This Is Local Tamil Filmmaker Viknish Lokarag Asokan

WE are too used to talking about stars, tending to forget about the younger generation and the youths who try hard to be successful. The same goes for Viknish Lokarag Asokan, a young man from Kajang who is currently working hard to pursue his passion in film making.

Viknish was approximately eight when he desired to enter the world of film. He used to stay with his grandparents and uncle, who owned a video cassette shop. His grandfather was apparently a movie buff and it was a must for him to watch at least one movie before he goes to bed.

We asked how he managed to watch movies late at night without getting caught.

After every movie he watched, he would wonder how the movie was done. The young boy who was mesmerized by the magnificent sets and props back then will try to imitate the scene later on.

He acted and directed a stage play at the age of eleven and his efforts won him a Best Stage Play award back in school. That became his motivation to pursue on his passion. Although his family did not give him the green light on studying film (as they were afraid for his future prospects), it did not stop him nor did he oppose them; he studied Business Administration and learned filmmaking on the side, via internet and books.

He was inspired by Gautham Vasudev Menon‘s style of direction and he the likes of Director Bala, Quentin Tarantino and SS Rajamouli. Since he likes to do films related to reality, his ideas are practically about what happens around a person. He writes down his ideas and later transforms it into a film. What makes his movies fantastic is that he keeps them simple but with enough impact for viewers.

He has done two short films, and , both released last year.

He was also an assistant director in two movies directed by Karthik Shamalan –  and  – who was also his mentor.

We asked him which is his favourite piece of work and his answer amused us.

If you have heard his name somewhere, well… he received two awards from Malaysia Kalai Ulagam this year for Best Director and Best Short Film. He was also very happy about his two actors who received Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. You can read about this particular achievement in The Star Online.

Currently he has directed another short film Thiruvin Manggai which will be released soon!

Many people from the film industry say that to be a good director, you must first be a good actor. Viknish told us the same, adding that filmmaking is a learning process, and he is still learning and will continue to learn.

We couldn’t leave him without asking a piece of advice for the ones that wish to be a film maker.