Bomb will open in cinemas on 12 September after a trailer and music launch in Chennai that set out director Vishal Venkat’s new collaboration with Arjun Das and Shivathmika Rajasekhar for Gembrio Pictures. “I am not the lead. Vishal and his team are the lead. I am a small part,” Arjun Das said on stage, adding that he asked the director, “Am I the one to do this,” when the role was narrated to him.
Vishal Venkat, known for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal, said the film grew from an idea the writing team worked out over long conversations. He thanked producers Sudha Sukumar and Sukumar Balakrishnan for backing a story he describes as a commercial drama about life’s odd turns. “Kali Venkat plays a body through the film, without even a breath, and he has excelled,” he said, while noting he had Shivathmika in mind from the first draft and that he wanted veteran Nassar and Abhirami to appear in at least a frame each.
Composer D. Imman framed the material as delicate. “It is a story that feels like walking on thorns, but Vishal has handled it with care,” he said. “For a story from our soil, I wanted music from our soil. We have brought in several new playback singers.” TrendMusic’s Jitesh said the label was glad to board the album and called attention to how the film shows Arjun Das in a different light.
From Gembrio Pictures, Shareli Balakrishnan said the company’s first production aims to connect across audiences. “This is for all sections. Not a film meant only for a niche. Love brings us together, and the film does that,” she said. Fellow producer-rep Samvidha Balakrishnan highlighted the soundtrack. “All the songs have come out well in Imman sir’s music,” she said, thanking distributor Sakthivelan of Sakthi Film Factory for taking the film to market.
Cinematographer P. M. Rajkumar recalled studying with the director and said the set ran on preparation. Actors Saravanan and D. S. K. spoke about pursuing roles with Vishal after watching his earlier film, with D. S. K. adding that the new project places Arjun Das in a softer register. Writers Manikandan Madhavan and Abhishek Sabarigireesan said the script was built to make viewers think and laugh without insisting on a heavy message.
Veterans weighed in with guarded support. R. Parthiban praised the team for attempting a premise he said Tamil cinema does not often try. Lokesh Kanagaraj said Arjun Das has broken his screen image and called Kali Venkat a performer who reminded him at times of his father. Sakthi Film Factory’s Sakthivelan said the content convinced him to back the release and that the ensemble appeared to have delivered what the director asked for.
Bomb features Arjun Das, Shivathmika Rajasekhar, Kali Venkat, Nassar, Abhirami, Ramesh Thilak and Bala Saravanan. The technical crew includes music by D. Imman, cinematography by P. M. Rajkumar, editing by G. K. Prasanna and art direction by Manoj Kumar, with choreography by Apsar and stunts by Mukesh.