Director Shankar Sarathy has revealed that his upcoming film, Valluvan, is a crime thriller based on a single couplet from the Thirukkural. The film, which stars Telugu actor Chetan Cheenu and Ashna Zaveri, uses the ancient text as a philosophical launchpad for a contemporary story about justice and retribution.
The specific couplet cited by the director is: “To punish criminals is not a fault in a king; it is like pulling up weeds from the fields.” Shankar Sarathy explained his interpretation, stating, “While Ambedkar enacted laws to ensure the innocent are not punished, today people are looking for ways to escape using loopholes in the law. Those entrusted with protecting the people are the ones destroying the country.” He described the film as an exploration of the pain and anguish of someone affected by this systemic failure.
Director Radha Bharathi, who was a guest at the event, praised this unique approach. “While others wrote commentaries on the Thirukkural, director Shankar Sarathy has written a screenplay for the Thirukkural,” he remarked.
The film’s lead actor, Chetan Cheenu, who is also starring in the upcoming Gentleman 2, shared his own struggles with breaking into the Tamil film industry. “After Karungali, I went to many production companies asking for a chance. I was rejected because of my fair skin. They said, ‘You won’t suit Tamil cinema’,” he recounted. He argued that “color is not a problem here; only talent should be looked at.”
Director and FEFSI President R.K. Selvamani also spoke, using the occasion to address industry issues. He highlighted the prevalence of AI-generated deepfakes of actresses and the practice of “blackmailing” for higher salaries as significant problems.
Director Perarasu connected the film’s title to the current political climate, suggesting that if Thiruvalluvar were alive today, he would take up a gun instead of a stylus. “The country is in such a state,” he said.
Valluvan is produced by Arupadai Productions.