Prabhu walks into Franklin Jacob's dark comedy

Prabhu headlining a dark humour thriller-comedy is not a combination anyone saw coming, least of all the people making it. When Franklin Jacob told producer Rahul the story, it was Rahul who first suggested the veteran for the part. “Prabhu sir has a distinctive acting style that Tamil cinema knows well,” the Writer director said at the film’s launch. “I wanted to use it in an approach nobody has seen before. While I was still narrating, he was already enjoying the story. He said, let’s do this film. That gave me enormous confidence.”

The as-yet-untitled film, produced by Rahul’s Romeo Pictures with Gokul Srinivasan’s Aviate Pictures, pairs Prabhu with Vijay Varma, the Bigg Boss Tamil 7 face making his feature debut in a lead role. A well-known actress will star opposite him, with the announcement held back for now. Rahul himself plays a major role alongside producing.

Arun Matheswaran, who is part of the cast, was blunt about the casting. “When they told me Prabhu sir is acting in this story, it was a surprising, completely unexpected choice. But the combination is fascinating,” he said, before turning to the man himself with an older regret: “Prabhu sir, we have met before. You were supposed to act in Rocky. It did not happen then.” His first film and Franklin’s released on the same day, he added, and the two have swapped stories ever since. “I consider a good director sitting without a film a great violence. Now that he finally has one, nothing makes me happier.”

Pa. Ranjith, who produced Writer and has kept Franklin on as a co-director and writer since, framed the project as overdue. “Franklin has a place in Tamil cinema that cannot be denied, and I believe this film is where that happens. May it win the way DC did.” The DC he means is Arun Matheswaran’s film that drew raves from Allu Arjun and Mahesh Babu this month. Franklin wrote its dialogues, he has written for Ranjith’s Vettuvam as well, and the DC technical team moves onto this film wholesale. Cinematographer Pratheep Kaliraja, who also shot Writer, handles camera, and Yuvan Shankar Raja composes, which Ranjith called the film’s biggest strength.

Prabhu kept his own note simple. “Franklin told me a wonderful story, and it makes me happy to be part of something this different. Rahul has the skill to build a film. That they thought of me for this story is a joy.” It is not the first time he has thrown his weight behind a young team; this time he is carrying the film for one.

For Vijay Varma, the project is older than his television fame. “Work on this has been going on for years, and I have been part of that journey. Seeing it finally take shape gives me real happiness,” he said, thanking Franklin for keeping him in it.

The supporting cast stacks up character actors with range: Ramesh Thilak, Muthu Kumar, Dileep Subbarayan, Deena, Kavitha Bharathi and Avinash Raghudevan. Ramesh Thilak confessed his reason for signing was not his old friend behind the camera. “More than working with Franklin, I am excited about Prabhu sir. Working with him has been a long-time dream, and this film has granted it.”

Prasanna G.K edits, Yugabharathi writes the lyrics, Naushad Ahmed designs costumes, Sakthi Venkatraj M handles art direction and PC Stunts choreographs the action. The first schedule begins in Chennai at the end of August, with the title reveal to follow.