How a Varanasi trip and Indrans' support shaped Varsha Vasudev's debut movie 'Chinna Chinna Aasai'

For a first-time filmmaker, getting a film made is often the hardest part. For Varsha Vasudev, getting Indrans on board was the moment everything began to feel possible.

As her debut feature 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' gears up for release, the filmmaker speaks less about the pressures of release day and more about the people who helped her get there. Chief among them is Indrans, who plays one of the film's lead characters and, according to Varsha, became the backbone of the project.

"It was only after Indrans sir agreed to do the film that the project truly moved forward," she says. "Had it been another star, I don't think this film would have happened in the same way. He's my first hero, and the confidence I carried throughout the journey came largely from the support he gave me."

That admiration goes beyond his performance. At a time when Indrans continues to surprise audiences with an ever-evolving range of roles, Varsha says what struck her most was his simplicity.

"I often tell him that he could easily carry himself like a star if he wanted to. But that's just not who he is. No matter how successful he becomes, he remains one of the most grounded people I've met."

The experience became particularly evident during the film's shoot in Varanasi, where the realities of location filming often meant working without many comforts.

"Varanasi doesn't always allow for the kind of facilities actors are used to. We couldn't arrange caravans for either Indrans sir or Madhoo ma'am, but neither of them ever complained. They would sit on the steps or find a quiet corner and make themselves comfortable. Madhoo ma'am comes from industries where every convenience is available, yet both of them were incredibly reassuring and supportive throughout."

Set in Varanasi, 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' follows an unexpected encounter between two strangers. Madhoo plays a middle-aged woman who becomes separated from her tour group during a spiritual trip, while Indrans plays Madhavan, a Malayali who steps in to help her find her way through the ancient city.

The film unfolds largely through conversations between the two characters, exploring companionship, loneliness and the unexpected connections that emerge later in life.

Interestingly, the story did not begin with Varanasi.
"The film wasn't originally meant to be set there. I was working on a completely different story when I visited the city, and something about it stayed with me. Beyond its visual beauty, Varanasi has an emotional and spiritual depth that felt perfect for the kind of mature story I wanted to tell."

That visit eventually inspired a story centred on two people in their 50s whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
Known for her acclaimed short film 'Ente Narayanikku', the filmmaker says the release of 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' marks the end of a long and often uncertain journey.

"Now that the film is finally ready for release, I feel an immense sense of relief. Becoming a filmmaker is a long and difficult journey, so reaching this point feels incredibly special. It's been five years since 'Ente Narayanikku', and much of that time has gone into preparing for my first feature. Seeing it finally reach audiences is both exciting and overwhelming."

Those five years, she says, were not merely spent developing a film but also growing into the role of a director.
The casting of Indrans and Madhoo has been one of the most talked-about aspects of the film, with many pointing out that it is not a pairing audiences would immediately expect. Varsha, however, says the choices emerged naturally from the characters.

"I always had Indrans sir in mind while writing Madhavan. The character is simple, humble and deeply human, qualities that naturally reminded me of him."
Leela's casting followed a different path. "I knew I wanted a Tamil actor for the role. While revisiting some of Mani Ratnam's older films, I found myself thinking about Madhoo in 'Roja', and it instantly felt like the right choice."

For Varsha, the strength of the story itself is what ultimately brought people together.
"It's a conversation-driven film, but it offers actors a lot of room to perform. I think the story and the characters connected with everyone who came on board. Even the technicians responded to the material. Both Indrans sir and Madhoo ma'am had a very clear understanding of their roles from the beginning and genuinely liked what they were reading."

The filmmaker also considers herself fortunate in another respect. Despite being a debutant and a woman director, she says she encountered none of the resistance she had been warned about.

"I was lucky to have the right people around me. Nobody treated me differently because I was a woman directing her first film. From production to post-production, which took nearly a year, I felt supported at every stage."

As 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' prepares to meet audiences, Varsha is naturally excited about the film's reception. Yet when she looks back on the journey, her thoughts often return to the actor who helped make it possible.

In Indrans, she found not just the lead actor for her debut film, but a constant source of encouragement and support. Also starring Aparna Balamurali, Jaffer Sadiq, Vishnu Agasthya, Thambi Ramaiah, Kaali Venkat and Sai Janani, 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' is set to hit theatres on June 19.