Actor Sasikumar stated that his upcoming film Tourist Family, which pairs him with actor Simran, aims to portray the lives of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu with humor, despite the inherent pain of their situation. Speaking at the film’s audio and trailer launch event in Chennai, Sasikumar explained the unique approach: “Generally, films about Eelam Tamils are sad and painful. But this film will be happy… It will keep making you laugh. But internally, it will keep conveying a pain, a message.” The film, directed by debutant Abishan Jeevin, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on May 1st.
Produced by Nasareth Basliyan, Mahesh Raj Basliyan (Million Dollar Studios), and Yuvaraj Ganesan (MRP Entertainment), the film marks the third collaboration for the producers following their previous ventures Good Night and Lover. Producer Yuvaraj Ganesan highlighted Sasikumar’s crucial role, stating, “If Sasikumar wasn’t there, we wouldn’t have made this film. For the character of a father to a 16-year-old son, no one else came to our mind.” He praised Sasikumar’s courage in taking on the role, which involves speaking Eelam Tamil dialect. Sasikumar elaborated on the film’s theme, noting, “This story is about how a family comes from Eelam and faces their life here… They struggle for the next generation… Parents think children should be kept happy… they forget or hide their own pain and live for them.”
Director Abishan Jeevin, who was 23 when he pitched the story, expressed gratitude to the producers for trusting a newcomer and to Sasikumar for accepting the lead role. He also credited composer Sean Roldan significantly, stating, “If I get praise for this film… 50 percent belongs to Sean Roldan. He has worked that hard on this film.” Sean Roldan, in turn, spoke about the importance of family themes in cinema. “Family films should be welcomed… family is our support system,” he remarked, adding that the film carries “a beautiful, celebratory message of love needed for our human family,” transcending regional boundaries.
Sasikumar expressed enthusiasm about acting opposite Simran, noting, “Everyone likes Simran, and everyone will like Simran’s performance in this film too… She is the heroine in this film, I am the hero.” The cast also includes Yogi Babu, Mithun Jai Shankar, Kamalesh, M.S. Bhaskar, and Ramesh Thilak. Sasikumar suggested the film might evoke memories of feel-good movies like Thenali or Mozhi and highlighted the comedic contribution of child actor Kamalesh.
The launch event brought together key members of the cast and crew, including lyricist Mohan Rajan, who shared anecdotes about his association with Sasikumar dating back to the film Easan. The producers expressed confidence in the film, building on the positive reception of their previous productions, and described Tourist Family as an honest effort intended to bring joy to audiences.