Produced by S.G. Saravanan of 90 Pictures Productions Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Ganesh Vinayakan
Press meet for the film ‘Arulvaan’, starring Arulnithi, Arav, Ramya Pandian, and Kruthika
A press meet was held in Chennai for the film ‘Arulvaan’, produced by S.G. Saravanan of 90 Pictures Productions Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Ganesh Vinayakan. The film features Arulnithi, Arav, Ramya Pandian, and Kruthika in lead roles. The cast also includes Kaali Venkat, VTV Ganesh, John Vijay, Baby Kruthika, ‘Paruthiveeran’ Saravanan, and Harish Uthaman. M. Sukumar has handled the cinematography, while G.V. Prakash Kumar has composed the music. Lalgudi Ilaiyaraaja is the art director, and Lawrence Kishore has handled the editing. Produced by S.G. Saravanan on behalf of 90 Pictures Productions Pvt. Ltd., the film emphasizes the importance of education. Sakthivelan is presenting the film on behalf of Sakthi Film Factory.
The press meet for ‘Arulvaan’—which is set to release in theaters worldwide on the 17th—was held in Chennai. Attendees included Co-producer Mrs. Subha Saravanan, Director Ganesh Vinayakan, Co-producers Saran and Sarath, actors Arulnithi, Arav, and Kaali Venkat, actresses Ramya Pandian and Baby Kruthika, editor Lawrence Kishore, art director Ilaiyaraaja, and cinematographer M. Sukumar, Art Director Lalgudi Ilaiyaraaja, and Sakthi Film Factory’s Sakthi Velan participated in the event.
Actor Kali Venkat said, “Acting in this film was an unforgettable experience. The shoot took place in a mountainous region that was difficult for both humans and animals to navigate. Cinematographer Sukumar would often run backwards through thorny thickets in the hills; simply following him was a challenge in itself. Reaching the shooting spot every day was a challenge.
One day, the shoot took place in a valley four kilometers away. There were no transport facilities to get there; we had to walk. Each actor had to carry their own tent, set it up, and stay there. A local guide led the way, descending the mountain rapidly, and keeping up with him was difficult. At one point, walking along a steep mountain path made my heart pound with anxiety. Despite all this, I missed the final two days of the shoot. If I faced such challenges playing a small role, I can only imagine what it must have been like for the actors playing lead roles. It must have been a tough yet unforgettable experience for everyone. However, I felt truly excited when the director showed me the visuals. Cinematographer Sukumar usually captures the forest as if he were born there, but in this film, he has portrayed the forest from a completely different perspective. All the shooting locations were situated above the clouds; it felt as though we were filming in heaven.
Beyond all this, the story of the film is crucial. It is a movie that addresses the subject of basic education. It will certainly be a topic of discussion after its release.
Actor Arulnithi does not agree to act in a film casually; everyone is aware of his discerning choice of scripts.” “If he has acted in this film, it is bound to be excellent. I would like to express my gratitude to all the co-stars involved in this project. I am confident that this film will achieve massive success,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sakthi Velan of Sakthi Film Factory said, “Generally, film distribution is a commercial endeavor. However, there are certain films that feel close to one’s heart—whether due to their themes, visual storytelling, or the artists involved. We have released such films in the past.
I have often pondered the lives of students in government schools—a topic I haven’t discussed much publicly. This film, set in the year 2000, focuses on those who missed the opportunity to receive an education in government schools. Watching it stirred deep emotions within me; even the minor characters in the story were crafted with exquisite care.
Director Ganesh Vinayakan and cinematographer Sukumar had previously collaborated on the film Then, which we distributed. I believe they share a deep connection with themes involving forests, hills, and the people who inhabit them. That is why they have come together again for this film has created [a distinct style.
Sukumar has established a ‘pattern’ where his name becomes synonymous with the cinematic portrayal of forests, mountains, and waterfalls. In this film, he has visually captured the entire aesthetic beauty of the forest.
The performances of the couple, Arav and Ramya Pandian, are mature, and Baby Krithika’s acting is also excellent. Beyond these aspects, the film addresses a hard truth about education.
Arulnithi’s contribution to the film must also be highlighted. His entry transformed what was essentially an artistic creation into a commercial film. Arulnithi is a true perfectionist who extends his full cooperation to the producer.
I take great pride in releasing this film. In today’s climate, there are very few directors who possess the political insight to portray the lives of marginalized communities through cinema. Directors like him are a boon to Tamil cinema.
I have seen reports about actor Kaali Venkat contributing to the alumni association of a government school. It is a wonderful gesture, and I commend him for it.
While the current young generation stays constantly connected online with their former classmates, students from government schools often lack such social media connectivity.
I extend my gratitude to the producer for investing a massive budget to produce and promote a film that conveys such a meaningful message. I hope this film achieves great success; if films like this succeed, more movies that convey positive messages will follow.”
Speaking on the occasion, actress Baby Krithika said, “I am a budding young actress with no prior background in the film industry. I would like to thank the director and the producer for giving me the opportunity to act in Arulvaan. I had always dreamed of working alongside such big stars in my very first film.” “That dream has come true. My favorite song in this film is ‘Allippoove,’ featuring lyrics by Yuga Bharathi and music by G.V. Prakash Kumar; I have listened to it over a hundred times. Working with everyone on this project was an unforgettable experience. More than a hundred artists overcame significant challenges to bring this film to life. I hope the audience will extend their support to this movie,” she said.
Actress Ramya Pandian said, “Before hearing the script, I had decided not to act in rural-themed stories for a while. However, I listened to this story out of respect for the director. Once I heard the full narrative, I wanted to be a part of it because the film’s core theme really appealed to me.
We often hear about schools lacking certain facilities or amenities. But the realization that there are places—and people—right here in our own land who lack even the basic opportunity or infrastructure for education, and yet continue to live under those conditions, made me decide that I absolutely had to contribute to this project. I viewed it as a responsibility. I am grateful to the producer for having faith in this story and investing in it.
This film took us to a shooting location that didn’t even appear on maps—a place devoid of telecommunication facilities and lacking basic amenities for sleeping or eating. Yet, life thrives there; people live there. Although reaching the location was difficult, participating in the shoot and interacting with the local people brought me joy. Spending time and living among them was a truly fascinating experience.
I had previously worked with cinematographer Sukumar on the film ‘Ra Ra.’ In this movie, rather than just capturing the aesthetic beauty of rural life, he has portrayed the setting on a grand scale. You would have already witnessed this in the film’s trailer.” Every scene was a visual treat.
Arulnithi is an actor who inspires confidence. Whenever my friends hear that Arulnithi is in a film, they say, “He’s in it? Then the movie will be good; it will be unique and offer something special.” He has earned that kind of reputation. True to form, this film certainly has something special—something he believed in as well.
Our team’s confidence soared to the next level when we learned that Sakthi Film Factory would be releasing this movie. We are grateful to them for that.
My co-star Arav is an incredibly dedicated actor. As Kaali Venkat mentioned, Arav performed scenes that required him to scale a steep mountain and climb trees at the summit. Similarly, he acted beneath a waterfall in freezing cold temperatures, with his entire body smeared in sandalwood paste. These were extremely challenging feats, and we all witnessed his efforts firsthand. “I was amazed by his dedication,” he said.
Director Ganesh Vinayakan said, “This is not a film that can be simply brushed aside; it holds a great deal of pain and suffering.
I have previously directed films such as Thagararu, Veera Sivaji, Hyper (Kannada), and Then. Following those, I directed Arulvaan. For all my earlier films, I had to approach producers, narrate the story, and seek the opportunity to direct. However, for this film, the producer himself contacted me and asked me to direct it. I take great pride in this producer.
The film’s producer, S.G. Saravanan, is a businessman by profession but possesses an undying passion for cinema.
This project began on a modest scale with Kaali Venkat as the lead actor, but it was the producer who decided to scale it up. He insisted on bringing in top-tier technicians and suggested approaching G.V. Prakash Kumar. He named his company ’90 Pictures’ because he aspires to produce over 90 films in Tamil; I am certain he will achieve that goal. He is constantly thinking about cinema. I hope this company continues to grow and succeed. I thank the producer for giving me the opportunity to direct this film.
I have reunited with editor Lawrence Kishore after working together on Then. He won the State Award for Best Editor for that film, and I am confident he will win an award for this one as well.
This film falls into a unique space—neither strictly an ‘art film’ nor a typical ‘commercial film.’ Lawrence Kishore understood this nuance perfectly and has edited the movie with great precision.
I also extend my gratitude to all the technicians who worked on this film, including the music director, art director, and cinematographer.” When I narrated this story to my childhood friend and cinematographer, Sukumar, he was the one who selected the filming location. Everyone cooperated fully during the shoot; my thanks go to them all.
If this film succeeds, 50 percent of the credit belongs to music composer G.V. Prakash.
There are three protagonists in this film: Arav, Arulnithi, and Baby Kruthika. The story unfolds primarily from Baby Kruthika’s perspective.
Since the filming location was a remote hilly area with no proper roads, the entire crew stayed there for 18 days. There was no proper food, not even a proper pathway, and a constant risk of wild animals appearing at night. Despite these challenges, Baby Kruthika performed with great dedication. I am certain she will win a National Award for this role; I wish her the very best.
I also extend my best wishes to Ramya Pandian, Kali Venkat, VTV Ganesh, John Vijay, and Saravanan.
Before narrating the story to actor Arav, I asked him if the roles—specifically those of a District Collector and a female student—would suit him. After hearing the full story, he said, “I like it.” He agreed wholeheartedly, saying, “If we don’t tell this story, who will? This isn’t a personal matter; it is a socially relevant issue. So, I will act in it.”
I didn’t know much about his usual lifestyle, but he stayed with us in tents in that hilly region for 18 days and cooperated fully.
In the first half of the film, Arav appears as a fighter struggling for the rights of the land and its people. In the second half, Arulnithi plays a man fighting for the cause of society. I would like to thank actor Arav for acting in this film without any expectations. “I have a 14-year-long friendship with actor Arulnithi. This is the second film I am working on with him. He is a simple and affectionate person who interacts naturally with everyone, treating people equally regardless of their success or failure. He agrees to work on a project only if the story appeals to him. When I narrated the story of this film to him, he felt it was a story that absolutely needed to be told and agreed to act in it. I am grateful to him.
Sakthi Film Factory had released my previous film, Then. After completing this film, we screened it for them; they liked it and agreed to release this one as well. They expressed confidence that the film would certainly be a success.”
Following this, actor Arulnithi shared the following:
“When the director narrated the story, he mentioned that just five days of shooting dates would suffice. However, once we arrived at the set, those five days extended to ten, then fifteen, and eventually twenty.
After hearing the story, I wondered—even though I have acted in full-length feature films—whether I could have truly taken on and portrayed a character and story of this nature.
In this film, I play the role of Muthuvel, a District Collector…”
“It is a film that discusses the importance of education for children. I hope everyone will like it,” he said.
Actor Arav shared the following:
“After the director narrated the story, I wondered if I would ever get a role like this again in my cinematic journey; that is why I agreed to act in it. I didn’t get the opportunity to work alongside Arulnithi on set, but I did share screen space with Kaali Venkat. He proved himself to be a wonderful actor in those scenes. I was truly amazed by his performance.”
