An interesting incident happened between Alexander and Devathai.

I got a call from Kamal Haasan to work on his film, Avvai Shanmughi [Chachi 420 in Hindi].

Kamal Haasan had been my hero from my childhood. I was thrilled at the thought that I would work with him.

Unfortunately, I missed the film -- I guess they went for non-graphics.

It was a great disappointment.

After that, I got a chance to work with him only in my 49th film [Thenali]!

Meanwhile, the film industry went on strike for a year. I was without work.

I was in a dilemma -- should I go back to selling computers or stay on and try my luck?

My passion for films urged me towards the second option.

Slowly, I started getting a lot of offers.

In 2000, Mani Ratnam's office called me to work with them in Alai Payuthey.

I had two partners then: Krishnakant Mishra, whom I consider the topmost visual effects supervisor in India, and Aravind. Working for Mani Ratnam -- though it was for a small sequence only -- was a great experience.

Before the film was released, I branched out of the team. My name was therefore not credited.

In the picture: Shalini and Madhavan in Mani Ratnam's Alai Payuthey. Madhu worked on the visual effects for this film.