Chennai, April 20 (IANS): Cinematographer-turned-director Jeeva Shankar gives importance to locations in his films and says that he plans the geographical positions even before signing on the dotted line.

"I generally plan the location, its geographical positions before I could put the ink on the paper. As far as I am concerned, the location is as important as the hero and heroine of a film," Jeeva Shankar said in a statement.

"My experience as a cameraman comes handy to choose the best locations. I have shot in the locales where others haven't shot until now," he added.

Jeeva, who rose to fame with his directorial debut "Naan", is gearing up for the release of his second film, Tamil romantic-drama "Amara Kaaviyam".

He says making a love story is like spinning a yarn.

"Romantic themes have been always the strong base for films ever since the advent of the visual media. The theme of love is like a yarn and it hugely depends on the weaver who weaves the thread into the most appreciable material," he said.

"The director's role is similar to this, weaving the script with finer touch. Each weaver will have a style and directors too have an individual pattern. This individuality will differentiate one film from another," added Jeeva.

"Amara Kaaviyam", which features Sathya and debutant Mia George, has completed shooting. Sathya's brother Arya, a popular Tamil hero is producing it under his home banner - The Show People.