Actor Santhanam attributed his entry and rise in cinema to fellow actor Silambarasan TR (STR), who was the chief guest at the pre-release event for Santhanam’s upcoming film Devil’s Double Next Level. “If he wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be here,” Santhanam stated, recalling how Silambarasan gave him a significant role in Manmadhan after noticing his work in Kadhal Azhivathillai. The event, held in Chennai, promoted the comedy horror film directed by S. Prem Anand, which is presented by actor Arya under The Show People banner and produced by Niharikha Entertainment. Devil’s Double Next Level is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on May 16th.
Silambarasan, in his address, acknowledged Santhanam’s consistent hard work and dedication to offering something new to audiences. He also praised the long-standing friendship and collaboration between Santhanam and his writing team, including director Prem Anand, Murugan, and Sethu, noting their association since the Manmadhan era. “The friendship that began then continues to this day… It’s surprising to me that they offer their hard work without a drop of love or care diminishing,” Silambarasan remarked. He also humorously commented on Gautham Vasudev Menon’s role in the film, saying, “I didn’t expect you would do this to our director Gautham Menon. For this at least, I am not going to spare you.”
Actor Arya, who is presenting the film, explained his involvement, stating he was impressed by the initial idea pitched by Santhanam and the subsequent screenplay developed by director Prem Anand. “I saw the film a week ago. I am very happy. I am confident this film will definitely be a blockbuster hit,” Arya said. He also thanked directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and Selvaraghavan for acting in the film out of friendship.
Director S. Prem Anand, who previously directed Santhanam in DD Returns, described his lead actor as someone who elevates those around him. He revealed that the idea for Devil’s Double Next Level was conceived even before DD Returns but was put on hold due to its larger budget. He credited the success of DD Returns for paving the way for this project and thanked Arya for his support as a producer. Santhanam, in turn, referred to Prem Anand as the “Christopher Nolan of Tamil cinema” for his ability to create multi-layered narratives.
The film features an ensemble cast including Geethika Tiwari, Selvaraghavan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Nizhalgal Ravi, Mottai Rajendran, and Kasthuri. Nizhalgal Ravi spoke about his comedic roles in recent Santhanam films, while Kasthuri shared her positive experience working with Santhanam and humorously mentioned her role as the “glamour mom” in the film. Composer Afro, a self-professed STR fan, expressed his pride in sharing the stage with the actor and highlighted his collaboration with independent artists on the film’s soundtrack.
Santhanam promised audiences that Devil’s Double Next Level would offer “three times the comedy” of DD Returns and also paid tribute to the late writer Indira Soundararajan for his contributions to the earlier films in the Dhilluku Dhuddu series. The event set the stage for the film’s release, emphasizing its comedy horror elements and the strong camaraderie among the cast and crew.