Devan revealed that his entry into cinema was not influenced by his uncle, the noted filmmaker Ramu Kariat. His initial dream was to join the Indian Army, but after failing to get in, he pursued an MBA and started his own business making phenyl.
He decided to produce his first film, “Vellam,” after reading the novel by N.N. Pisharody. He convinced director Hariharan to direct it and suggested M.T. Vasudevan Nair for the screenplay. The film, starring Prem Nazir and Madhu, did not succeed commercially due to his inexperience and lack of proper marketing.
This financial failure led him to acting. He saw an ad from Devar Films for martial arts practitioners and decided to audition because of his financial struggles. His first acting role was a small, unpaid part in a Tamil film.
Devan also shared his early experiences in student politics with the KSU. He was inspired to join after seeing a young V.M. Sudheeran bravely protect students during a protest. He was an active member for five years but never held an official position.
With input from TNIE
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
