Director Manu Anand Pushes Boundaries, Honors Mentor in “Mr X”

Director Manu Anand isn’t afraid to push his actors to their limits. During the filming of his spy thriller “Mr X,” he had Arya shoot underwater in freezing temperatures without thermal protection and required Gautham to perform scenes hanging upside down for hours after learning aerial yoga.

“I made Arya shoot underwater in minus 10 degrees without thermal gear. Gautham’s first day of shoot had him hanging upside down for hours, for which he learned aerial yoga,” Anand explained. “If you get dedicated actors like them, why would I not use their skills to their fullest extent?”

This demanding approach reflects Anand’s commitment to authenticity in action filmmaking, a growing trend in Indian cinema as directors move away from purely stylized sequences toward more realistic portrayals. Such dedication from both director and actors signals a maturation in Tamil cinema’s approach to the spy thriller genre, which has seen increasing popularity across Indian film industries in recent years.

“Mr X” isn’t Anand’s first foray into the world of espionage narratives. He previously worked as an associate director under acclaimed filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon on the yet-to-be-released spy thriller “Dhruva Natchathiram.” However, Anand is careful to distinguish his directorial voice from that of his mentor.

“The one important lesson I learned from working with him is that I cannot be Gautham Menon. I will never try to emulate his style,” Anand said with a smile. “What he does is uniquely brilliant, and I am proud of the fact that I am Gautham sir’s assistant.”

Anand’s reverence for Menon goes beyond professional admiration. In 2011, during what he describes as the toughest period of his life, Anand had returned from a corporate job in Australia with aspirations to enter the film industry but no connections to help him break in.

“I somehow got Gautham sir’s number and met him. He heard my story, shared the pros and cons of entering the film industry, and then took me on board for ‘Neethaane En Ponvasantham’ (2012),” Anand recalled with emotion.

The 2012 romantic drama became Anand’s entry point into cinema, arriving at a crucial moment when he felt most vulnerable. “It was a time when I thought my life was over. My friends and relatives had abandoned me, and a random stranger showed a random act of kindness that changed my life. That random stranger happened to be Gautham Menon.”

This personal connection between the two filmmakers highlights the often-unseen mentorship relationships that shape Tamil cinema’s creative landscape. Menon, known for films like “Vaaranam Aayiram” and “Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa,” has influenced a generation of directors through both his distinctive filmmaking style and his willingness to nurture new talent.

The spy thriller genre that Anand now explores in “Mr X” has seen a resurgence across Indian cinema in recent years, with films like “Pathaan,” “Tiger 3,” and “War” finding both critical acclaim and commercial success. Tamil cinema has been developing its own distinctive take on the genre, often incorporating regional sensibilities and political contexts into narratives of espionage and national security.

As Anand reflects on both his challenging production methods and the personal journey that brought him to filmmaking, he sees a parallel between the unsung heroes of his spy narratives and the quiet acts of kindness that shape lives beyond the screen.

“The world runs on the random, no-strings-attached acts of kindness and sacrifice made by people,” Anand observed, drawing a philosophical connection between his mentor’s generosity and the themes of his work. Like the faceless operatives who protect others without recognition, these personal acts of support often go uncelebrated but prove profoundly consequential.