Tamil Nadu’s political arena has produced its share of film stars turned politicians. Arisi, an upcoming Tamil film about farming and the people who feed the country, flips that script entirely. R. Mutharasan, the former state secretary of the Communist Party of India’s Tamil Nadu unit, makes his acting debut as a farmer in a film scored by Ilaiyaraaja and co-starring National Award winner Samuthirakani.
The film’s trailer and music were unveiled at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai on February 14, with Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin presiding. It was a notable appearance. Udhayanidhi pointed out that he had not attended a single film event since becoming a minister four years ago. “When Mutharasan anna asked, I couldn’t say no,” he said. “I told him to pick the date and time, and I’d be there.”
Udhayanidhi, who himself made the reverse journey from film production to politics, was struck by what he saw in the trailer. “Looking at the poster, the trailer, the songs, it would be more accurate to say he has lived as a farmer rather than acted as one,” he said. “Anyone who watches will agree.”
Mutharasan, who led the CPI’s Tamil Nadu unit for a decade before stepping down in September 2025 upon reaching the party’s age limit of 75, described his path to cinema as entirely accidental. Director S.A. Vijayakumar and a colleague initially approached him about a two-day shoot for an agricultural documentary. Mutharasan refused outright. “I folded my hands and said I won’t come,” he recalled. But after hearing the story, he relented, telling them his party workers could help with logistics in the village.
Two days became three, then forty. “They kept saying, tell us when you’re free and we’ll shoot,” Mutharasan said. When Vijayakumar proposed adding Samuthirakani to the cast, Mutharasan was characteristically blunt: “Samuthirakani is not acting alongside me. I am acting alongside Samuthirakani.” What began as a short documentary quietly expanded into a full-length feature.
Samuthirakani, whose credits span from Vetri Maaran’s Visaranai to Rajamouli’s RRR, said he agreed the moment he heard Mutharasan’s name. “I didn’t need to hear anything else. I said let’s go to the set,” he recalled. “This is the respect I give to the red towel. In that red cloth, there is great love, great compassion, great anger, and a dedication to the people.” He also shared a detail that quietly speaks to the Communist roots in Tamil Nadu’s farming belt: a woman acting alongside Mutharasan was named Russia. When he asked about it, she told him many people in her village carry the name.
Arisi, which translates to rice, carries the tagline “the other name for life.” Directed by first-timer Vijayakumar, it centres on farming communities and was inspired by a visit to a village called Neikuppai. The score comes from Ilaiyaraaja, now 82 and still composing after nearly five decades and over 1,500 film scores. In a notable creative pairing, one of the songs features rapper Arivu, the voice behind Enjoy Enjaami, alongside folk singer Vedan, with lyrics by Arivu himself. It is an unusual generational bridge: the maestro who defined Tamil film music working with a young artist known for songs about caste, land, and labour.
The event drew a heavily political guest list, befitting a film rooted in agrarian justice. MDMK founder Vaiko praised Mutharasan’s natural screen presence, noting that the ease with which he threshes paddy in the trailer could only come from someone who had actually worked in fields. VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan drew a direct line to current affairs, citing the India-US trade deal that would allow tariff-free import of rice and wheat for twenty years. “I produce the rice. Don’t I have the right to set its price?” he said, quoting the film’s central question. TNCC president Selvaperunthagai announced that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee would handle the film’s theatrical release and bear the costs.
The film also stars Subramani Siva and features cinematography by Johns V. Jerin and editing by K.S. Nadhis. Produced by P. Shanmugam of Monica Productions with co-producers S.M. Prabhakaran and Mahendra Prasad, a release date has not been announced. Mutharasan, for his part, was keen to set the record straight. “My full-time commitment is politics. This was an accident,” he said. “Whether the film is good or not, I leave that to you.”