Veteran Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar and actor-director Abishan Jeevinth are set to share the screen as a father-son duo in an upcoming Tamil film. The project, which will be entirely shot in Chennai, marks the directorial debut of Gautham Sivaraman. Describing the film, Gautham says it is a "feel-good family drama about a father and son."
A Commercial Entertainer with Heart
Gautham elaborates that the film is a commercial entertainer blending songs, romance, comedy, and emotions. "The characters in the film won't feel alien, and there won't be any adult content or double meaning," he assures. The director aimed to bring a fresh face to Tamil cinema with Shiva Rajkumar, who is widely known for mass commercial entertainers in Kannada. "I thought, 'How would it be if he played a regular dad?' Also, his character demands the performer in him," Gautham explains.
Pitching to a Star
Recalling his approach to the Kannada star, Gautham shares his nervousness as a debutant with a small profile. "I was excited to even get a story narration meeting with him. But, to my surprise, he looked after me like his son. Initially, I thought he said he liked the film so as not to make me feel bad. But the interest he showed was overwhelming." Notably, Shiva Rajkumar will also dub his own lines in the film.
Abishan Jeevinth: Locked from the Start
Interestingly, Abishan was finalized for the son's role right from the writing stage. "We started writing with him in mind. I really liked his acting in Tourist Family. He has that boy-next-door image. After With Love, I was even more confident that he could easily pull off his role in my film," Gautham states. The director also reveals that Shiva Rajkumar is a fan of Abishan's debut directorial Tourist Family. "Shiva Raj sir really liked Tourist Family, especially Abishan's portion. He watched it four times. He said that Abishan is a bundle of talent," Gautham adds.
Female Leads and Casting Choices
Yogalakshmi and Shivani Nagaram, known for the Telugu film Little Hearts, play the female leads. "Both roles have good performance scopes, and that's the reason we cast them; we wanted good performers," Gautham shares. The film promises to be a wholesome entertainer with relatable characters and no questionable content.
