Exclusive Glimpse Launch Event for the Film ’29’, Starring Actor Vithu
Produced by Stone Bench Studios and Zee Squad, and directed by Rathna Kumar, the film ’29’ stars actor Vithu in the lead role. To introduce this upcoming feature, a grand exclusive event titled ‘Welcome To The World of 29’ was held in Chennai.
Following his previous films Meyaadha Maan, Aadai, and Gulu Gulu, Rathna Kumar directs this project, which features a cast including Vithu, Preethi Asrani, Mahendran, Avinash, Shehanaaz Fathima, and Prem Kumar. The film features cinematography by Madhesh Manickam and music composed by Sean Roldan. Jointly produced by Karthikeyan Santhanam, Karthik Subbaraj, and Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film is being distributed across Tamil Nadu by White Carpet Films. ’29’ is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on May 8th.
The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including directors P.S. Vinothraj, Karthik Yogi, Franklin Jacob, and Arun Matheswaran; producers Arun Viswa, Sinish, Rajasekar Pandian, and Mahesh Raj Pasilian; and actor Rio Raj, among many others.
Speaking at the event, actor Mahendran recalled that it was at the age of 29 that he received the opportunity to star in the film Master through director Lokesh Kanagaraj—an opportunity he described as a major turning point in his life. He went on to express his gratitude to Rathna Kumar for offering him yet another opportunity to work with him. Praising Vithu’s acting prowess, dedication, and his diligent work ethic toward his character, Mahendran remarked that Vithu was one of his favorite co-stars to work with.
Actress Preethi Asrani, taking the stage to speak, revealed that ’29’ is a love story centered around two characters named Sathya and Viji. She noted that the film explores the differing perspectives on life held by a 29-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman. She remarked that this film is an emotional journey of love with which audiences can easily connect. She also expressed her delight at having played a natural, “girl-next-door” type of character.
Speaking on the occasion, actor Vidhu described this stage as a truly special moment in his life, noting that aspirations he had once spoken of merely as dreams years ago have now become a reality. He shared that, as the entire film crew worked together like a close-knit family, he became deeply emotional and shed tears at the conclusion of the filming schedule. Expressing his affection and trust in Ratnakumar, he added that Sean Roldan’s music serves as the very soul of the film.
Music Director Sean Roldan stated that the film’s storyline compelled him to contemplate love from a fresh perspective. He noted that, despite having worked on numerous romantic films over the years, this particular story rekindled a sense of romance that had lain dormant within him. He expressed his confidence that, amidst the fast-paced nature of modern life, ’29’ would stand out as a work that speaks of sincere love, and that it would secure a unique place within the distinguished lineage of Tamil romantic cinema.
Speaking at the event, Producer Karthikeyan Santhanam remarked, “This film explores the theme of one’s self-identity. In this specific context, I believe there could be no one more fitting than myself to address this subject.
The way people perceive me right now is—they say, ‘Lokesh Kanagaraj is producing this film for his friend Ratnakumar,’ or ‘Karthik Subbaraj is producing this film for actor Vidhu.’ So, if one were to ask, ‘Then what exactly is I doing?’—only Karthik Subbaraj and Lokesh Kanagaraj can provide the answer to that. It is only then that I can truly reveal to the world: ‘Who am I?’
It feels as though I need to declare—much like Vadivelu does in a certain movie—’I am the one and only producer of this film!’ Consequently, this situation naturally leads us right back into the very core theme of the movie: the question of one’s self-identity. I mention this with amusement and joy, however—not with any sense of grievance or regret.” Karthik Subbaraj, Lokesh Kanagaraj, and I have been journeying together continuously since 2014. I have worked on numerous films, ranging in budget from three crore rupees all the way up to 154 crore rupees. Yet, people here have never truly viewed me as a producer—nor are they likely to do so in the future. While I was in this very state of mind, Director Rathna Kumar raised profound questions regarding the nature of ‘self-identity’ and presented a film proposal to us. After listening to this story, I realized that no one else could possibly articulate the themes of self-identity and love more beautifully than this. Consequently, I developed a deeply emotional connection with this film.
Just yesterday, during a conversation with Madan Gowri, he shared an experience that cricketer Dhoni had gone through. Upon hearing that story, I found myself thinking: “If even someone like Dhoni faces such situations… then who are we?”
To date, we have produced 18 films. In this process, we collaborate with our partners to engage in discussions regarding the specific kind of cinema we wish to create. When the question arises as to what type of films one can expect from Stone Bench, the answer is this: on one hand, there will be commercial entertainers; on the other, there will be stories that simply need to be told. We strive to produce films that defy easy prediction—works that audiences would not readily anticipate from us. Furthermore, we are dedicated to identifying fresh, young talent and providing them with opportunities. Above all, we fully recognize that the true significance lies in our brand itself—Stone Bench Studios.
I can honestly attest that Lokesh Kanagaraj remains completely unaware of this film’s storyline to this very moment. His continued involvement thus far has been driven solely by trust.
Our discussions revolved around a specific question: Should a trailer be designed primarily to entice audiences into theaters? Or should it serve to convey the actual subject matter of the film?
At that juncture, Director Rathna Kumar suggested—given that the film 29 is essentially a narrative comprising ten distinct chapters from the life of a 29-year-old named Sathya—that we release one of those very chapters as our promotional material. I was thoroughly captivated by this idea.
That particular scene served as a cohesive synthesis, addressing every key aspect: the genre of the film, the identities of its characters, its central themes, and even the very essence of love. Both Rathna Kumar’s writing and his filmmaking craft shone brilliantly in this sequence—a feat made even more impressive by the fact that it was executed as a single, continuous shot.
Just as Rathna Kumar’s short film Madhu was featured in our anthology project, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s short film Kalam was also included. Rathna Kumar and Lokesh Kanagaraj happen to be close friends; naturally, it brings me great joy to be producing a film in collaboration with Lokesh.
In my role as a producer, I focus exclusively on the creative aspects of the project; all other operational and logistical matters are handled by Karthikeyan Santhanam. It is Karthikeyan Santhanam who has made every single film produced by our banner a reality. He is the one who took full ownership of 29—assuming complete responsibility for the project and seeing it through to completion. Furthermore, it was he who met with Lokesh Kanagaraj to conduct the necessary negotiations.
“Releasing a film has become an incredibly challenging endeavor in the current climate. We are launching this project right between the releases of two major feature films. Nevertheless, we have crafted 29 with the specific intention that everyone will watch it, enjoy it, and celebrate it,” he concluded. Speaking on the occasion, Director Rathna Kumar said, “One night, after I had finished working on the film Meyaadha Maan, I was at home while it was raining outside. I decided to post something on Facebook using the ‘What’s on your mind?’ feature. The only sound audible in my room was the patter of the rain. I wrote and posted a short dialogue along these lines: ‘A boy and a girl are standing under a single umbrella. It is raining. They are talking to each other…’ The very next day, that post received an overwhelming number of likes and comments. Among them, several people commented, ‘We are eager to know what those two characters did next.’ At that time, I hadn’t even given names to those characters; I left them unnamed because I wanted every reader to be able to imagine themselves in their place.
So, on another day, I decided to take it further and chose a setting—a specific location—where they might have met next. That is precisely the ‘glimpse’ you just witnessed here.
This is what I wrote as a second installment and posted on Facebook. I simply shared whatever thoughts were stirring within me on the platform.
At that point, a friend called me up and asked, ‘Why are you posting things like this on Facebook right now? There is a solid story embedded within this. These two characters are able to connect meaningfully within a very confined space. You could turn this into a feature film. If you don’t do it, someone else will beat you to it and make a movie out of it. Please, delete those posts immediately!’
The exact same thing happened when I posted my short film, Madhu, on YouTube. Just as Madhu eventually evolved into the feature film Meyaadha Maan, the ideas I originally posted on Facebook have now taken shape as the film 29, which is presented before you today.
Ultimately, this film—which I sat down to write—is the journey of those two fictional characters that first took shape in my imagination.” This film would not exist without Karthikeyan Santhanam. He was the one who firmly insisted that I develop this story specifically under the Stone Bench banner.
Lokesh had arranged a different opportunity for me; he handed me a story himself and asked me to turn it into a film. Karthik Subbaraj, too, offered me an action-oriented script and suggested that I direct it. Yet, amidst all these offers, it was Karthikeyan Santhanam who pointed me toward 29, telling me, “You must direct this film. This is the story that truly defines you.”
One cannot simply acquire an identity; it is something that evolves organically. The question, “Who am I?”—which arose deep within me—was the catalyst. It began as a casual post on Facebook, shared without any expectations, yet it gradually blossomed into a full-fledged story. It tells the tale of a directionless 29-year-old man—someone who, if asked to define himself, would simply reply, “I don’t know.” Into his life steps a young woman, also in her twenties. It is only as they journey together that they both come to realize who they truly are. This journey is what has now been crafted into a feature film.
Since so many pivotal events in my own life occurred when I was 29 years old, I decided that “29” would be the perfect title for this film.
Explaining the significance of the title “29” has proven to be quite a challenge. Is it a door number? A bus route number? A specific date? None of those things. It was quite a struggle to convey that it simply refers to a person’s age.
The “Glimpse” you have just watched represents the second chapter in the ten-chapter saga of Sathya’s life. If you enjoyed it—and if you found that it resonated with you on a personal level—then I am confident that you will thoroughly enjoy the remaining chapters as well. I have every faith that you will watch and cherish this film.
To all the actors, actresses, and technical crew members who worked on this film…
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone present here at this moment,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Lokesh Kanagaraj stated, “I would like to thank all the special guests who have graced this event with their presence. I extended invitations to all of them on very short notice. Yet, everyone set aside their professional commitments to be here today to lend their support to this film.
’29’ is a film being jointly produced by Zee Squad and Stone Bench Studios. This marks my debut as a producer. Prior to this, I had presented two films—’Fight Club’ and ‘Michael’—but those were projects I undertook solely to support my friends.
The primary reason I decided to produce this film is my friend, Rathnakumar. Rathnakumar is more than just a writer or a friend to me; for a very long time, he has been a fellow competitor.
Back in 2013, when we were all struggling to direct our debut feature films—much like all the directors present here today—Rathnakumar and I were wandering from street to street, having just completed our short films. The year 2012 saw the release of the film Pizza. That movie opened up a massive gateway for all our dreams. It didn’t just open doors for me; it paved the way for many of the prominent directors who are making waves in the industry today.
Subsequently, Karthik Subbaraj launched a production house called Bench Talkies. He curated a collection of short films to create an anthology feature. My short film, titled ‘Kalam,’ was included in that anthology, Aviyal. Karthik Subbaraj didn’t just introduce Rathnakumar to the industry; he also gave me my technical debut through the film Aviyal.
From that time until now, we have all remained close friends. However, this time around—with Rathna at the helm as director—I have taken on the responsibility of a producer, collaborating with Stone Bench Studios.” I would like to express my immense gratitude to the people for granting me this platform.
This is precisely the reason I established my production company. I started this venture with the specific objective that, as we grow, we must also uplift those who have stood by us along the way. My inspiration for this, too, is none other than Kamal Sir. It was he who taught us that the earnings derived from cinema should be reinvested right back into the industry itself. It is from him that we, too, learned this valuable lesson.
It is not just this film; every subsequent project emerging from our production house is dedicated to introducing fresh, young talent to the industry. I am confident that 29 will serve as an excellent starting point for this endeavor. I humbly request that you extend the same level of support to the films produced under my banner as you have previously shown to my own films as an actor.
To date, I have neither watched this film nor even heard its script. My involvement rests entirely on the faith I have in Rathnakumar. Driven by this absolute trust—this “blind faith”—I am certain he has directed this film with a profound sense of responsibility. I am eagerly looking forward to watching this movie in a theater alongside the fans on May 8th.
My best wishes go out to everyone involved: the producers, the cast, and the entire technical crew.
” 29 is releasing on May 8th. I also wish for the success of Kara—which releases prior to ours—and Surya’s Karuppu—which is set to release shortly thereafter,” he concluded.
