Ten years is a long time in life, and feels even longer in cinema where many relationships are forged and broken every Friday. One such relationship is between a producer and a director. A frequent collaboration between these two important entities of cinema happen only if both are not just on the same page, but equal levels too. The director has to prove his mettle again and again, and become a good enough investment, and the production company too has to prove their credibility by making bigger and better films. Probably why Pa Ranjith, while speaking at the Thangalaan audio launch, said, “Gnanavel sir has been an important part of my journey. I created Thangalaan as a way to remember our journey together.”
It is beautiful that Ranjith’s journey in cinema, and Studio Green’s maiden production venture, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, both started around 2006. Both saw their first major blockbuster success in 2007 with Karthi’s Paruthiveeran and Venkat Prabhu’s seminal film, Chennai 600028. Sometimes, destiny has its own way of getting things in place. Even as Studio Green got bigger and bigger with commercial successes like Singam, Naan Mahaan Alla, and Siruthai, they faced their first major slump as a producer with the three strikes of Alex Pandian, All in All Azhagu Raja, and Biriyani. By now, Ranjith too had made his first film for CV Kumar. Titled Attakathi, the film was a sleeper hit, and was hailed for its refreshing representation of the Dalit life, and showed to the world that there are diverse stories that are waiting to be told. Remember destiny? The one that has its own way of getting things done. Attakathi marked Studio Green’s first distribution outside the films of Suriya and Karthi. Gnanavel was entrusted with giving Ranjith’s debut film a wide release, and in many ways, it was his market pull that ensured Attakathi became a success on so many different levels. Now, this prompted Gnanavel to sign Ranjith for his sophomore film.
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It is often said that a filmmaker never gets to make their first film as their first. In Ranjith’s case, he couldn’t make his second film as his sophomore film. Ranjith and Gnanavel were supposed to work on Sarpatta Parambarai with Karthi in the lead. Yes, the same Sarpatta that finally got made with Arya, and unfortunately, had to settle for a direct-to-OTT release on Amazon Prime Video. But when one door closes, another wall opens, as Sarpatta gave way to the brilliant Madras, which became a massive commercial and critical success. Madras gave a new identity to Tamil cinema, and Ranjith delivered Studio Green the success they were waiting for. That’s how fortunes change in cinema. All it takes is one Friday. One good Friday.
Between Madras and Sarpatta Parambarai, Pa Ranjith had turned into a tour de force in Tamil, actually Indian cinema. His voice gained prominence, and his presence warranted attention. With films like Kabali and Kaala with Rajinikanth, and the hugely important and successful projects like Pariyerum Perumal, J Baby, Writer, Seththumaan, and Blue Star made under his Neelam Productions, we were witnessing the Ranjith era slowly spreading its wings into the collective consciousness of the Tamil society. Of course, he was subject to criticisms about his political stance, and the voice of his cinema. Between Madras and Thangalaan, Studio Green produced 20 projects and distributed a dozen other films. It was a heady mix of hits and misses, and constantly burdened by external pressures including court cases, and criticisms on social media. During such a tumultuous time, it was announced that Ranjith’s next after Sarpatta will be a Studio Green project with Vikram. Of course, this project didn’t have a smooth sailing either with actors and technicians walking in and out of the film due to various reasons. But remember destiny? You know what it does by now.
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Since the first announcement, and the first whiff of updates from the film, which was tentatively titled Chiyaan 61, the excitement was sky high. It was pegged as a movie that would finally give Vikram the double happiness of a role to remember and a success to savour. Of course, he would go on to taste both in the Ponniyin Selvan films by Mani Ratnam. But nevertheless, Chiyaan 61 was different. It was a Ranjith film. When it was finally announced that the film was titled Thangalaan, Studio Green was confident that they had a winner in their hands. They left no stone unturned to make Ranjith’s vision come to life. They shot in the best of locations, roped in the best of technicians, and the most talented of actors, and everything was set for Thangalaan to take the world by storm.
Here’s the Thangalaan trailer
Then, one release date was announced. That passed. Then, another release date was announced. That passed too. But the post-production was going on as planned. This project was no more just a pipe dream. It was completed. It was ready. It was there for all to see. Meanwhile, Gnanavel’s Studio Green was attempting something really huge. They were not just backing a period magical realism story set in the Kolar Gold Fields, but also backing another period actioner set hundreds of years in the past. They were juggling between the films of two Superstars and National Award winners. On one end, they were ensuring everything was okay with Thangalaan, and on the other end, they were working like clockwork to keep the release plans of Suriya-Siva’s Kanguva in order. Handling one of these films is a burden in itself, but Studio Green were balancing on two galloping horses. This showed the propensity of the makers to take up challenges, and if they pulled through, it would cement them as one of the most prolific and premier production houses in the country. Finally, the release date of Thangalaan was announced…
Thangalaan and Kanguva
During the Thangalaan audio launch, Ranjith said, “A lot of people actually asked me why I was working with Gnanavel sir since he was facing a lot of problems. After Sarpatta, I received a lot of offers, but I was sure I wanted to work with Gnanavel sir. I wanted to stand by him. And what he gave in return for that trust was Thangalaan. He never allowed me to take the pressure of growing budgets. I have artistic freedom, but I also have the responsibility to repay the trust of the producers. You are a big supporter and not just a producer.”
When the release date was fixed, everything else made sense. The delays, the postponements, the changeovers, the problems, the solutions… everything. Thangalaan was finally set to hit screens worldwide on August 15, 2024… exactly 12 years after the release of Attakathi, the first-ever collaboration between Ranjith and Gnanavel’s Studio Green. What else can you say, except… Destiny, right?
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