04 June,2024 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kamal Haasan
The highly anticipated film "Indian 2", starring Kamal Haasan, celebrated its grand audio launch in Chennai recently. The event saw the presence of Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan, Lyca chairman Subaskaran, and other notable celebrities including director S.Shankar, composer Anirudh Ravichander, and actors Kajal Aggarwal and Rakul Preet Singh.
Mouni Roy and Urvashi Rautela set the stage ablaze with their spectacular performances at the event. Among the distinguished chief guests who graced the occasion were Silambarasan T. R., Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Nelson, AR Murugadoss, and Lokesh Kanagaraj.
Kamal Haasan was the last to take to the stage and address the crowd. He spoke eloquently about the film. He started with his history with Shankar. "The rigour I saw all those years back in him is still there. He came to me with his first film, which I didn't accept due to a difference of opinion. I thought he might not come back to me," said Kamal who was surprised to see him with another script after the success of his first release.
"After Thevar Magan, I wanted to direct a film with Sivaji sir. The story Shankar had was similar to mine and I initially turned it down as well. When Sivaji sir got to know this, he said we should drop our film as it features him as the father and me as the son. But in Shankar's film, I was playing both the roles; that showed his affection towards me and that's how Indian happened."
Speaking about the film's producer, Lyca Productions' Subaskaran Allirajah, Kamal said, "We had an accident in which we lost a few people and then we had the pandemic followed by some political issues as well. Producer Subashkaran stood by us during all of it. That shows his Tamil bravery. It might sound like I'm taking politics but Indian is also about politics." Praising the work of Anirudh, he said, "I heard about Anirudh's fervour about the film's progress from Shankar and other crew members. I'm not surprised by how good his music is and it's because of his enthusiasm."
The actor added that Indian 2 and 3 spoke about identity. "I'm a Tamilian and an Indian; that's my identity and it's yours too. That's the concept behind the sequels. âDivide and rule' is a British concept and they did it back then because they had a home to go back to. It will not work anymore and I wonder where those trying to do the same today could go back to."
Fans eagerly await the return of the iconic character Senapathy, who champions justice and honesty. The film's audio, released at the event, is receiving widespread acclaim on social media.
Sony Music has acquired the film's audio rights. Directed by S. Shankar, 'Indian 2' is set to hit theaters on July 12. The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Siddharth, SJ Suryah, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Kalidas Jayaram, Gulshan Grover, Nedumudi Venu, and many others. Produced by Lyca Productions and Red Giant Movies, the film showcases exceptional cinematography by Ravi Varman and Rathnavelu, with editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Mark your calendars for July 12, as 'Indian 2' promises a compelling narrative, stellar performances, and stunning visuals, delivering an unforgettable cinematic experience.