A street should be named after K. Bhagyaraj – Cool Suresh requests the Chief Minister at the ‘Vanji’ audio launch
Awards should be instituted in the names of Bharathiraja and Bhagyaraj – Director Perarasu requests the Chief Minister at the ‘Vanji’ film event
Chief Minister Vijay protects us like a mother – Music composer Dina speaks at the ‘Vanji’ audio launch
I feel ashamed about winning the Producers’ Council election – Producer Isakki Raja expresses regret at the ‘Vanji’ audio launch
People in the film industry are being portrayed negatively – Cool Suresh expresses concern at the ‘Vanji’ audio launch
‘Vanji’ Film Audio and Trailer Launch Event
‘Vanji’ is a film written and directed by C.R. Rajesh, who also plays the lead role; it is produced by Vimala Rajanayagam under the banner of V.R. Combines. Naira Nihar plays the female lead. Master Rajanayagam appears in a pivotal, high-octane role, while Dane plays the villain. Supporting roles are played by Jibilrajan Pidev, Dinesh, Pannai Balu, Karai Natraj, Priyanka Alagan, Shivani, and Madasamy.
Sajith Shankar has composed the music, and Jayakrishnan has handled the editing. Kalaikumar served as the art director. Lyrics were penned by Ganesh Babu, Stanley, and Nandhini, while Thambi Siva choreographed the dance sequences. Vijay Karthik is the PRO.
The audio and trailer launch event for the film ‘Vanji’, which is set for a theatrical release soon, took place on the evening of July 6th at Prasad Labs. Film industry personalities—including Director Perarasu, Music Composer Dina, Actor Cool Suresh, Producers’ Council Executive Committee member Isakki Raja, and PRO Association Secretary Vijayamurali—attended the event as special guests.
Delivering the welcome address, Producer Vimala Rajanayagam said, “I extend a warm welcome to all the stalwarts of the film industry who have come for the ‘Vanchi’ music and trailer launch event. I also welcome the technicians, actors, actresses, journalists, and friends from the media who have joined us.”
Speaking on the occasion, Vijayamurali said, “Rajanayagam is a perfect example of what a producer should be; he is someone who pays wages before the sweat even dries. This film was shot in Kerala. The trailer and songs are excellent; the music is outstanding, and the stars have performed well. The director’s hard work is evident on screen. Small-budget films like this need to succeed, and they require your support. I pray to the Almighty for the film’s massive success and take my leave. Thank you.”
Music Composer Sathish Shankar said, “I am not very good at speaking, and I don’t know Tamil well as I am from Kerala. While composing for this film, Director Rajesh asked me to avoid electronic music and insisted that the songs be easily understood and pleasant to the ear. The songs have turned out exactly as he envisioned. I thank Mr. Rajanayagam for giving me this opportunity.”
Director and lead actor C.R. Rajesh said, “I worked hard for two years to make this film. It was shot at key locations in Kerala. The actors and technicians cooperated wonderfully with me; I thank them all.” Lyricist Ganesh Babu said, “Greetings to everyone. I am not very fluent in speaking Tamil, but I love the language deeply. I am a huge fan of Raja Sir. It was Rajesh Sir who gave me this opportunity. The music director provided a tune and asked if I could handle it; I said I would try and wrote the lyrics. Although I cannot speak Tamil perfectly, I love the language; I have watched many Tamil films since childhood and studied the language extensively to write these songs. I request your forgiveness and cooperation if there are any errors in my lyrics. Shankar Sir was very supportive of me. Thank you to everyone who attended this event.”
Director Guna Subramaniam said, “I am the director of the film ‘Seesa’. I became acquainted with Rajanayagam Sir while I was writing the screenplay for that film. I noticed a woman there and thought she would be perfect as the heroine for our movie, so I asked someone to find out who she was. I was told she was acting in a film called ‘Manja Kuruvi’ and was advised to speak with that film’s producer; that is how I met Rajanayagam Sir. We spoke at length back then. Since it was my first film, I was quite nervous and sought his advice on many matters. He offered excellent guidance and taught me what to watch out for. He is a very positive person. I asked him to act in my film, and he agreed to do it; he didn’t even accept any payment. He is a cinema enthusiast. He had already produced a film and is currently working on another one titled ‘Vanchi’. He is a good man with positive energy who is constantly striving to succeed in the film industry. I hope he achieves success.”
…I need your support for this. My best wishes to the music director; the music was excellent. Congratulations to Rajesh, who directed the film and played the lead role. Journalists must help sustain cinema; their cooperation is essential for this.
Some directors are unable to attend. Producers, too, often stay away because they have been let down by others in the past. Therefore, the media must provide support to keep the industry alive. I request you to write in a way that helps sustain the filmmakers, even if the movie itself isn’t great. Let anyone come here and succeed. My congratulations and thanks to Vimala Rajanayagam, the producer of this film.”
Speaking on the occasion, producer and actor Master Rajanayagam said, “My dear Tamil people… [addressing the legendary directors]—with a lion-like voice and the vibrant, cascading flow of Tamil, your cinematic contributions—spanning from school children to elderly women—are beyond words. It was the legendary director ‘Iyakkam Imayam’ [Bharathiraja] who nurtured us. Perhaps because ‘Bharathi’ was part of your name, you breathed a spirit of valor into the women in your films. Your dialogue—’Even if she is educated, a chaste woman remains chaste’—moved me to tears when you were laid to rest. Your noble thoughts and vision—transforming the lives of the unlettered and saving infants from the cruelty of kalli (cactus) sap—have left us weeping like the aftermath of a tsunami.
You are the blessed Bhagyaraj—the disciple who surpassed the master—who captivated the Tamil people with stories so compelling that one felt compelled to watch them again and again. Your works taught us about feminism with dignity, showing that if a woman is determined, she can turn even a mountain into a mere milestone. Both of you ‘Rajas’ [Kings of Cinema] have retired from the screen and from this world, leaving my people heartbroken. May your souls rest in peace. I have no words to sufficiently praise Director Rajesh for capturing the life of a brave woman in your very tradition.” “To music composer Sathish Shankar, who transformed the ‘blood-blushes’ of the ‘Vanji’ maiden into musical notes—your ragas are truly the anthems of Vanji. To the enchanting ‘Vanji’ princess, Shamal—your acting is a tribute to the film’s success. And to Vimala, who persists in filmmaking with the resolve that she will not stop until she achieves success—may this film be the shadow that follows you toward continued victory. Thank you.” — This was spoken in a poetic style.
Music composer and FEFSI Vice President Dina said, “My congratulations to this team for presenting such wonderful songs in this excellent project. Sathish Shankar need not worry; many have come here from Kerala and achieved great success, and you too will join their ranks. Tamil Nadu embraces those who arrive here, helping them rise to great heights; so, composer Sathish Shankar, there is no need for concern.
‘Vanji’ is a fantastic title. Women are beautiful in their youth; as they age, they shower us with affection and care, guiding us on how to live our lives. Congratulations to the team for choosing ‘Vanji’ as the title. Whether as wife, sister, grandmother, or mother, women appear in many forms, yet we would not exist without them; God has truly blessed us with such a special creation. In the previous administration, women lacked security, but our current Chief Minister has declared that his governance is dedicated to the welfare of women. We must extend our best wishes to him. He is implementing an excellent scheme based on the principle that women themselves should protect other women—not just men. I believe he would greatly appreciate the title ‘Vanji,’ as it embodies the nurturing, mother-like protection this government provides to us all; may this government endure and flourish.”
“Becoming a producer is no small feat. Ms. Vimala has produced three films; she will certainly succeed, and I offer her my best wishes.” “I extend my best wishes to the film crew; thank you,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Isakki Raja said, “We watched the film’s trailer and songs; everything felt fresh. One can only achieve so much within this budget; had they possessed a larger budget, they would have done an even better job. My best wishes go to the entire crew, including producer Vimala Madam. I also thank Director Perarasu for consistently attending events for low-budget films. Ten years ago, I didn’t have a favorable opinion of him. However, after working alongside him in the Producers’ Council, I realized just how much good he is doing for low-budget producers. Today, so many producers have faded into obscurity, whereas the actors remain in the limelight. Actors and actresses are recognized, but the producer often goes unnoticed.
I made a film titled Nellai Boys on a budget of 1.5 crore rupees, yet I have been unable to release it to this day. I feel ashamed of having been elected as an executive committee member of the Producers’ Council; I regret that I haven’t been able to do anything for the producers who voted for me. Many films are running today, but are low-budget films succeeding? The investment…”
“One doesn’t even recover a quarter of the investment from the city release—let alone half. The situation here is such that a producer cannot generate revenue professionally. I know the immense hardships Vimala Madam must have faced while producing this film. There is no one here to assist such producers, nor are people willing to lend them money. External investment flows only to big-budget producers; small-budget producers receive none. It is not just about funding; even YouTube channels and the press fail to give importance to such small-budget films, simply because they lack ‘star power’ or hype. Therefore, I earnestly request everyone to extend their cooperation to these small-budget films and help sustain our livelihoods. Thank you.”
Director Perarasu said, “Bhagyaraj Sir attended the audio launch of Makkal Thalaivan; I believe that was the last film-related event he participated in. I was present there as well. The Vanji audio launch, taking place now, brings back memories of him. The loss of two great artists over the past month weighs heavily on us. Bharathiraja and Bhagyaraj are not merely names; they are history. Rajanayagam recited a poem about them. Those two can never—and should never—be forgotten. Had a director like Bharathiraja not succeeded, those hailing from rural backgrounds would not have found success here. Many directors entered the industry and succeeded by looking up to him. It was only after watching Bhagyaraj Sir’s films that I felt the confidence that ‘we, too, can succeed.’
I have a request for our Chief Minister Vijay: when presenting awards, the ‘Best Director’ award should be named after Bharathiraja Sir, and the ‘Best Storywriter’ award after K. Bhagyaraj Sir. This would be a fitting tribute and a way for us to express our gratitude.
Our Isakki Raja has poured out his heart and frustrations. Ultimately, any profession—regardless of the field—inevitably revolves around business and the pursuit of profit.” Cinema is indeed a profession, but here, the focus isn’t merely on commerce or profit; his words reflected that sentiment. We need a shift in the situation here. Currently, technicians are hired, paid, and fed, but then they simply move on. A producer should aim to make at least five films and earn a profit; that is the kind of scenario we need to see.
We should thank small-scale producers rather than just offering them well-wishes, as they are the ones providing employment opportunities to aspiring actors and technicians. In this regard, I extend my thanks to producer Vimala Madam. Mr. Rajanayagam brought in the music director and lyricist from Kerala. Tamil cinema doesn’t discriminate based on which state someone is from; everyone is viewed simply as an artist. That is why Mr. Rajanayagam focused on the story rather than the language. Director Rajesh’s courage deserves appreciation. I, too, received offers to play the lead role, but I was afraid. Things were going well in my career as a director, and I hesitated to step away from that. So, I declined. However, Rajesh acted as the lead with great courage, free from such fears. The reason for this was the story—and his confidence in it. He had the boldness to think, “If this story is destined to be a hit regardless of who plays the lead, why shouldn’t I do it?” I admire that courage.
Parents of daughters should feel proud. The film Vanji conveys the message that women are courageous. It also suggests that a father isn’t defined merely by biology; anyone who genuinely cares for a girl is a father figure. The lyricist mentioned that he wrote the song because he loves the Tamil language. We, in turn, appreciate anyone who loves Tamil. Best wishes to everyone who acted in the film. I hope Vimala Rajanayagam continues to produce films; all the best to her.”
Speaking on the occasion, the heroine, Shamal, said, “Greetings to everyone. I have played the female lead in this film.” “Whether it is a small film or a big one, it represents everyone’s dream. Therefore, I ask for everyone’s cooperation. I thank the producer for giving me this opportunity. Thank you all,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, actor Cool Suresh said, “Gingee is near Tiruvannamalai, and the title of this film is Vanchi. Vanchi is also an ingredient used in cooking—and today, we have the audio launch of Vanchi. My best wishes to producer Vimala Rajanayagam. You have produced three films; you mentioned that you would cast me as the hero in the fourth one, and I am eagerly waiting for that. This film needs to be a huge success; only then will I get that opportunity. Best wishes to Director Rajesh and the entire film crew. I believe the director is associated with TVK. The backdrop for the songs featured flowers in TVK’s signature colors. This suggests that our TVK is marching towards success in Kerala as well.
Some people have criticized me for taking Murungai Keerai (drumstick leaves) to pay my respects upon the passing of Bhagyaraj sir, while others have supported me. I did nothing wrong. I am an actor, and I paid tribute to him in my own unique style. Yet, people are interpreting it differently. Perhaps what I did…”
“Please forgive me if I am mistaken, but I would not exist without you. You criticize me only because of the affection you hold for me; I understand that. Feel free to talk about me, but is it right to speak that way about Parthiban Sir? Parthiban Sir honored him with a garland made of pens. Even when a photograph was changed, people criticized it. Please do not criticize Bhagyaraj Sir or Parthiban Sir; they share a mentor-disciple bond. We do not know the full details of their relationship. Please refrain from criticizing them—you may criticize me all you want. Do not portray people from the film industry in a negative light.
To the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Vijay Sir: you have accorded government honors to Bhagyaraj Sir, but I have a request—speaking as a cinema fan. The street where Bhagyaraj Sir lived should be named after him. This is my humble request. Bhagyaraj Sir was someone who brought the realities of our own family lives onto the screen exactly as they are. Naming the street where he lived after him would be a fitting tribute. TVK ministers are doing a lot of good work; I express my heartfelt gratitude to them and extend my best wishes to the Vanj film crew,” he said.
Dane, who played the villain, said, “I do not know how to speak Tamil. I learned a little bit for this film. This is my second movie; my first was a Malayalam film. I thank Rajesh for giving me this opportunity and also thank the producer, Master Rajanayagam. We have waited a long time for this film. It is my dream project; I came to Chennai specifically for this movie. My desire is to act in Tamil films, and I love the Tamil language. I hope this film succeeds and that the producer continues to make more movies.”
