JOIN USIn 2007, when Vishnuvardhan started working on Tamil film Billa with Ajith, not many believed that the film would become a blockbuster and the director would fulfill the expectations of the huge fan base the actor enjoys.
Cut to the present, when Vishnuvardhan started his work on Ajith’s forthcoming film last year, the actor’s legion of fans were upbeat, and the trade circles were buoyant. That’s the impact Billa created among the fans and the industry.
The film, which was a remake of a yesteryear flick of the same title (Superstar Rajinikanth was the hero of the original version), redefined the actor’s image. Up until then, Ajith was just known as a ‘mass hero’, but after Billa, he was transformed into a ‘stylish mass hero’, all thanks to the film, or to Vishnuvardhan, to be more precise.
“I am so happy to join hands with Ajith again,” says Vishnuvardhan, adding, “Our next film will definitely be a treat to his fans. It will be racy, entertaining, and of course, stylish.”
Interestingly, the title of this flick has been kept under the wraps till this minute, and Vishnuvardhan and his team are tightlipped about it, despite the media claiming Valai (a net in Tamil) is going to be the film’s title.
“I too want to share a lot about the film and the title. But I am waiting for the producer to give a go-ahead to announce the title,” says the director of Arindhum Ariyamalum and Pattiyal in Tamil, and Paanja (starring Pawan Kalyan) in Telugu.
The upcoming film is also attracting controversies, as recently a mishap occurred on the sets of the film and a video of Ajith getting injured while shooting a stunt scene went viral on the Internet. Ajith fans even asked Vishnuvardhan to take extra care while shooting such scenes.
Talking about the incident, Vishnuvardhan says, “That was just a freak accident. We always take every possible precaution while shooting such scenes. We all adore Ajith and love him as much as his fans do.”
The filmmaker, who himself is a fan of the actor, says, “Ajith is the real man, a macho hero, who likes performing daredevil action sequences and even risks his life to get the real feel of the stunt.”
Vishnuvardhan has shot the film in Chennai, Mumbai and Dubai among other places, and the project is nearing completion. “The promotion and other activities related to the film will start soon. My good friend Yuvan Shankar Raja has composed some wonderful songs, and the audio launch will be held at the earliest.”
Apart from Ajith, the movie has an ensemble of extremely talented cast that includes Arya, Rana Daggubati, Nayanthara, Tapsee Pannu and Kishore. “All members of the cast and the crew have performed their respective roles well. I am thrilled to have worked with such a wonderful team. After all, a movie is the result of teamwork,” Vishnuvardhan says.
Like in Billa, Vishnuvardhan’s wife Anu has been in charge of costume designing in this flick too. “Be it modern or traditional outfit, Ajith can pull off any kind of look with ease.”
Although Vishnuvardhan refuses to divulge the details about the storyline of the movie, we learn from sources that Ajith plays a top officer in the police department’s cyber crime wing, who stumbles upon a suspicious e-mail. The details in the mail reveal that there is some threat to the top tiers of the nation. And Ajith has to save the country from this impending danger.
When asked about this, the filmmaker replies with a smile, saying, “I don’t know why people are in a hurry. A film’s ultimate destination is the audience and we all make movies only for them to enjoy. The answers for all the questions will be known on the release date of the movie. You will have to wait.”