Actresses Soniya Agarwal and Vanitha Vijayakumar are venturing into uncharted territory with their portrayal of gangsters in the upcoming crime action thriller Dandupalayam. The film draws inspiration from the real-life exploits of the notorious Dandupalya gang, which was previously depicted in a Kannada film series and a Telugu two-part film.
At the film‘s audio launch event, Agarwal expressed her initial apprehension about playing a negative character. “This is the first time I am playing a highly negative character,“ she shared. “Although the story fascinated me, I was a bit nervous initially during the shoot, but thanks to the directors who made me feel comfortable. I am grateful to Vanitha Vijayakumar for being a wonderful co-star.“
Director Tiger Venkat, who also serves as a producer of the film, praised both actresses for their commitment and exceptional performances. “When I approached them with the story and characters, after a brief pause, they readily agreed,“ Venkat recalled. “Since the characters they portray are highly negative, I wanted them to come prepared with some research for the shoot. I was tense on the first day of filming. However, when they stepped in front of the camera, they delivered extraordinary performances, adding a new dimension to the film.“
Vijayakumar, known for her diverse roles and her participation in the reality show Bigg Boss, expressed her excitement about taking on a raw and deglamorized character. “After my stint in Bigg Boss and my re-entry into films, I received many movie offers and completed 25 films,“ Vijayakumar shared. “While I have played various characters, I was eager to take on a role with a strong local flavor. When Venkat approached me with the script for Dandupalayam, I initially thought it was the name of a village and was excited about finally getting a nativity-based role. However, upon hearing the story, I realized it was a completely different kind of role. I was thrilled because it was something I had never attempted before. It‘s a deglamorized, raw character with no makeup.“
She further praised Agarwal‘s performance, stating, “I was astonished by Sonia‘s performance. She looks terrifying. Our on-screen chemistry worked well, and I hope you will agree when you see the film.“
The audio launch event was attended by several film personalities, including Arvindraj, Mangai Harirajan, Sounder, Vijay Murali, Selvaraj, and senior police officer Ratnakumar.