The Dark Heaven’ – A Gratitude Meeting!
“Actors will find themselves idle if they don’t cooperate with the film’s needs,” says Producer Dhananjayan.
“If you place your faith in cinema, it won’t let you down,” says Actor Sidhu.
“Go to the theaters to watch movies,” says Actress Riythvika.
“I will proudly call ‘The Dark Heaven’ my debut film,” says Actress Dharshika.
“This isn’t a typical success meet; it is a gathering to express gratitude,” says Balaji, director of ‘The Dark Heaven’.
‘The Dark Heaven’ is a recently released crime thriller. The film features Bigg Boss stars Sidhu, Dharshika, and Riythvika, alongside Pradeep, Vela Ramamoorthy, Nizhalgal Ravi, Jayakumar, Arul D. Shankar, Sathya, Chaplin Balu, Gopal, Aarthi, and others. It was directed by Balaji, who previously helmed the film ‘D3’. The technical crew included cinematographer Manikandan PK, editor Raja Arumugam, and music composer Sakthi Balaji; the film was produced by Kothai Entertainment and MS Swiss Film Factory.
Hailed by the media as a unique crime thriller among recent releases and well-received by audiences, ‘The Dark Heaven’ has achieved significant success. This has instilled a great sense of hope among producers of low-budget films. Following the positive reception the film has received, the number of screens showing it has been increased, and it is now on a successful run. To celebrate this success and express their gratitude, the film crew met with the media, sharing their joy and thanks while displaying a banner that read: “Heartfelt thanks to the journalists who stood by us in this massive success.”
This meeting to thank the press took place at Prasad Labs in Chennai.
Speaking at the event, producer G. Dhananjayan said:
“First, I would like to congratulate the film’s director and producer. I watched the movie six months before its release. Immediately after seeing it, I told director Balaji that it had turned out to be a great thriller and would receive a warm reception if released on the right date. When this specific release date was mentioned, I asked Balaji, ‘Is this the right date? Nine other films are releasing on that day.'” “I remarked, ‘Mandadi is already running successfully.’ He replied, ‘No sir, we had already finalized this date, so we are releasing it now.’ Amidst the release of nine other films, this movie is running successfully. This success is due to the support from both the media and the audience. I offer my congratulations; I view this as a massive success.
In a climate where audiences often prefer big-budget films or movies starring major stars, the success achieved by this film is truly worth celebrating.
This film faced every conceivable problem that arises when an actor fails to cooperate. It is no easy decision for a producer and director to halt a project—deciding they could no longer work with a specific actor—after 60 or 70 percent of the filming was already complete. I faced a similar situation a few years ago; I struggled to complete a film due to issues with a major star. Once a film has progressed and significant money has been spent, making such a decision is difficult. We hesitated because we had already come so far and incurred heavy costs. Halting a project in that state to start over is no small matter. Knowing this, Siddharth’s decision to step in and act with such dedication is praiseworthy. His performance is stunning, and the film is receiving a great response in theaters today.
When actors agree to a project, they must clarify all terms and sign a contract, then provide full cooperation. Otherwise, they risk losing out on opportunities.
Sometimes, six or seven films are released in a single week, while other weeks see none at all. This needs to be regulated. Six films are releasing next week alone; even significant films are struggling to secure theater space. Ideally, no more than four or five films should be released per week. Despite all this, I am delighted that this film has been well-received. The support provided by PVR Cinemas for this film has been immense.” “…They must allocate theater slots every week for small-budget films as well. Best wishes to the film crew,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Balaji said:
“This is truly an emotional moment. The memory of having shot sixty or seventy percent of the film and then having to abandon it is still vivid in my mind. These two producers—Brother Sharan and Gopal Sir—played a pivotal role in making this film a reality. Beyond that, I am grateful to my wife, my brother, my family, my friends, and my crew…”
Many people, including them, were a tremendous source of strength for me; beyond that, so many others extended their help. My team was a pillar of support when I set out to make this film.
Vela Ramamoorthy Sir and Jayakumar Sir stood by me. Sindhu, Riythvika Ma’am, and Dharshika Ma’am were with me on the shoot for a long time; there were days when they worked up to 18 hours. Sidhu accompanied me constantly, almost like we were on a mini-tour together.
A huge thank you to my cinematographer, Manikandan. He handled the cinematography for both my debut film and this one. We would have differences of opinion, but we could always speak openly about anything. Even after an argument, he would let it go immediately and join me for tea if I asked. Editor Raja Arumugam is just the same. Taking a completed film, trimming the unnecessary parts, retaining the essentials, and weaving it all together into a final cut is no ordinary task—it is far from easy. Yet, he accomplished it. My thanks go to him.
Music director Sakthi Balaji came into the project as a third party but has since become like family to me. I had predicted back then that this film would bring great acclaim to three people: the cinematographer, the music director, and the editor—and that people would only ask who the director was after acknowledging them. That is exactly what has happened today.
It fills me with immense joy and pride to hear so many people talking about Sakthi Balaji’s music. I say this from the bottom of my heart: he is destined for greatness.
This film—and indeed, this very stage—would not exist without my brother Sharan and Gopal Sir. “Even though some doubted whether this film would actually materialize, many worked with hope and dedication; everyone strove for its success. Now that the film is running successfully, I do not wish to revisit past controversies.
I didn’t want this gathering to be just a routine ‘success meet,’ but Producer Gopal Sir insisted on holding one, so we organized it. This is essentially a meeting to express our gratitude to the media. We look forward to meeting you again soon with details of the film’s massive box-office success. It brings me great joy to know that the applause you offered during the press screening has resonated all the way to the theaters. Thank you, everyone,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, actress Dharshika said:
“I believe in the power of word-of-mouth. Words are incredibly significant and hold immense power. When something positive is shared, that positivity spreads to a few others; conversely, a negative remark spreads negativity to many more. A large number of people have come to watch this film simply because you—the press—said it was good after the initial screening. For that, I thank you all first.
Generally, when working on a debut film, one hopes to look back years later and speak of it with pride. ‘The Dark Heaven’ is exactly that kind of film for me; I will proudly call it my debut. Thank you, everyone.”
Actress Riythvika said:
“It was a pleasure to have Dhananjayan Sir here to speak. The reviews and articles published by the media have successfully reached the public, and the film is doing well in theaters. However, this is not enough; the film needs to reach an even wider audience.
Beyond mainstream media, many people are promoting it through social media ‘Reels.’ We need to take this film further and ensure that audiences flock to theaters everywhere.” “People should come to the theaters to watch all movies; only then can one truly experience the cinematic atmosphere. As I mentioned earlier, this film is specifically designed for the theatrical experience. Don’t wait for OTT releases; come to the theaters for any movie. That is how cinema grows,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the film’s lead actor, Sidhu, said:
“Dhananjayan Sir has always been a supporter of small-budget films; thank you for being here. I have waited fourteen years for this moment. I used to seek film opportunities while living in a small room on 8th Street, Dasarathapuram, in Saligramam. I would carry stacks of photographs and go from production house to production house—it was a long, arduous quest. I endured hunger and humiliation during those times. There were days when, after handing over my photos, I would wait with longing, hoping for a call from an assistant director.
When I went to theaters to watch movies, I would see contemporaries—people who had sought opportunities alongside me—acting in films that were running to packed houses. I felt happy for them; there was no jealousy. Yet, deep down, there was a tinge of sadness and yearning. I would wonder, ‘When will my day come? When will my opportunity arrive?’ There were many sleepless nights spent with that longing.
Now, seeing packed houses in theaters across various towns—just as I had always dreamed—brings me great joy…”
“It feels wonderful. We have longed to see this moment for so long, and now that it is actually happening, the joy is immense. Thank you very much. There is a line in the movie Jigarthanda that says cinema is like a goddess—if you respect her, she will keep coming back to you. I have witnessed firsthand that cinema never abandons you if you truly love it. This is just the beginning for me; it has been a wonderful introduction. Many people have made this celebration possible, but if I had to name just one person, it would be Director Balaji. Thank you to everyone.”
The film’s cinematographer Manikandan PK, producers Sharan and Gopal, music composer Sakthi Balaji, and cast members Vela Ramamoorthy, Jayakumar, Aarthi, Sumithra, Pradeep, Vivek, Selva, Manoj, Alex, and Danny also participated in this event.
