Chiyaan Vikram on ‘Veera Dheera Sooran’: I wanted a ‘Chithha’ and not a ‘Sethupathi’ from SU Arun Kumar-OxBig News Network

Vikram; poster of ‘Veera Dheera Sooran’
| Photo Credit: HR Pictures

Tamil superstar Vikram has called his upcoming film, Veera Dheera Sooran, directed by Chithha-make SU Arun Kumar, the most gratifying film he has made. Vikram said this in an interview alongside his co-stars in the movie, Suraj Venjaramoodu, SJ Suryah, Dushara Vijayan, and director Arun.

“When Arun narrated the story, the knot and the story were so gripping that I clapped when he finished it. Arun says he isn’t good in narrating his scripts, but that’s not true. Since then, I was really looking forward to working with him,” said Vikram.

Arun stated how Vikram was hooked to the storyline after just 20 minutes of narration, and that this was even before the superstar watched Arun’s critically acclaimed 2023 film, Chithha. In response, Vikram heaped praises on Arun, stating that he was a fan of his debut film Pannaiyarum Padminiyum and his blockbuster sophomore Sethupathi.

“I was already a fan of his work, like Sethupathi and Pannaiyaarum Padminium, which is why I wanted to listen to his story. I liked the first half and I knew he was capable. Then I watched Chithha and it was amazing.” Vikram opined how the film — starring Siddharth, Nimisha Sajayan and child artist Sahasra Shree — handled a sensitive topic (child sexual abuse) without depicting it explicitly on screen.

“I also liked how he directed the junior artists in the background in Chithha; in many films, you would spot the junior artists, but here, you would wonder if they shot it in real locations. The courage to make a film on such a sensitive topic is one thing, but I also knew, from Sethupathi, that he could make a commercial film as well,” he added.

“The way he handled the subject, the way he extracted performances…I knew if he could get such a performance out of that child actor (Sahasra), he could make me act,” quipped Vikram.

He also appreciated Arun for his transparent approach to filmmaking. “He’s so pure. If he doesn’t like something, he would express it, but more importantly, he would do it so politely, as if that feedback was wrapped in a bouquet.”

What does the film have in store for fans?

Veera Dheera Sooran is coming at a pivotal time in Vikram’s career. Except for the multi-starrer Ponniyin Selvan, Vikram’s films haven’t quite hit the mark in the last five years. Mahaan, though critically acclaimed, was a direct-to-streaming release, and Thangalaan fell quite short of its expectations.

Veera Dheera Sooran, according to Vikram, would fulfil the expectations of his fans. “We decided to make this film for the fans. Of course, we all make films for our artistic pursuit, and for fans and their families to like the film. But, for this film, we looked back at the kind of film I haven’t been doing in my career and we wanted to cater to the fans specifically. However, it should also be in Arun Kumar’s style; I didn’t want a Sethupathi but I wanted a Chithha, and that’s what it is.”

He noted how the film, the characters and their interpersonal dynamics would feel realistic. “Sometimes, while attempting to do something different, we would end up doing something outlandish. Here, it would feel as if these events are happening for real; it would feel as if you’re peeping into this world through a window.”

“I want to watch the film like an audience and I am sure he would satisfy my expectations,” added Vikram.

Veera Dheera Sooran has music by GV Prakash Kumar. The film marks the actor and music director’s fourth collaboration after Deiva Thirumagal (2011), Thaandavam (2012), and Thangalaan (2024).

The film has cinematography by Theni Eswar and editing by Prasanna GK. Riya Shibu is producing the film under her HR Pictures banner. The film is set to release in theatres on March 27.