Pa. Ranjith’s upcoming film ‘Vettuvam’ has been drawing attention for its expansive scale, unusual setting and blend of genres. Headlined by Arya and Sobhita Dhulipala, the film brings together an ensemble cast and marks another collaboration between Ranjith and several actors who have previously worked with him.At the recent glimpse launch, Arya opened up about the film’s evolution, revealing that what was initially presented to him as a relatively small project eventually grew into a much larger production. He also spoke highly of Ranjith’s approach to filmmaking, while Sobhita praised the filmmaker for creating women characters with distinct strength and individuality.
Arya reveals why he chose ‘Vettuvam’ before ‘Sarpatta Parambarai 2’
Arya revealed that he had initially planned to begin work on ‘Sarpatta Parambarai 2’ when Pa. Ranjith approached him with ‘Vettuvam’. According to the actor, Ranjith initially described the project as a small film that would take around 60 days to complete, after which they could move ahead with the sequel.Arya recalled asking whether Ranjith had a role for him. The director initially told him that there was no character available, as the film was being planned with Dinesh and several other actors.However, Ranjith later contacted Arya and offered him a role without revealing the complete story.“He didn’t tell me the story and asked me to come directly to the shooting, as I won’t do it if I heard the story,” Arya said.The actor also revealed that Kalaiyarasan was not part of the initial plan. His character was subsequently added as the project developed.
‘Vettuvam’ budget reportedly grew from Rs 25 crore to Rs 75 crore
Arya also opened up about how the scale of ‘Vettuvam’ grew during its production, revealing that the film’s budget increased significantly as director Pa Ranjith expanded its world and ideas. He said, “Initially, we thought we could make the film with a budget of around Rs 25 crore, but eventually, it became a film costing around Rs 75 crore.” Describing the film’s genre, Arya added, “‘Vettuvam’ has apocalyptic and world-ending elements, along with science-fiction touches.”The actor suggested that the film evolved significantly from the version that was initially discussed, with its ambitions growing as Ranjith developed the story and its visual world.
Arya calls Pa. Ranjith ‘one of the best directors in India’
Arya also had high praise for his director, describing Pa. Ranjith as “one of the best directors in India” and calling him an “egoless director”.While discussing Ranjith’s previous work, Arya said that he personally liked ‘Thangalaan’. However, he noted that Ranjith felt the film had not reached as wide an audience as he had hoped.According to Arya, the experience has made the filmmaker particularly determined to ensure that ‘Vettuvam’ connects with a larger audience.“For that mindset, hats off to you, sir,” Arya said.
Sobhita Dhulipala praises Ranjith’s women characters
Sobhita Dhulipala, who plays a prominent role in ‘Vettuvam’, also spoke about Ranjith’s writing, particularly his approach to female characters.“The women characters written by Ranjith sir, I think they all have their own fire,” she said.Sobhita has also undergone extensive physical preparation for the film, training in traditional disciplines including Mallakhamba, Adi Murai and Surul as part of the action-heavy project.
Cast and crew of ‘Vettuvam’
‘Vettuvam’ features an ensemble cast including Arya, Sobhita Dhulipala, Dinesh, Kalaiyarasan, Mime Gopi, Guru Somasundaram, Shabeer Kallarakkal and John Vijay, among others. GV Prakash Kumar is composing the music for the film, while the project brings together an extensive technical team to realise Ranjith’s ambitious vision.