 2018.

“Saba Nayagan” is a coming-of-age romantic comedy starring Ashok Selvan, Karthika Muralidharan, Chandini Chowdary, and Megha Akash. Released theatrically on December 22, 2023, the film received positive reviews and achieved commercial success. However, Karthikeyanʼs journey into the film industry was not an easy one. His story is filled with passion, struggle, perseverance, and an undying love for cinema.

Born in Coimbatore, C.S. Karthikeyan grew up in various cities due to his father’s job as a bank officer at the State Bank of India. As his father was frequently transferred, Karthikeyan studied in seven to eight different schools. One significant phase of his life was when he was in 10th grade and his father was transferred to Maldives. This resulted in Karthikeyan being sent to a hostel in Erode, an experience that later inspired scenes in “Saba Nayagan.”

He pursued Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) at V. L. B. Janakiammal College of Engineering and Technology, which was later renamed Krishna College. Even though he wanted to study Visual Communication (VisCom), his parents encouraged him to take up engineering due to job security concerns. However, his love for cinema never faded.

After completing his engineering degree, Karthikeyan decided not to attend campus interviews because he was determined to enter the film industry. His family, although initially hesitant, were all lovers of cinema, which played a crucial role in shaping his passion.

When his father was transferred to Mumbai, Karthikeyan moved there and joined the Zee Institute of Media Arts, where he underwent a one-year training program. This was his introduction to short films, although he had always dreamed of making feature films. Initially reluctant to work on short films, he eventually embraced the format and won several awards, gaining recognition for his storytelling and humor.

Despite his success in short films, breaking into the film industry was challenging. When his father was transferred to Chennai, Karthikeyan saw it as an opportunity to shift to Tamil cinema, his native language. Since all of his short films were in Hindi, he faced difficulties in showing it as showreel for securing an Assistant Director post.

Working in Advertisements & Working in as an Assistant Director in few films which were dropped in midway either in pre production or during production stage were all part of learning process but still these setbacks left him heartbroken and the struggle was almost for four years until he got an opportunity to work as an Assistant director for Kamal Haasanʼs “Vishwaroopam. In what seemed like a turning point, Karthikeyan attended an interview for an assistant director position in “Vishwaroopam” and was selected due to his strong communication skills and all those advertising film experiences.

⁠He spent five years working at Raajkamal Films, where he was part of both “Vishwaroopam” and “Vishwaroopam II.” Under Kamal Haasan Sir, he learned discipline, dedication, and the importance of consistency in filmmaking. Kamal Sir’s work ethic, including working even on Sundays, inspired Karthikeyan to adopt the same approach. After years of learning and gaining hands-on experience, he felt confident in taking the leap into directing his own feature film.

⁠The Making of “SabaNayagan”

Karthikeyan’s triggering factor to develop “Saba Nayagan” as a script was when one of his cousin shared his personal experience of getting caught by a police group during nighttime in a market street while he was chatting with his group of MBA friends, except for him everyone escaped & he was made to travel with the police throughout the night until he was cleared in the morning after seeing his medical checkup report, This was the topic of discussion among the cousins during a family gathering in Coimbatore after Karthikeyan’s grandfather had passed away few days back. Since the idea came to him in a moment of family togetherness and in remembrance of his Grandfather, he felt sentimentally attached to making it as his debut film.

Initially, Karthikeyan had several versions of the script before finalizing the story of “Saba Nayagan.” He wanted the film to explore a man’s first crush, a topic that is rarely discussed in Tamil cinema.

He had admired Ashok Selvanʼs performances and approached him through a mutual friend. Upon hearing the narration, Ashok Selvan loved the story and immediately agreed to do the film.

Shooting for the film began in Coimbatore, covering college portions first. However, during the school shooting in Erode, Karthikeyan fractured his leg. Despite the injury, he continued directing with the help of his assistant directors and cinematographer

Later, Karthikeyan Affected by COVID19, which delayed the shoot. Due to this he also lost the scheduled dates of the Actors, leading to a six-month wait before they could resume filming. Despite these struggles, Karthikeyan never gave up and ensured that the film’s final product looked seamless on screen.

Saba Nayagan was released in theaters on December 22, 2023, and is now available on Disney Plus Hotstar, making it a smooth and successful release. The film resonated with audiences and both critics and viewers praised Ashok Selvanʼs performance and the realistic storytelling.

Karthikeyan expressed his gratitude to Escape Artist Madan Sir & James Sir for being his pillar of support & to all his Producers Aravind Jayabalan, Iyyappan Gnanavel & Megavanan Isaivanan for supporting his vision & to all the cast & crew of Saba Nayagan who had given their best to justify the script.

His philosophy in filmmaking is simple: Hard work, commitment, and consistency are essential for success. The industry is now more accessible due to social media, making it easier for new talent to enter. He believes in casting actors based on talent and screen presence, not social media follower count. His goal is to entertain audiences across different age groups and keep humor as a key element in his films.

He acknowledges the challenge of bringing audiences to theatres in the digital age. With YouTube reviews and social media opinions influencing moviegoers, he believes only films with extraordinary trailers and engaging content can attract audiences to cinemas.

Karthikeyan remains a jovial, humble, and encouraging filmmaker who supports new talents and believes in genuine storytelling. His journey from engineering to cinema, from rejection to success, is an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers who dream of making it big in the industry.

C.S. Karthikeyanʼs journey proves that success in cinema is built on perseverance, learning, and passion. From struggling as an AD in those unfinished films to working with Kamal Haasan sir and finally making his mark with “Saba Nayagan,” his career is a testament to never giving up on oneʼs dreams.

With an exciting lineup of projects ahead, Karthikeyan is set to bring more unique and entertaining stories to Tamil cinema. His dedication, storytelling skills, and commitment to making meaningful films ensure that his name will be remembered in the industry for years to come.