Puli (2015 film)

Puli
Directed by	Chimbu Deven
Produced by	Selvakumar Shibu K. Thameen
Written by	Chimbu Deven
Starring	Vijay Aaditya Malathy Sridevi Shruti Haasan Hansika Motwani Nandita Sudeep
Music by	Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography	Natarajan Subramaniam
Edited by	A. Sreekar Prasad
Production company	SKT Studios
Distributed by	Sri Thenandal films(TamilNadu) Ayngaran International(UK) Thameens(Kerala) S. Narayan(Karnataka)
Release dates	22 June 2015 (2015-06-22)
Country	India
Language	Tamil / Telugu / Hindi
Budget	120 crore (US$19 million)[1]

Puli (English: Tiger) is an upcoming Tamil Action-fantasy film written and directed by Chimbu Deven. The film features Vijay, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani and Nandita in the lead roles alongside an ensemble cast including , Sridevi, Sudeep. Produced by Vijay's press relations officer Selvakumar, the project has music composed by Devi Sri Prasad and has Natarajan Subramaniam as cinematographer. After beginning pre-production works in early 2013, the film began its shoot in November 2014.

Cast

• Vijay
• Sridevi
• Prabhu
• Sudeep
• Shruti Haasan
• Hansika Motwani
• Nandita
• Vijayakumar
• Thambi Ramaiah
• Aadukalam Naren
• Joe Malloori
• Ajay Rathnam
• Sathyan
• Karunas
• Imman Annachi
• Robo Shankar
• Vidyullekha Raman
• Jasper

Tasadduq

• sugunthan

Production

Development

Chimbu Deven was reported to be working on a "fantasy film set in contemporary times" in for UTV Motion Pictures and Dhanush was subsequently signed on to play the leading role.^[2] The film was titled as Maareesan, with G. V. Prakash Kumar and Kathir signed on as composer and cinematographer respectively, while the team revealed filming would start in late 2011. Anushka Shetty and Lakshmi Menon were rumoured to play the leading roles in the film but the rumours were false. Vadivelu was also reported to be a part of the cast.^[3][4] However in October 2011, UTV Motion Pictures Arunth Sriganthan left the project citing the escalating budget and Aascar Films replaced them as producers.^[5][6] The project later failed to take off, and the actor and director moved on to work on other ventures. During the production of his Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum (2014) in late 2013, Chimbu Deven restarted preliminary work on the shelved film and narrated the script to Vijay, who expressed interest in being a part of the project. Subsequently, the project found producers in PT Selvakumar, Vijay's press relations officer, and Jonathan Gunaseelan of Thameen Films, who had previously distributed several of Vijay's films in Kerala. The two producers came together to form a new production house SKT Films and announced that production would begin after the completion of Vijay's work in AR Murugadoss's Kaththi (2014).^[7][8]

Although early reports suggested that A. R. Rahman would be the film's music composer, the team later confirmed Devi Sri Prasad had been signed.^[9][10] Natarajan Subramaniam chose to continue his work as a cinematographer with the film, despite his acting success in Sathuranga Vettai (2014), revealing he was excited to work alongside such an ensemble cast.^[11] T. Muthuraj was announced as the film's art director and began work alongside his commitments in Shankar's I (2014), while lyricist Vairamuthu also joined the crew.^[12][13] The team also picked five costume designers to take care of clothing for the actors, with Manish Malhotra, Deepali Noor, Chaitanya Rao, Siva and Sai all brought on board. Furthermore four stunt choreographers were selected to take care of action scenes with international technicians Sang Lin and Pradit Seeluem, brought in to work alongside Sunil Rodrigues and Dilip Subbarayan.^[14][15] Makuta VFX were signed on to be in charge of the film's visual effects.^[16] Chimbu Deven subsequently worked on finalising the script of the film between January and August 2014. Chimbu Deven and cinematographer Natarajan Subramaniam scouted locations in Vellore in August 2014, finalising schedules in Chalakudi and Nelliyampathy.^[17]

Casting

In April 2014, reports suggested Kannada actor Sudeep was approached to play a parallel leading role in the film, while contrasting reports noted he would play the lead antagonist.^[18] Sudeep later confirmed his participation in the film, adding it would see him in a "first of its kind" role.^[19] The team then successfully signed on actress Sridevi to portray a pivotal role of a princess in the film, with the actress appearing in a Tamil film for the first time in 29 years.^[20] Another senior actor, Prabhu, also signed on after being approached by the director to portray a character role.^[21]

Chimbu Deven revealed that the film would feature two leading female roles to appear alongside Vijay.^[22] Anushka Shetty and Lakshmi Menon were rumoured to join the project but the rumours were false and neither of them were signed. Shruti Haasan confirmed that she had signed the film in July 2014.^[23] Hansika Motwani was also added to the cast thereafter to portray a princess, the daughter of Sridevi's character. Sridivya was approached for the role of the third heroine in the film but she rejected it. Nandita took up Sridivya's role, thereafter to portray a princess, the 2nd daughter of Sridevi's character^[24][25] Thambi Ramaiah and Vidyullekha Raman were also selected to portray roles in the film, while comedians Sathyan, Robo Shankar and Imman Annachi joined the team in the first schedule.^[26] A press release in early January 2015 added actors Aadukalam Naren, Vijaykumar, Ali, Karunas and Joe Malloori to the film's cast

Filming

The team began filming on 10 November 2014 at the Adityaram Studios on the East Coast Road, Chennai, where a song featuring Vijay and Hansika Motwani was shot in a set replicating a castle put up by art director, Muthuraj.^[27] The team then set up base in Pannaiyapuram for a forty five day stint, with hundreds of extras and technicians gathered from neighbouring states.^[28][29] A second schedule continued throughout December after which it was reported that the film was twenty percent complete. After a Christmas break, production restarted in early January 2015, and carried on in the outskirts of the city until mid-January.^[30] Reports which suggested that the team had secured permission to film at the Mysore Palace was dismissed by the makers as speculation.^[31]

The film had begun shoot without a title and had been widely referred to in the media as Vijay 58. Other titles such as Garuda, the script's original name Maareesan, Maru Dheeran and Por Vaal were also registered by the producers, while finalising on a title.^[32] The team consequently confirmed the title as Puli in early January 2015, after having bought the rights from director S. J. Surya.^[33]

Vijay is said to have completed his portions in Thalakona and have left for Chennai, a couple of days back. Currently Puli Film’s shooting is going in Thalakonam area with portions of Robo Shankar,Imman Annachi and Vidyullekha Raman .It is said that Vijay would be back on the 23rd of April for continue the shooting of his remaining portions and Vijay will be sporting a new look with a beard for this final leg of shooting.Vijay will appear in dual role in the movie ,One is a Cartoonist with Shruti Haasan as his heroine and Other is a Commander with Hansika Motwani as his dream girl and Puli Movie is a Fantasy thriller in which the cartoons painted by Vijay coming to life and taking the audience to different eras. Vijay’s name in Puli film will be Marudheeran^[34][35]

Distribution

North and South Arcot Area distribution were bought by Sri Thenandal films.^[36]Ayngaran International purchased overseas rights while Thameens purchased Kerela distribution rights. Karnataka distribution rights were purchased by Producer and director S. Narayan.^[37] The audio rights of the movie were bought by Sony Music India.^[38]

References

External links

• Puli at the Internet Movie Database