There have been several instances in the past when first time directors outshine in their maiden projects to be likened to great directors like Mani Ratnam or Balu Mahendra. But past records show only a handful to be consistent in their success formula and foremost among them is Cheran. Four showings of ‘Autograph’ combined with the standing ovation in the Montreal film festival are by no means an ordinary achievement and that too for someone coming below the Vindhayas of Hindustan.

When one sees his career graph it is not only ‘Autograph’ that is a hallmark of great tamil films, but most of his ventures have the bearings of the beauty of art entwined in an interesting anecdote garnered with soulful music and some powerful performances by the protagonist. Now with ‘Autograph,’ Cheran has transcended ordinary films to give implications from real life experimented in a commercial package. In spite of all the misgivings about the box office running for a movie departing from the sure tested success formula, Cheran’s films have defied the theorems of successful film making.

A powerful message has always been the foremost character in his films. If in ‘Bharathikannama’ he dealt with the apartheids of casteism, in ‘Porkallam’ he visualized the acrimony meted out to the physically disabled and ‘Vetrikodi Kattu’ was a presentation of the diabolics involved in the migration of manpower to the Gulf. All the above directorial ventures were well received by the public and though ‘Pandavar Boomi’ was not a big hit it received lot of critical acclaim. It was ‘Porkalam’ that induced Cheran to produce his film, as the producer was not able to send after being selected by the elite panorama of the Toronto Film Festival. These days he inserts a clause allowing him to send his directorial offerings of other producers to film festivals and awards. 

His stint with Thankar Bachan as hero in ‘Solla Marantha Kathai’ gave him the confidence to act and also fuelled the greens to produce ‘Autograph.’ With this film being selected and well appreciated at the Montreal Film festival, Cheran joins the elite panel of directors like Mani Ratnam and Kamal Hasan whose films have been the sole recipients of such honor in the past. The beautiful thing about ‘Autograph’ being selected for the festival is that this film has not consumed huge production costs with technology and modern filmi paraphernalia sponging in huge sums of money. It is a hope for small budgeted meaningful cinema. With all his debts and borrowings settled Cheran is a happy man claiming the experience at Montreal a rewarding one what with hordes of other festival organizers asking for ‘Autograph’.