Gopi Nainar’s next film, Kaalani, got its first look on Tuesday, released by Vetri Maaran and Vijay Sethupathi. The film puts Radhika Sarathkumar in the lead role of a mother who loses her son and goes looking for justice. The poster, tight on her face with a riot scene simmering behind her, signals the register Nainar is reaching for, a line that runs back to his 2017 debut Aram.
Kaalani is Nainar’s third film. His second, Manushi, is still awaiting release. From the look of the first look, Kaalani lives in the same territory as Aram: social drama, a woman at its centre, a story that expects the audience to sit with weight rather than glide over it. Radhika, coming off her work in Thaai Kizhavi, is being positioned for another role built on restraint.
Debutant Leo plays Radhika’s son. The supporting line-up includes Anjali Nair, MS Bhaskar, Chetan, RK Vijayamurugan, Vinothsagar, Moonnar Ramesh, Ajith Koshy, Ravi Venkatram, JK, A Venkatesh, Rams, director Thamizh, Senthi, Janaki, Aswini Thangaraj, Geetha Kailasam and Bose Venkat.
Behind the camera, Deva is composing the music, his first Gopi Nainar film. R Velraj is the cinematographer, Antony is editing, Sakthi Venkataraj handles art direction, Yugabharathi writes the lyrics, Kanal Kannan the stunts, and Brindha the choreography. Adithi Movies produces, with Dr R Nagarajan presenting. Shooting, which ran across Tiruvannamalai and nearby northern districts of Tamil Nadu, is complete, with post-production moving at pace. A teaser, trailer and release date are expected in the coming weeks.