Cinematographer and director Vijay Milton is gearing up for the release of his upcoming directorial Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan, which is scheduled to release on August 2. Headlined by actor-composer-editor Vijay Antony, the film is touted to be an action thriller.

Before we catch the film in theatres, out of curiosity and with some reports saying the film is based on true incident, in an exclusive chat with OTTplay, we ask Vijay Milton if the news is indeed true?

“Usually, every film opens with a standard disclaimer that the events and characters portrayed in the film are only fragments of fiction and not based on real-life people. Well, in my films like Kadugu, Goli Soda, Goli Soda 2, which I produced, I follow up the disclaimer card with another one that the previous disclaimer is just a lie. All stories are in someway inspired from what we hear or see. In a way, every story is an original story. However, Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan in a traditional way is not based on true incidents,” Vijay Milton chuckles.

Vijay Milton about Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan

Asked what Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan is in one line, Vijay Milton says, “It is about a stranger in a strange land. It is a common story thread. I recall a Bruce Lee film which I watched a long time back. In the very beginning of the film, Bruce Lee is left ashore by a man with a rope tied to his hands, and commands him not to fight with anyone until further said. It is at this moment we as audience are eager to know when he would fight. That scene lingered in me for a long time and serves as an inspiration for Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan. In this film as well, we are shown a strange man who has a huge backstory and curiosity on who he is.”

Vijay Milton further says that he took up as a challenge to write a screenplay which will revolve around knowing who the man is, and what are his whereabouts. “The whole film raises several questions, until the climax, and we have not answered them even at the end,” he adds.

Vijayakanth in Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan

With reports suggesting that late actor and politician Vijayakanth is also part of Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan, Vijay Milton affirms, but also adds, “We cannot talk much about it, because his family members have said not to use him in any form. We wanted to cast him, and he also okayed the script. But he fell ill and was bed-ridden. I suggested we shoot him with iPhone and develop the rest using AI technology. However, there was also a dilemma because he is a party leader and it would not be right for him to act when many cadres were awaiting him to resume his political duties. Due to certain issues like these, we could not shoot with him. Hence, we replaced him with Sathyaraj sir. But all said and done, I wanted Vijayakanth sir in my film and we have included him, but the way we did is a suspense.”

Multi-character arcs

Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan also stars Sarathkumar, Megha Akash, Daali Dhananjaya, Murali Sharma, Pruthvi Ambaar, Thalaivasal Vijay, and Saranya Ponvanan. Vijay Milton thinks that to have multiple characters in the screenplay as his specialty. In the similar fashion, the director says that all the characters have different motives and arcs, with each of them getting their fair share of due.

Vijay Milton says how the Hindu epic Mahabharat is his favourite book with many characters, and how each of them have a story going on of their own. “They bring different facets to the story as it progresses. There is different set of motives, and I thrive to have such characters in all my films,” he adds.

Concluding the conversation, Vijay Milton says that the film has been shot in various locations that the audience can find new. “We are coming right in between after Dhanush’s Raayan and Vikram’s Thangalaan. But I believe the visuals and writing will interest the audience to watch our film,” he signs off.

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