The two major Tamil releases this Pongal are Lingusamy's Vettai and Shankar's Nanban. 

In Vettai, R Madhavan and Arya play two brothers and Sameera Reddy and Amala Paul, two sisters.

While Nanban releases today, January 12, Vettai releases on January 14.

Madhavan talks to Shobha Warrier about his role in Vettai, and why he gave Nanban a miss after acting in the original Hindi version of the film, 3 Idiots.

You had acted under the direction of Lingusamy in Run. Now, after a long gap, you are acting in another film directed by him. What made you accept the role?

Initially, I was not too keen to do an action film as I had a problem with my knee. I wanted to take a break and nurse my knee. But Lingusamy said, 'you come after your knee is fine. I will not do the film if you are not going to act in it.'

I said, 'Sir, there are many young heroes. Why don't you make the film with them?' He was very adamant that he wanted to make the film with me. He told me to hear the story and then decide.

I was prepared to hear a good story but then refuse, but what he told me blew me away.

I knew it didn't matter what I did or anybody did -- the film was going to be a blockbuster. It had blockbuster written all over it! I didn't mind another blockbuster in my career. So, he waited for five months till my knee was better, and there we were, shooting for Vettai.

Arya was signed as my younger brother and that made me really happy as we know each other very well.

Everybody is talking about the chemistry between the two brothers and not the chemistry between the heroes and heroines...

We share a good chemistry with our heroines too!

To our surprise, Arya and I found that we looked quite similar -- same body build and looks. So, we really looked like brothers. We are also good friends. I have great respect for Arya as an actor and he has the same feelings for me.

Apart from respect, we are two naughty people who enjoy life. We had planned to have a great time during the shoot and that is exactly what we did.

Are there many funny moments between you two and the heroines in the film?

The whole film is very funny. We expected the film to be an action thriller but there are a lot of funny moments too. 

Which kind of films do you enjoy doing, action films or romantic films?

If a romantic story is written in a boring manner and the director does not execute it properly, there is no fun doing such a film. In the same way, if you don't do a hardcore action film with the right people, it will fall flat.

If the action film is written well and executed well, it is easier to do than a soft chick flick. It all depends on the script and the unit. But physically, it is easier to do a romantic film than an action film because all you do is hug the heroine and dance around a tree.

Is there an adrenalin rush when you do an action film?

All the time! It is not only the rush of doing the scene right, but running on railway tracks, behind cars, hanging in precarious positions -- it all brings an adrenalin rush.

Having said that, even a film like 3 Idiots can energise you. The scene where I tell my father that I wanted to do what my heart says also gave me an adrenalin rush.

Is it not ironical that Nanban, the remake of 3 Idiots, coincides with Vettai this Pongal?

Yes, it is very ironical. I was supposed to do both films. I am glad I didn't do Nanban.  I wish the Nanban group the very best this Pongal. It is the legacy of my film and I hope that it does very well.

Is it because it would be repetitive and boring that you didn't accept Nanban?

Not really. First of all, I cannot live as a 22-year-old again. That was the bottom line. Living it once was very tough. To have the mindset of a college kid and behave like that was very exhausting for a 41-year-old guy!

I was very clear that I didn't have the patience to do that again.

What was it like working with Lingusamy again after so many years?

It's been 10 years since we did Run. We have mutual respect for each other's achievements. He is far more conscious of what I do and he is very respectful of what I have done in these years.

I have great respect for Lingusamy not only as a director but also as a human being. I have always liked his work. He is supremely confident and an amazing guy to work with on the sets. He would be on the sets early in the morning with a cheerful face.

That makes everyone happy and smiling on his sets. He sees to it that the whole unit is together.

We all had a great time working together and that shows in the film. Just like all of us enjoyed working on the film, I am sure the audience also will enjoy the film.