Watch what you say, cautions Tamil film ‘Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka’

It is new year’s eve and four friends are out partying.

The night is still young and their spirits bubbling.

Nothing prepares them for what is to come that night and eventually throw their lives out of control. All because of one word said in resentment that puts their lives under threat.

Sathya Prabhas’s maiden film, Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka, (YNK) is based on a true incident that happened in Chennai fifteen years ago.

Prabhas, son of veteran Telugu filmmaker Ravi Raja Pinisetty, said, “Something untoward occurs when a group of four friends are dining in a restaurant. One thing leads to another and before they realise their lives turn chaotic.”

Prabhas’s younger brother Aadhi, who proved his talent with films Mirugam, Eeram, and Aravaan, busts his earlier images in the lead role as Saga, a young man from a middle-class family.

“Saga’s friends belong to influential families, so they manage to save themselves. But he is left alone to face a Mumbai mob lord, Mudaliar Varadarajan,” elaborated the MBA graduate from University of Wales, who quit a corporate career to follow his heart.

Equipping himself with a course in filmmaking from the Amerian Film Institute in Los Angeles, Prabhas earlier assisted directors Jeyam Raja and Shivkumar before going solo.

Bollywood’s Mithun Chakraborty enters Tamil cinema as Mudaliar Varadarajan. Richa Pallod plays his daughter, Priya. Nikki Galrani is paired opposite Aadhi. Newcomers Karthik, Shyam and Siddharth are Saga’s friends.

Recalling his first meeting with Chakraborty, Prabhas said, “I was given twenty minutes for narrating my story. Although Mithunda initially asked, ‘Why me?’ he soon got interested in the script and had several questions.”

After an hour and a half Bollywood’s Disco Dancer stood up and hugged Prabhas.

“I see a fire in you and potential in my character,” Mithun said to Prabhas. “Let me take the honour of introducing a talent like you,” he added, a compliment that Prabhas will forever treasure.

The title, Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka, is a verse taken from Thirukural, written by Thiruvalluvar, a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. It exhorts everyone to-‘Watch what you speak,’ otherwise the consequences can be disastrous and distressing.

Other members of the cast includes Tamil actors Nasser (as a police commissioner), Pashupathy (playing a powerful gangster from Chennai) and Kitty (as Mudaliar’s powerful aide). Harish Uthaman, last seen in Pandiyanaadu, plays Guna, Mudaliar’s son.

Sharing Prabhas’ passion for cinema are the three music composers, Prasan Praveen and Shyam, taking baby steps into film. Check out the Sokanna song.

Cinematographer Shanmuga Sundaram (of Rowthiram fame) has wielded the camera.

“It’s a film that will stay in the minds of people and remind them to mind their words,” added Prabhas.