Audio and Trailer Launch of the Film ‘America Aavi’ Starring Actor Napoleon
The audio and trailer launch of the film America Aavi—produced by Dhanush Napoleon and Kunal Napoleon under the Jeevan Films banner, directed by Thanjai JPR, and starring Napoleon—was held grandly in Chennai.
Mr. Taka Hasi, the Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Chennai, and film producer Aditya Ram jointly released the film’s music, which was received by producer Kannan Ravi.
Actor Napoleon plays the lead role in America Aavi, directed by debutant Thanjai JPR. He is joined by over 200 US-based debutant actors. The film features cinematography by ‘Nashville’ Prabhu and music composed by Aadhish Uthriyan. Vinu handled the editing, while Indhu Rajkumar served as the art director. Produced by Dhanush Napoleon and Kunal Napoleon of Jeevan Films, the movie is a comedy-horror thriller.
The launch event took place at the Kamala Cinemas complex in Chennai. The film—proudly distinguished as the first Tamil movie to be shot entirely in the United States—is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release soon. Many prominent figures from the Tamil film industry attended the event alongside the film’s crew.
Speaking at the event, producer Kunal Napoleon said:
“To speak about this film… it is a unique movie. It is the first Tamil film to be shot entirely in the United States.” “It was amazing to witness the immense talent hidden among our people living in America. This is no small feat; everyone worked on this film during the brief moments of leisure they found amidst their regular jobs. We all feel a great sense of pride when we think about that.
I must speak about the title, ‘American Aavi.’ Usually, we associate the word ‘Aavi’ with ghosts or spirits, and that element is indeed present in the film. However, in the American context, the word carries another meaning. America is home to immigrants from many nations—people who have achieved success, are striving for it, and are determined to win through hard work. Characters embodying this spirit are also featured in the film. So, while the movie does contain ghosts and spirits, it offers other fascinating elements as well.
There is another interesting aspect to this film: its co-producer is Dhanush Napoleon. To be honest, he is my boss. Although he couldn’t be here in person, he is watching this event live.
He has sent a message to the fans here, urging everyone to come to the theaters with their families and enjoy the movie. It is our duty to make this film a success,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, actor Napoleon said:
“Approximately 200 newcomers are making their debut in this film, including Anto, Thiyan, Arloo, Prema, Biju, Mahesh, Bablu, Arun Antony, Sam Anto, Prakash, Aishwarya, Rajkumar, Indhu Rajkumar, Rahul, Hemamalini, Urvashi, and Maithili.” Only a very few of them have been able to attend this event here.
Everyone who acted in this film—software engineers, doctors, scientists, and professors—holds a high-ranking position at a major company. We created this movie over a period of 75 days by utilizing the time they could spare. They are usually busy with their work from Monday to Friday; we carefully planned around the time they set aside for us and conducted the shoots during those slots.
It was indeed a challenging task. People in America who had never even witnessed a film shoot in person have acted in this movie. The director and I trained them all for their roles.
Just as the film Bharatha Vilas (starring Sivaji Sir) featured people representing all of India, this film features people from all over the world—individuals from more than 40 countries have participated. In this regard, it is a truly unique film that also promises to be entertaining.
“When Sun TV launched its live broadcasts in 1994, Director Pandiarajan and I traveled to Manila, Philippines, to inaugurate the service. The close friendship we formed then has endured to this day. I thank him for coming here to wish our film crew well, and I also thank everyone else who attended to offer their support,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, debut actor Mahesh said:
“To prepare for the roles in this film, everyone was asked to arrive in a specific outfit back in January…”..Napoleon said. At the time, we all thought an audition was going to take place. But he told us there would be no audition and that we could simply act. Afterward, Napoleon Sir taught everyone how to act. Watching him demonstrate the acting himself was an unforgettable experience. We witnessed and enjoyed all the technical aspects involved in filmmaking firsthand. My own mother played the role of Napoleon Sir’s mother in this film; that is a source of great pride for me. We are all eagerly waiting to watch this movie,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Thanjai JPR said:
“When I was just nine years old, I used to project images onto a wall using sunlight and old film strips; that was the beginning of my interest in filmmaking. Later, I produced and directed a film titled Onaaygal Jaakkiradhai. Subsequently, I settled in the United States due to family circumstances. Living there, I feared I might lose my connection to cinema, so I continued writing various stories. During that time, I had the opportunity to meet Napoleon. I narrated a story to him, and he liked it very much. However, he explained that he couldn’t step away from his commitments with Dhanush to act in it. He then asked if it was possible to make a film entirely in the US and if I had a story suitable for that. We had lunch together, and he showed me his newly purchased home—a magnificent house set on three-and-a-half acres of land. Nestled beautifully among the trees, the house looked just like something out of an English movie. He asked if I could create a story centered around that house. I said it was possible, and a week later, I pitched the story to him.” “He really liked it. He insisted that it shouldn’t be a typical horror movie; instead, it had to be a horror-comedy.
We then developed a story. Napoleon, along with his sons Kunal and Dhanush, collaborated to turn that story into a fantastic screenplay.
I would like to thank all the technicians, actors, and actresses who worked on this film,” he said.
Cinematographer ‘Nash Will’ Prabhu said:
“My full name is Prabhu Thoppudu Amaresan. I want to thank my grandfather, T.S. Amaresan. He directed stage plays starring R.S. Manohar. He passed away in the 1920s; he would have been very happy if he were alive today.
I used to share a room in Chennai with Manoj Paramahamsa and Arivazhagan, who are now renowned cinematographers. That gave me insight into camera lenses, lighting, and the like. Later, when I moved to America, I used to film various small events. That was when I met Napoleon. I worked as a cameraman for their family events. I also filmed Dhanush’s wedding in Japan. He helped me hone my skills step-by-step and has now introduced me as a cinematographer. I am grateful to him for that,” he said.
FEFSI President and Director R.K. Selvamani said:
“Watching this film in a theater feels like watching My Dear Kuttichathan. I have already seen the movie. Introducing a newcomer and having them act in a film is an easy task. “However, introducing an entire cast of newcomers and coaching them to act is an incredibly challenging task. On the set, the team instilled confidence in them and successfully drew out great performances. Notably, in the song sequences, everyone danced in perfect rhythm, demonstrating their genuine passion for acting. I must thank Kala Master for this.
As for Napoleon, he is someone who believes in doing a job right—whether he is serving as the President of the Actors’ Association, working as an actor, or acting as a politician. He is truly a wonderful human being.
The film’s female lead is a doctor; filming took place at her home in the United States. She would participate in the shoot during her spare time, and the crew would wait for her availability.
Stunt director P.C. Stunt has choreographed a spectacular fight sequence for the film’s climax. This movie is sure to be a massive success.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Roja Selvamani said:
“I have acted alongside Napoleon in the film Veettoda Mappillai, directed by V. Sekar. No amount of praise is enough to describe him; he is a fine artist, a capable politician, a successful businessman, and a devoted father—but above all, he is a genuinely good human being. As a fellow actor, I am delighted to see Napoleon back on screen after such a long time. I, too, have only recently returned to acting in films after a 12-year hiatus.”
For an artist, it is difficult to walk away from the fans, the cameras, and the film sets once accustomed to them. Despite having family commitments, he is happy to return to acting for the sake of his fans and the art itself. Moreover, he is making this comeback with a compelling story. We should all support him in this endeavor. To ensure the film’s success, everyone should help spread the word through word-of-mouth and social media publicity.
“Both my daughter and I are usually afraid of horror movies, yet we thoroughly enjoyed watching this film,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Actor Nassar said:
“My journey with Napoleon began with the film Kizhakkum Merkum and has spanned over 30 years. We spent nearly 30 days together for that movie. He is exactly the same today as he was back then; he is living the very life he had envisioned for himself. This makes me incredibly proud. Earning certain titles or a good reputation is no easy feat. One can become a millionaire or a superstar through hard work and dedication. However, whenever people wholeheartedly wish Napoleon well, they invariably add the word ‘good’—as in a ‘good man.’ That is a distinction not everyone achieves.
Napoleon was the one who offered me immense comfort when my son met with an accident. It is not just Napoleon who has earned this reputation as a ‘good’ person; his wife has earned it alongside him.
As the President of the South Indian Artistes’ Association, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to him. He voluntarily stepped forward—without anyone even asking—to contribute one crore rupees as a deposit for the Association’s building.” Napoleon appears youthful in the film’s trailer.
“I have just finished writing an article for a magazine. In India, films made specifically for children barely exist; we haven’t really created movies for them. In that sense, I believe this film will truly be one for children. I urge children to bring their parents along and enjoy this movie.
I also thank everyone who has traveled here from Nashville to support him,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Producer T. Siva said:
“Right from the time he began his acting career, Napoleon earned a reputation not just as a fine actor but also as a good human being. He won a place in everyone’s hearts. When he served as the Vice President of the Actors’ Association, he worked tirelessly for the organization’s events. He conducts himself with the discipline of an army soldier in everything he does.
I have watched this film, and it has certainly turned out to be an entertaining movie. I am confident it will prove to be a successful commercial film.
Napoleon was the first person to make a donation for the FEFSI building. The film industry should organize a special felicitation ceremony to honor him.
In my experience in the film industry, Vijayakanth is one of the two ‘good’ human beings I have encountered; Napoleon is the other. Thank you, everyone,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Choreographer Kala said:
“Only three songs were screened here; there are more songs in the movie. I want to thank them for learning and performing the choreography so well, no matter how much Napoleon and I taught them.
Napoleon has been a close family friend of mine for thirty years. He has made donations not only to the Actors’ Association but also to our Choreographers’ Association. As actor Nasser and producer Siva mentioned, Napoleon is a good human being. His wife, Sudha, is just as wonderful a person as he is. I have known them since the time they got married; he is always a cheerful person.
This is not a film about spirits or the supernatural; it is a beautiful family movie. It will certainly be a super hit.”
Speaking on the occasion, Music Composer Aadhish Uthriyan said:
“I met Napoleon through Director JPR and got the opportunity to compose music for this film. This movie marks a significant milestone in my career as a film music composer. It features five songs. Thank you to everyone.”
Speaking on the occasion, Lyricist Snehan said:
“This stage represents immense affection. I could speak about him for hours. We have shared a great deal of information via WhatsApp, and I feel a bond with him akin to that of a biological brother. I am happy to be a part of this film, which has brought together such wonderful people. I eagerly look forward to another opportunity to praise him. Thank you all.”
Speaking on the occasion, Director R.V. Udhayakumar said:
“While he was acting in the film Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu, I was directing the movie Urudhi Mozhi. At that time, cinematographer Ravi Yadav pointed to a tall, slender man and said, ‘This is Kumaresan’…” He introduced [him/her]. At that time, I promised him, “I will cast you as a major villain.” After that…
“Zaman: I had to fight hard to cast him in the film; even Rajini Sir initially advised against it. I explained to him why Napoleon was the right choice for that role. Upon hearing my reasoning—and noting the novelty of the concept—he agreed. I made several changes to the script specifically for Napoleon. A line he delivered in the film—’If it were a wedding, the groom…’—remains famous to this day. I was able to work with him on only that one film, but it was a deeply satisfying experience.
Regarding this film, American Aavi (American Ghost), the identity of the ghost hasn’t been revealed yet. In the poster, Napoleon looks like Clint Eastwood. We have heard of various types of ghosts—old, good, bad, young, those who died in accidents, those who died of heartbreak, or those who perished while trying to buy a home—but it is unclear which kind the ‘American Ghost’ is. Regardless of the specific type, Napoleon is sure to portray a remarkable ghost. I wish the film great success,” he said.
