Kamal Haasan shares his experience of playing a dwarf in 'Appu Raja': 'This was all before the era of VFX'

'Ulaga Nayagan' Kamal Haasan is all set to reprise his role as a freedom fighter turned vigilante, Senapathy, in the much-awaited sequel, 'Indian 2'. The movie will release in theaters on July 12, and the actor is busy attending promotions.
In a recent chat with Pinkvilla, the great actor shared some unknown facts about the film 'Appu Raja'. He revealed why the making video of the movie isn’t available even after years, despite it being a technically advanced project.He stated that he recently had a discussion with Mr. Singeetam, and they thought of owing it to students of cinema to tell them how they made the film. He believes that it is complicated if there is no explanation with it, even if it was a simple and easy process.
He mentioned he needed to return to meet with director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, humorously noting him as the youngest director he knows, despite being 94 years old. He also praised Rao's sharpness and continued functional ability.
Kamal emphasized that the methods used to portray him as a midget character in the film were not as speculated. Contrary to assumptions that he simply bent his legs, he explained the complexity involved, especially when crossing his legs. The specific shot was strategically included to captivate and surprise the audience.
This was all before the era of VFX; otherwise, they would have depicted him rope-walking or balancing cups on his head. There was even a desire to have him ride a motorcycle, but the complexity and budget constraints prevented them from doing so. Kamal explained that the film's effects were a mix of mechanical setups and in-camera techniques.
The 1989 movie 'Appu Raja' (originally known as 'Apoorva Sagodharargal') features Kamal Haasan in dual roles. Directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, the film featured an ensemble cast of actors like Jaishankar, Nagesh, Gautami, Rupini, Manorama, and Srividya.