After two Fridays of no film releases in Tamil Nadu, the Hindu festival of Diwali brings people back to theatres with three films releasing on October 18.
Vijay’s Mersal locks horns with Sarath Kumar’s Chennaiyil Oru Naal 2. Clamouring for attention amidst this star wars is Vaibhav’s Meyaadha Maan, also releasing on the same day.
Gulf News tabloid! takes a look at what’s in store:
Vijay in a triple role in ‘Mersal’
The makers have not disclosed much about this big budget film feature Vijay, who celebrates his 25th year in the industry.
Mersal is director Atlee’s second film with Vijay after Theri.
Mersal is a revenge saga packed with all the elements that will please Vijay fans. According to Atlee, Mersal is set in two periods. Vijay plays a village head who is also a wrestler. In that phase he is paired opposite Nithya Menon.
The story then moves to current times where Vijay plays two roles. Samantha and Kajal Aggarwal play his onscreen lovers.
Look out for actor–director S.J. Suryah as the antagonist.
Suryah said: “If I was a dark villain in Spyder, in Mersal, it will be classier.”
A.R. Rahman’s music has already made waves online, especially the song Aalaporaan Thamizhan, an anthem for Tamilians. Produced by Thenandal Films, Mersal is their 100th film and releases in the UAE on October 18.
Sarath Kumar in investigative thriller ‘Chennaiyil Oru Naal 2’
Debutant director JPR (John Paul Raj) starts his career with Chennaiyil Oru Naal 2 (A Day in Chennai). This is a sequel to Chennaiyil Oru Naal, the Tamil remake of Traffic (Malayalam) that released in 2013.
While Sarath Kumar plays the same character of police officer Sundarapandian from the earlier film, this is not a continuation of that story, said JPR, who wrote the story.
“It was inspired from a novel written by crime writer Rajesh Kumar,” he said.
In Chennaiyil Oru Naal 2, Sundarapandian is now posted in Coimbatore and entrusted with a case. Where this investigation takes him forms the rest of the story.
Like part one, this film explores the happenings over one day.
“There is no hero nor any larger-than-life action scenes,” added JPR. “The script is the king.”
The film was largely shot in the night and with natural lighting as much as possible.
Munish Kanth plays Sundarapandian’s personal assistant while Napoleon plays the deputy commissioner of police. Suhasini Maniratnam plays a significant role.
Vaibhav in rom-com ‘Meyaadha Maan’
Meyaadha Maan (The Deer That Doesn’t Graze) is quite a quirky title.
Directed by short filmmaker, Rathna Kumar, this is touted as a romantic comedy. Vaibhav plays the lead role of Murali. Television presenter and actress Priya Bhavani Shankar makes her movie debut opposite him.
Set in the backdrop of Royapuram (North Chennai), Rathna Kumar’s story grew from a short film he had directed earlier and which was widely appreciated.
“I extended the same script into a full length film,” he said.
The story is about Murali, a singer with his own band, and centres around his love for Madhu. Murali, however, is never able to muster up courage and speak about his feelings to Madhu.
Does it remain a one-sided love?
Meyaadha Maan is a relationship drama told with humour, added Kumar.
