Pre-releaNOORUse event for the film ‘Nooru Saami’ starring Vijay Antony
The Vijay Antony-Sasi duo introduces music composer Balaji Sriram with the film ‘Nooru Saami’
Vijay Antony’s ‘Nooru Saami’ pre-release event held with the participation of acclaimed leading filmmakers
The pre-release event for ‘Nooru Saami’—marking the reunion of director Sasi and Vijay Antony, a duo that garnered significant attention in Tamil cinema with the film ‘Pichaikkaran’—was held grandly in Chennai.
Produced by Vijay Antony Film Corporation and directed by Sasi, ‘Nooru Saami’ features a cast including Vijay Antony, Swasika, Ajay Dishan, Lijo Mol Jose, Karunas, Sakthi, Kavya Anil, Balaji Sakthivel, Arul Doss, Moorthy, and Jensen Diwakar. S.P. Darshan Kirlos has handled the cinematography, while Balaji Sriram has composed the music. Crafted as a feel-good commercial family entertainer, the film is produced by Fathima Vijay Antony on behalf of Vijay Antony Film Corporation and presented by Meera Vijay Antony.
The pre-release event for ‘Nooru Saami’—set for a worldwide theatrical release on the 19th—took place at Kamala Cinemas in Chennai. The event was attended by the film’s crew alongside prominent, acclaimed filmmakers from Tamil cinema, including Vetrimaaran, Pa. Ranjith, A.R. Murugadoss, Saran, Lingusamy, Karthik Subbaraj, Mysskin, Sathish Kumar, Madhan, Mandhira Moorthy, and V.Z. Many film industry personalities attended the event, including Durai, Subramania Siva, Nithilan Saminathan, and Raju Murugan; producers C.V. Kumar and Dhananjayan; and music directors S.S. Kumaran, Simon, and Sidhu Kumar.
At the event, music directors Vijay Antony, S.S. Kumaran, Simon, and Sidhu Kumar—who themselves rose to fame after debuting with director Sasi’s films—joined together to congratulate and introduce Balaji Sriram, the music director making his debut with the film Nooru Saami.
Welcoming the gathering and thanking the special guests, producer Vijay Antony said, “I am very happy. I have acted in many films so far. After watching this film, many have told me, ‘You have acted very well.’ I thank director Sasi sir for bringing out a good performance from me. I also thank all the directors who have come here to help take this film to the audience.”
Music director Balaji Sriram said, “I thank all the legends present on this stage for introducing me. One day, director Sasi called, described a specific situation, and asked for a tune for a song. That became the song ‘Amma Amma…’. Sasi sir liked the tune immediately and told me right then that I would be the music director for the film. I thank director Sasi sir for placing his trust in me and giving me the opportunity to work on such a powerful film. The guidance provided by director Sasi and Vijay Antony was the primary reason the music for this film turned out so well.”
Director Vetrimaaran said, “Generally, when directors make a film, the film’s title becomes associated with their name. However, in director Sasi’s case, it is the film’s title that stands out. This is because he works on every film with the same level of total dedication and commitment that he brought to his very first movie.” “We share something in common: we both worked as assistants to Director Kathir.
I have watched this film. Sasi Sir’s career journey was just mentioned; yet, this work does not feel like it comes from someone with so many years of experience. It feels like the work of a fresh director—he possessed a keen desire to tell the story in an engaging way that appeals to today’s young audience. That is his unique strength.
Generally, actors showcase their talents brilliantly in his films. In this movie, too, all the actors and actresses have delivered wonderful performances. I congratulate everyone involved and wish for this film to achieve massive success.”
Speaking on the occasion, Director Pa. Ranjith said, “I really liked the film Nooru Saami, but I like Director Sasi even more.
When I was searching for an opportunity to become an assistant director, Sasi was the one who first sat me down, shared insights, and instilled confidence in me. At that time, he asked me a very simple question. I couldn’t answer it immediately. I met him again a little later and gave him the answer. He then told me, ‘You have a great quality; keep trying, and you will get an opportunity.’ I have followed that lesson throughout my life. Even today, I personally meet assistant directors who come seeking opportunities, talk to them, and offer them encouragement.” “I am an emotional person; even small things can deeply affect me. While watching the movie Nooru Saami, I could easily connect with the work at many points. Actress Swasika has delivered a wonderful performance in this film.
There were many aspects of the movie that I liked. The themes addressed in the film remain relevant today, and there is still a need for us to discuss them. The social climate calls for the kind of changes depicted here. I believe this film will reach people from all walks of life—delivering its message powerfully yet simply. I hope the audience will love it, too.
I particularly enjoyed the ‘ceiling fan’ scene in the movie. I could psychologically relate it to an incident from my own life.
Sasi Sir has directed many films, but this is the one he invited me to see. When he invited me, he said, ‘You will like this film; you must come and watch it.’ I did watch it, and it is excellent. I wish the film great success.”
Director A.R. Murugadoss said, “There are many remarkable elements in this film. It is based on a true story that took place in my hometown; my friend Sasi has adapted a real-life incident into a movie. I also want to thank Vijay Antony for agreeing to produce and act in such a challenging story. While watching the climax, I felt a sense of anxiety, wondering if something might go wrong. However, he crafted the film brilliantly by creating a sequence that no one expected. The climax was truly tense.
I was present when Vijay Antony was introduced as a music composer. He faced immense pressure at that time, yet I was amazed by his passion and determination to launch a technician’s career.
Everyone has performed well in this film; Swasika, in particular, has delivered an outstanding performance.” Just as Shoba delivered a brilliant performance in Balu Mahendra’s film, Swasika has performed exceptionally well in this movie.
She displays amazing acting nuances even in the smallest details of the songs. She brilliantly conveys a range of emotions—pain, humiliation, and deep sorrow—through her facial expressions. I anticipate that the competition for awards this year will be between Radhika and Swasika.
Sasi became a director before I did. Once, I told him I was looking for an opportunity to direct a film. He reassured me, saying, “Never let yourself go hungry in any situation. If you face a crisis, come see me.” That gave me a sense of joy. Whether or not we actually ask for help, the mere knowledge that someone is ready to assist us instills happiness and confidence. If God were to appear the moment we called Him, there would be no need to call Him; yet, the comforting thought that He would come if called brings joy, doesn’t it? Similarly, having the Chief Minister’s phone number gives one a sense of courage—even if we never actually contact him, the knowledge that we have his number brings happiness. Sasi gave me that kind of reassurance.
After shooting my debut film, Dheena, for just two days, I was in a dilemma about whether to abandon the project. I happened to meet director Sasi at an event. After congratulating him on becoming a director, I shared the situation and my confusion with him, telling him that the film might not proceed. He encouraged me, saying, “Deciding to drop the film is tantamount to failure. Fight for it. Don’t expect 100% of your vision to translate onto the screen; achieving 70% is enough. The audience will take care of the rest.” It was only then that I decided to go ahead and direct the film. “This film addresses far more issues than the movies of Vetrimaaran and Pa. Ranjith, who are known for speaking about social justice. Even within our own homes, there is a disparity between men and women; many things that come easily to a man are not as easily accessible to a woman. Sasi has portrayed this beautifully. This film is very close to my heart, and I believe it will resonate with you—the audience—and become dear to you as well,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Mysskin said, “Director Sasi is one of the few ‘gods’—or truly noble souls—I have encountered in my life. There are hardly any such ‘gods’ in the film industry; in fact, there are very few—I doubt if even ten could be found. In my thirty years of experience in cinema, Director Sasi is the only one who reaches out to me once a month, meets me in person, and embraces me warmly.”
“When we enter the film industry, we aim to achieve things like winning a National Award, bagging ten Filmfare Awards, or perhaps even an Oscar. But one day, we will pass away…”
…But Sasi will never truly fade away; he is like a sage.
I once met Sasi hoping to work as his assistant. After speaking with me for ten minutes, he said there were no openings at the time. Sasi is the kind of man who observes people closely and, with a mother’s heart, senses whether they are facing any troubles.
One thing that fascinates me about certain men is the feminine quality they possess. Society tends to view men strictly as men and women strictly as women.
Yet, those who possess a strong feminine quality are truly exceptional individuals. Legends like Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman possess this quality in abundance; that is precisely what makes them such brilliant creators. Sasi, too, is a man of deep humanity who embodies this wonderful feminine quality.
After completing the script for this film, he narrated the story to his three assistants. I believe this approach stems from his keen observation of human life. Later, we all watched the film and discussed it. I have a different perspective regarding the screenplay, which I intend to discuss with Sasi privately.
There is a moral core to this film. It addresses the men who wrote the rules and laws of this society—asking how they should treat the women who were buried without ever having truly lived in the streets we walk today,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Raju Murugan said, “These days, film music launch events seem to begin and end with Mysskin.
Like everyone else, I am very fond of Sasi Sir. Consistently delivering quality work over so many years is a remarkable achievement. One can always take away something valuable from any of his films, and this movie offers plenty of such insights.” I was deeply unsettled for two days after watching this film.
Sunita Williams spent over 680 days in space. Yet, look at how we still perceive women today. There was a time when the Kattiyakkaran (herald) in traditional plays would appear on stage and voice criticisms about women. With the advent of print media, this evolved into gossip columns, where the portrayal of women became even worse. Now, in the era of social media, that perception has deteriorated further.
When a video involving an illicit affair is uploaded, the comments section is flooded with negative remarks directed at the woman. It made me wonder if this country has become overrun by “guardians of culture.” Yet, it is precisely when these self-appointed guardians are so prevalent that violence and sexual assault against women occur daily. In such a climate, the film Nooru Saami strikes me as incredibly important.
It is a film about women that men ought to watch, and a film about men that women ought to watch.
This is a magnificent film released after a long time. Only Sasi could craft such characters and tell a story like this.
When one thinks of Vijay Antony, thriller scripts usually come to mind first. However, after watching Nooru Saami, one feels that any kind of story could be written for him. He—and indeed the entire cast—delivered such wonderful performances. My gratitude goes to Vijay Antony for both producing and starring in this film.
From the woman conversing with a fan, to sons transforming into fathers; from ‘Moksham’ sowing seeds of hope during a long walk, to a teacher sharing in a woman’s pain as she stitches the national flag, and ‘Ezhumalai’ who embodies love in his everyday life—creating such a multitude of characters is something only Sasi could achieve. This is an outstanding film. “It will achieve commercial success as well. Best wishes to everyone,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, producer Dhananjayan said, “I have been aware of this project since its inception, as my friendship with Sasi—which began with the film Poo—continues to this day. Initially, there was a different producer and a different lead actor attached to the film, and the negotiations dragged on for a long time. Sasi consulted me during that phase. It was at that critical juncture that Vijay Antony sir stepped in as a savior for us.
He fully settled the dues owed to the previous producer. In that sense, Vijay Antony is the primary benefactor of this film; he is the main reason this movie has made it to the screen. When I spoke to him about it, he simply said, ‘I will do anything for Sasi sir.’
I believe actress Swasika will win a National Award this year.
This is not an art film; it is a thoroughbred commercial movie. The audience will love the 20-minute climax. It is a film destined for success, and I urge everyone to watch and celebrate it in theaters.”
Producer C.V. Kumar, while speaking…
[13/06, 19:56] Flowing Fizz: “Directing films in Tamil cinema for 30 years is no small feat; it requires immense effort. In that regard, I extend my congratulations to Director Sasi for this film.
I really like Vijay Antony’s music, but I appreciate him even more as an actor and as a producer. He consistently delivers hits by choosing unique themes and films, and by collaborating with new directors; I wish this film of his great success as well,” he said.
Director Sasi spoke next: “Vijay Antony appears only in the second half of this film. After hearing the story, he said, ‘It doesn’t matter if I appear in just one scene at the very end; I will act in this movie.’
Nowadays, the hero often appears only 40 minutes into the film without affecting its success. Similarly, Vijay Antony appears only in the final 40 minutes of this movie. I am certain this film will be a success. Trusting this assurance of mine, everyone should feel free to come to the theaters to watch Nooru Saami.
I have two ‘bosses’ for this film. The first is the producer, Vijay Antony, who believed in the story and invested in it; he watched the film and praised it.
My second ‘bosses’ are the fans. I am confident that they, too, will share the same appreciation that producer Vijay Antony expressed.
I hope the media will introduce this film to the audience as a quality movie.
As for where I got this story… there was a reality show on television featuring a mother and son. The story for this film originated from the experiences they shared.
In Pichaikkaran, a son viewed his mother as a goddess.
In Nooru Saami, a son views his mother as a human being.
I would now like to invite Bhaskar—the real-life person behind this story—to the stage.” The film’s story is based on events from her life.
“After watching this movie, everyone will view their mother as a human being,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, producer-actor Vijay Antony said, “There have been three turning points in my life. One was the opportunity director Sasi gave me in the film Dishyum. The second turning point was Pichaikkaran; that film remains etched in the minds of fans to this day. The third turning point is this film, which has transformed me into a ‘lover boy.’ I hope to land more ‘lover boy’ roles in the future because of this.
My thanks to everyone who worked on this film. You, the audience, will love it. It is a film that is absolutely essential for women and has the potential to bring about significant social change. It is a crucial film for the women in your lives—mothers, sisters, and others. This movie will never disappoint you.”
