Kamal spoke to The Hindu in 2004, after Vasoolraja MBBS. He talks about successes, low-budget movies and audience, rounding it off with a “rapid-fire” session. Excerpts:

I am behind by 20 years, but people say I am ahead.

Indian films Vs International films: Similar to roads. Too many potholes, manholes and a long way to go.

What he feels on seeing Kamal Hasan on screen: Very flattered, very ashamed and well paid.

Things you want to change about Kamal: Oh! Lots. A different name, curly hair, a few inches more height, six or seven inches lesser around the waist and two or three inches more in the head. But, I have accepted everything about Kamal.

Philosophy in life: Yet to devise. Like others I also casually pilfer, cleverly steal.

I have been experimenting continuously but in a slow pace right from movies like Moonram Pirai, Sakalakala Vallavan, Raja paarvai and Salangai Oli. It doesn’t mean that Raja paarvai was a failure and so, I shifted to other roles.

People don’t like to watch the same kind of movies all the time. A movie like Autograph was a hit because people liked it. Good movies made with a low budget should be encouraged.

Never blame the audience. They are mature enough and have every right to question and clarify their point. Until Sivaji Ganesan told me, I did not know that his movie Utthama Puthiren was a flop. It doesn’t mean that the movies are bad or your vision is blurred; probably the way it was presented is wrong.