Prime Video – Pushkar & Gayatri – Wallwatcher Films – A. Sarkunam: Trailer Launch for the Tamil Original Web Series ‘EXAM’
The trailer launch ceremony for the suspense thriller web series ‘EXAM’—set to premiere on May 15th on Prime Video, one of India’s leading and most beloved entertainment platforms—was held with great fanfare in Chennai.
Produced by Pushkar & Gayatri under the banner of Wallwatcher Films and directed by National Award winner A. Sarkunam, the web series ‘EXAM’ features Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan, and Abbas in lead roles.
Comprising seven episodes, this web series is scheduled to be released on the Prime Video digital platform starting May 15th. The trailer launch event for the suspense thriller ‘EXAM’ took place in Chennai, attended by producers Pushkar & Gayatri, director A. Sarkunam, Dushara Vijayan, and Aditi Balan.
Speaking at the event, producer Pushkar remarked: “Before we began work on the film Va Quarter Cutting, the movie Kalavani—directed by A. Sarkunam—had been released and had achieved great success. A. Sarkunam had set a precedent, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve massive success with a small-budget production. It was this very fact that we highlighted to other producers, stating: ‘You don’t need big stars…'” “We emphasized that it is possible to achieve massive success with a modest budget by leveraging the right actors.
In cinema, we typically tell a story centered around a single protagonist—a ‘hero.’ However, since web series released on digital platforms are a long-form medium, they require certain additional elements beyond just that central narrative. When watching the trailer for the series Exam, one observes a specific incident involving two characters named Jhansi and Maramalli; throughout the story, there is a persistent tension—will Jhansi get caught, or will she escape? Beyond this personal drama, the series also features a parallel storyline revolving around the fraud surrounding a competitive examination—the ‘Exam’ itself.
When Sargunam first pitched the story to us, all these narrative layers were already present in it. As soon as we heard the story, we realized that it was inherently suited for a long-form format. To be honest, among all the screenplays submitted to us from external sources, Sargunam’s was the only one we read and immediately approved. (We should note that we have known Andrews—the writer behind the series Vadhandhi—since the very beginning of our journey.)
Whenever we hear a story pitch, our primary focus is to assess whether it possesses enough compelling elements to sustain momentum across six, seven, or even eight episodes. In this regard, Director Sargunam was exceptionally clear.
Often, when you watch various web series, you get the sense that they were originally conceived as feature films; subsequently, they were merely stretched out here and there to fit the web series format. However, Director Sargunam was clear from the outset that this particular narrative was designed specifically for a long-form medium.
Filming a web series demands meticulous and precise planning. In this aspect, too, Director Sargunam executed his work with exemplary planning and clarity. He truly did a great job in that regard,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Gayathri remarked, “The story he pitched to us was excellent. There are specific narrative conventions and structural guidelines that distinguish the production of a feature film from that of a web series.” “One must write specifically for that medium. When we discuss the story, the other party must be open-minded enough to accept the points we put forward. Director Sargunam possessed this quality. Whenever suggestions were offered—or notes provided—regarding the creative work, he would listen without objection and offer his own explanations in response.
For any project to succeed, many elements must come together harmoniously. We were particularly clear-cut regarding our choice of actors; we were adamant that they had to be truly talented performers and artists. In this regard, Dushara and Aditi were our primary choices. We had, in fact, already planned to collaborate with Aditi specifically.
There is a pivotal character in this series. We spent a considerable amount of time contemplating who would be the perfect fit for the role. Then, about a year ago, actor Abbas reached out to us via video call and expressed his desire to return to acting. He commands a distinct and dedicated fan base of his own. Consequently, we selected him for that specific role, and he has delivered a magnificent performance.
Our production house is home to a team of highly skilled technical artists. This project marks the debut for both our cinematographer and our art director. As Director Sargunam noted, from the very inception of the series—Exam—right up to the present moment, every single one of us has been working with immense enthusiasm and joy.
Everyone at Prime Video has worked with unwavering dedication on this project. Although we were the ones creating this web series, the entire team at Prime Video extended their full cooperation in handling all the necessary tasks to ensure the series effectively reached our audience. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to them as well,” he said.
— Speaking on the occasion, Director A. Sargunam stated:
“Shankar, the founder of Shankar IAS Academy, is a friend of mine. My friend is also the person who set out to file a lawsuit regarding the irregularities occurring in competitive examinations—a journey that ultimately led him to become a lawyer himself. I know many friends who are currently training for Tamil Nadu government examinations. These individuals are the primary inspiration behind the creation of this web series.
Securing a government job is the ultimate dream for people from middle-class backgrounds. Rather than merely documenting the irregularities within this system in a straightforward manner, a screenplay was crafted in the style of a thriller—designed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, constantly wondering, ‘What happens next? What happens next?’ This approach resulted in the creation of Exam, a web series spanning seven episodes.
When I pitched the story to directors Pushkar & Gayatri, the one thing they emphasized was that every single scene must be infused with that sense of suspense—that ‘What happens next?’ urgency. They consistently shared with me, in a spirit of true friendship, that the series needed to transcend the mere act of conveying a socially relevant message; it had to be an entertaining experience, filled with thrilling moments that kept the audience guessing about the unfolding events. Their guidance played a pivotal role in shaping this series.
Furthermore, I must highlight the creative freedom they granted me. Instead of simply giving the green light the moment they heard the story, they sat down with me and read through the entire screenplay in detail. They then called me back to engage in further discussions and refine the script.
At the same time, they made absolutely no compromises on production values, ensuring that the final product was a high-quality work of art.
One aspect I particularly cherish is this: often, when a film project begins, there is a strong rapport between the producer and the director; however, by the time the project concludes, creative differences or conflicts may have arisen between them. Exam—produced by Wallwatcher Films—was the very first project where I worked without ever experiencing such friction; it was a truly joyful and harmonious collaboration. For this, I would like to express my gratitude to both of them once again,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, actress Dushara Vijayan remarked, “With this web series, I am making my debut on the digital streaming platform.” Sarpatta Parambara, the film I starred in, was also released directly on the digital platform, Prime Video. In this regard, I consider myself extremely fortunate.
The series Exam is a project I accepted with my eyes closed and with absolute confidence. The moment I heard the names Pushkar and Gayatri, I said “okay.” And when I was told that Director A. Sarginam was involved, I gave a “double okay”!
The character of Jhansi is a complex one. She is an innocent young woman, yet she possesses the capacity to make tough decisions. That is precisely how the character was crafted.
What I found most challenging while portraying this role was navigating the specific moments when she had to make those critical decisions. However, Director Sarginam deserves full credit for ensuring that I didn’t have to worry too much about those complexities.
I am certain that this web series will leave a lasting impact.
I have always firmly believed in the importance of portraying diverse and unconventional characters. Exam is a story that aligns perfectly with that philosophy.
I truly believe that rather than me choosing this project, the character actually chose me. I have consistently sought out and acted in such unique narratives, and I intend to continue doing so in the future.
The experience of working alongside this entire team has been unforgettable. In particular, working with Stunt Master Dinesh was a truly memorable experience. I performed in several fight sequences in this production; executing those scenes on set proved to be the most physically demanding and challenging aspect of the shoot. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved for selecting me and giving me the opportunity to bring the character of Jhansi to life,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, actress Aditi Balan stated: “I would like to thank Directors Pushkar-Gayatri and Sarginam for selecting me and entrusting me with the role of ‘Maramalli.’ Portraying the character of Maramalli required me to undergo specific physical preparations prior to the shoot. We had to engage in extensive rehearsals and training sessions specifically for the fight sequences. Since this was my very first time performing in action sequences, I approached the work with immense enthusiasm and joy.” “There was a lot of physical action involved; I took quite a few hits. It was just the two of us—Thushara and Aditi—who were fighting each other.
This character starts off with a somewhat villainous streak. I cannot reveal anything more than that at this moment. When Director Sargunam Sir described this character to me, I agreed to take on the role because I had never played a character of this nature before. Moreover, I was already a huge fan of Director Sargunam; I have watched his films. Working alongside everyone was an unforgettable experience,” she said.
LINK : https://youtu.be/8MDZCOZzChM?si=_EmoKSOvaK91u_ND