‘Koundamani and I may pair up again’

Considered the Laurel and Hardy of Kollywood, Koundamani and Senthil ruled the roost for over two decades, entertaining the audience with their rib-tickling, slapstick comedy. With perfect dialogue delivery and flawless body language, the duo established a place for themselves in the heart of the audience. Ask him why he has not paired up with his partner for some time and he replies, “After my foray into politics and the small screen, we couldn’t work together. But we may pair up again,” he says. While Koundamani made a comeback with big movies like Baba and Jaggubhai, Senthil opted for lesser-known movies. “I don’t believe in small and big movies. There are only two types of movies —good and bad,” he states.

With some of the leading comedians going a bit beyond their funny self, turning heroes, has Senthil ever felt that he missed out on the opportunity? “As I never aspired to be a hero, it's not a trend that I ever missed,” says Senthil.

In Tamil cinema, comedy has always been the vital ingredient to ensure the success of a film. While Vivekh’s brand of thought-provoking comedy has earned him a huge fan following, Vadivelu has his own brand of slapstick, yet sometimes below-the-belt comedy. So, which style does Senthil prefer? “I do not have any preference. I cater to the audience. However, I prefer the comedy to be interwoven with the storyline, instead of it being a separate track altogether.”

Ask him why he has never been the moral or preachy kind when it comes to his messages through comedy and the actor is quick to react. “My comedy was always blended with the storyline,” he states.
Quiz him about the scarcity of comediennes in the industry, the actor says, “Every actress wants to become a heroine. They act in two or three films and disappear. This seems to be the trend nowadays.”
Senthil also tried to launch his son Naveen in the forgettable Unnai Enakku Pidichirukku. But, the film failed to evoke a good response in the box-office and the actor eventually disappeared from the scene. “He played the second hero in the film and is now studying. He may get back into movies if he gets a good offer,” says Senthil.
Tamil filmdom has a rich legacy of comedians. With each of them having their distinct style, Senthil is a comedian who even went to the extent of making fun of his image to make people laugh. Has he ever felt bad about it? “Never. In fact, I feel proud,” he says.

Senthil has lost track of the number of films he has done. “Can you believe something? I have never seen any of my films. After dubbing, I do not look back at any of my projects,” he quips. The actor is currently busy with Bharathi Raja’s Kallukkul Earam. Though Senthil had a humble origin from a remote village of Ramanathapuram, he went on to act for more than two decades including in an English movie as well. “I did an English movie for Ashok Amritraj and we shot in Paris. It was a great fun,” he concludes.