Director Varsha Bharath called the Hindi release of Bad Girl bittersweet as it was her debut but also the last film produced by Vetrimaaran, who shut his Grass Root Film Company citing controversies
Vetrimaaran and Varsha Bharath
Bad Girl’s Hindi release has been a bittersweet moment for director Varsha Bharath. While the film — originally released in Tamil and then Hindi — marked her directorial debut, it also was the last production from Vetrimaaran. During a press meet in Chennai on September 1, the filmmaker announced that he was shutting his production house, Grass Root Film Company, blaming the pressure he faced owing to the controversies surrounding Bad Girl and Manushi, which has been awaiting release for long.
A still from ‘Bad Girl’
Talking to mid-day, Bharath, who assisted Vetrimaaran on several films before making her directorial debut, said the idea of not having him as a producer scares her as a new director. Describing it as “heartbreaking”, she shared, “It’s a bit scary to think that he won’t be producing because Bad Girl would not have been made if not for an investor like him who pushed me and my craft. This voice wouldn’t have survived the pressures of patriarchy. Personally, it’s a huge loss. Also, he has spoiled me rotten as a producer. It will be tough for me to work with another producer.”
Watching one of Vetrimaaran’s interviews offered some relief to her. “He clarified that he didn’t want to invest as a producer, but he was still keen on setting up projects because cinema matters to him,” she said. Currently, the Asuran (2019) director is mounting a project for another assistant director. Bharath revealed, “He will be involved in projects in other capacities.”
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
