VJ Combines in association with Dass Pictures, produced by producer Jagannathan Paramasivam, directed by director U Anbu, starring Captain Vijayakanth’s son actor Shanmuga Pandian, tells the story of the lives of the people living there against the backdrop of the life of wild elephants.
Scheduled to hit the screens worldwide on May 23rd, the film’s audio launch ceremony will be attended by DMK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, L.K. Sutheesh, hero Shanmuga Pandian, Vijaya Prabhakaran, director-actors Kasthuri Raja, Sasikumar, directors A.R. Murugadoss, Ponram movie producer Jagannathan Paramasivam, director U.K. Anbu, cinematographer Suresh, producers T. Siva, J.S.K. Sathish, actress Yamini and the film crew were present, and it was held in the presence of press and media friends.
At this event,
Voice writer Parthiban Desingu spoke as follows….
My mental guru and inspiration in cinema is Murugadoss sir, I am happy to be here with his blessings. I am an ardent fan of Captain. I gave his Captain Prabhakaran title to my first story but it did not work. My wish to work with Captain was not fulfilled. That dream has come true with the opportunity of Bandai Thalaivan. The title of this film is Bandai Thalaivan. If a person has a whole army behind him, then he is Bandai Thalaivan, that is the Captain only. After him, it is only fitting for Shanmuga Pandian. When Anbu first told this story, I did not think that I would write the dialogues for it. I am proud to have worked in this film. This film is for everyone I like it, thank you.
Cinematographer Satish Kumar said…,
I am sharing my experience with the captain here, I worked with him in a stunt scene, although I did not have much experience, but I realized that our captain is someone who respects everyone’s words, similarly Shanmuga Pandian is patient and does not get angry, no matter how many takes he takes, he will finish it and leave from there, I see my captain sir in him. You will definitely like this film, my thanks to everyone who will make Shanmuga Pandian a big success.
Actor Rishi said..,
Thank you to director Anbu for giving me the opportunity, thank you to my producer too, when I was working in the cinema in the beginning, everyone would talk about Captain sir’s stunts, I waited for many days to see him in person but I got a huge opportunity to act with his son. I am very proud, I have played a cruel villain in this film, my character was completely different, you will know that when you watch the film. Thank you for your support for this film and making it a success.
Actress Yamini Chander said…,
It is a great pleasure to act in this film. We have received Captain Sir’s blessings and that is a great privilege. I am very proud to have acted in Ilayaraja Sir’s songs. Shanmuga Pandian Sir took care of all of us. In this, he has acted more scenes with the elephant than with us. Both of them have become close friends. This film is also about them. I am sure that you all will like it. Thank you to everyone who worked on this film.
Director, actor Kasthuri Raja said…,
The title of the film is the strength of the elephant, more important than that is the blessings of the captain, I have many experiences with him, no matter how many platforms I can tell it. The cinematographer is the one who worked tirelessly and hard in this film, he has designed the scenes with difficulty. Congratulations. The things that Shanmuga Pandian did with the elephant required incredible courage, and that is because of my captain, and I saw the same style in him. The film crew faced many difficulties during the shoot, and beyond all, the reason why this film has come to this point is the director and producer. My congratulations to them. The music for this film was composed by Ilayaraja, the name alone is enough, I don’t need to say anything about that music, surely this film will be a big success. Thank you to everyone.
Producer J S K Sathish said…,
Paramasivam, who produced this film, is my friend for 25 years, and I am very happy to be associated with him. I have seen this film, so I say this film will be a work that India will talk about. The Captain’s fans are in for a big treat. The visuals of the film are truly thrilling, I don’t need to say anything about Shanmuga Pandian, he has the Captain’s blood in him. I wish him a great future. My heartfelt thanks to all the crew.
Amma Creation D Siva said..,
If you want to see someone like Captain Sir, it is Shanmuga Pandian, he has the Captain’s character in him. Everyone who was on the set knows that. I am the one who is very happy for Shanmuga Pandian’s success. We are definitely going to see it, this film will be a huge success.
Tamil Nadu Cinema Owners Association President Sridhar said…,
These days, only a few films with big actors are getting a good reception. But other times, small films keep the cinemas alive, there is no change in this. This film will be the biggest hit of this year. The Captain’s blessings are with Shanmuga Pandian. My best wishes and thanks to the film crew.
Director Ponram said…,
When I saw Shanmuga Pandian, I didn’t know him, I knew he was the Captain. No one has been able to reach his place till today, Shanmuga Pandian will achieve that. When you put him in the frame, it is such a grandeur, I hope you will like the film when you watch it. Congratulations to both the director and the cinematographer, you have put in a lot of hard work, it is clear from the trailer. Best wishes for the success of the film, thank you.
LK Sutheesh said…,
This film will be a big success for Shanmuga Pandian. The Captain’s blessings are with this film. Not only that, many good souls have come here to congratulate this film. Thank you to everyone. We will meet everyone at the silver ceremony of this film, thank you.
Vijaya Prabhakaran, the state youth wing secretary of the DMK, said…
[12:00 PM, 5/17/2025] Santhosh Aim: I have come to this stage as a fan, I have not spoken on the stage of cinema, this makes me a little shy, I have come for my brother. I am the first fan of my father Vijayakanth, similarly I am the first fan of Shanmuga Pandian, if you want to see the captain, we can see him in the form of Shanmuga Pandian. The captain’s orders and tasks are still waiting. We will perform and show that all his wishes will come true. Also, Ilayaraja has composed the music for this film, which is a blessing. The film is very good, you all like it, we will all carry this film, thank you all.
Actor Sasikumar said…,
Vijayakant sir is our son of the soil, my desire to direct him did not come true, but I got an opportunity to direct Shanmuga Pandian, I was amazed by his eyes during a shoot, and that’s Vijayakant sir. I will definitely direct Shanmuga Pandian. I don’t have the experience of traveling with Captain sir, but I will definitely get that experience with his son. This Pada Thalaivan film will definitely be a big success. Thank you to everyone.
DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakant said..,
This is the first time I am speaking on a cinema-related platform without a political platform. From now on, I will hand over Shanmuga Pandian to you. I will hand it over to the people of Tamil Nadu and the people of the cinema industry. When I acted in the film Kallazhagar, the captain asked if I would like to get to know the elephant closely and bring it home? I said that the house is not that big. Similarly, Shanmuga Pandian, who is currently acting with him, asked Manian to bring an elephant home. Both of them really want to raise an elephant. We will definitely raise an elephant. My two sons will fill the captain’s place. Vijaya Prabhakaran will establish himself in politics and Shanmuga Pandian in cinema. There is no doubt about that.” Thank you to everyone who likes this film.
[12:01 PM, 5/17/2025] Santhosh Aim: Shanmuga Pandian, the protagonist of the film, spoke..
“This film is very close to my heart, because when my father was alive, he had heard the story of this film. My father has seen both the fight scenes in this film. So this film is very, very close to me. The film cannot be compared with Kumki or any other film. This film has a completely different storyline”
“My first shot was with five elephants..” Everyone said that I am like my father. But I don’t know, I can’t replace him. I have worked as hard as I can for this film. I am sure this film will impress all of you. Thank you all.
Director A R Murugadoss said…,
“Vijayakanth is the one who set the trend of villains being as good as the actors in many films. You need a lot of faith for that, Vijayakanth sir did that. Everyone must have talked about Vijayakanth. But I have the experience of working with him. I thought I was the only one who had worked with Vijayakanth. But when he said that Kasthuri Raja had also worked, I was a little jealous,
Shanmuga Pandian needs Vijayakanth’s perseverance and hard work. The people of Tamil Nadu will definitely not abandon you. They have got such a majestic actor. Shanmuga Pandian has Vijayakanth’s two eyes. Come on, grow up in cinema… You can definitely make Ramana 2. Congratulations on making this film a big success.
Director U Anbu said,
Thank you very much to my producers and Shanmuga Pandian. They have trusted me and given me this work. I believe that I have kept the promise I made to them, my heartfelt thanks to all the crew who helped me, we will meet again at the success of the film. Thank you.
After the success of Madurai Veeran, hero Shanmuga Pandian is playing a different role in this film with a different look. Yamini Chander, Kasthuri Raja, Munishkanth, Garudaram, Aruldas, Srijith Ravi, A.Venkatesh, S.S.Stanley, Loku N P K S, are playing important roles.
The film has been composed by music maestro Ilayaraja, and three wonderful songs have been recorded for the film.
The film will be released in theaters worldwide on May 23rd.
