By Sivakarthikeyan’s Rugged Transformation in ‘Madharasi’: AR Murugadoss.
Director AR Murugadoss is currently occupied with the post-production of his upcoming film featuring Sivakarthikeyan, which is being edited in Mumbai. Until now, the project had been referred to as ‘SKxARM,’ but the filmmaker has officially titled it Madharasi. Explaining the choice of this title, Murugadoss shares, “The story begins from the perspective of characters in North India. Madharasi is a term that many North Indians use to refer to a South Indian. Though this usage has diminished over time, since the film is about how people in the north view us, I felt this title would be a perfect fit.”
The director describes Madharasi as “a full-fledged action film with an emotional love story woven into it.” He further elaborates that Sivakarthikeyan, who has already been part of multiple action films, will be seen in a completely new avatar. “This film will definitely take him to the next level. His character is someone who doesn’t care much about his appearance or how others perceive him, and he will have a rugged look to match that personality,” he reveals.
Known for incorporating unique thematic elements in his films—such as memory loss in Ghajini and sleeper cells in Thuppakki—Murugadoss hints that Madharasi will also have a distinct feature. However, he prefers to keep it a surprise for now. “The unique aspect in this film is directly related to Sivakarthikeyan’s character. But I believe it’s too early to disclose what it is. All I can say is that his role will be very different from what the audience has seen before,” he teases.
The film also marks the director’s reunion with Vidyut Jammwal, whom he introduced to Tamil cinema in Thuppakki. Sharing his experience of casting Vidyut as the antagonist, Murugadoss says, “Vidyut had turned down negative roles in films featuring big heroes in the North. But when I reached out to him, he didn’t hesitate. Even over a phone call, he assured me that he would take up this role. When we finally met to discuss the film, the first thing he told me was that he’d do it no matter what the script was like. And when he eventually heard the script, he absolutely loved it. He even hugged me in excitement.”
Apart from Sivakarthikeyan and Vidyut Jammwal, Madharasi features an impressive supporting cast, including Biju Menon and Shabeer Kallarakkal. Murugadoss assures that their roles will be pivotal to the storyline and will add depth to the narrative.
The first official glimpse of the film was released recently, giving fans a sneak peek into the film’s high-octane action and gripping storyline. Speaking about the film’s music, the director reveals that composer Anirudh Ravichander had created two different tracks specifically for the teaser. “One of the tracks was used in the glimpse, while the other, which features the film’s title as a musical motif, turned out exceptionally well. However, since the teaser consists of fast cuts, we felt it didn’t fit quite right. But we will definitely be using it in the film,” he explains. The songs for the film have already been recorded, except for one background track. “Even for that song, the tune has already been finalized,” he adds.
Murugadoss also provides an update on the film’s shooting schedule, stating that the majority of the production is complete. “We have only 12 days of the climax fight sequence left to shoot,” he informs. He concludes by expressing his confidence in the film’s potential, stating, “Madharasi will be a commercial entertainer that will satisfy Sivakarthikeyan’s fans while also earning critical acclaim.”
