The title and first glimpse of “Leader”, the new film starring renowned businessman and popular actor Legend Saravanan in the lead role, were officially released in the presence of journalists and fans.
Directed by R. S. Durai Senthilkumar, Leader features an ensemble cast including Shaam, Andrea, Santhosh Prathap, Payal Rajput, Lal, Prabhakaran, Amritha Aiyer, VTV Ganesh, and Baby Iyal, among others.
The film’s cinematography is handled by S. Venkatesh, music is composed by Gibran Vaibodha, editing is done by Pradeep E. Raghav, and art direction is by G. Durairaj.
Produced as a full-fledged commercial entertainer, the film is backed by Legend Saravanan Stores Productions.
Leader is set for a worldwide theatrical release in April in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi.
The title and first-look glimpse launch event was held on Wednesday at a star hotel in Chennai, with journalists, fans, and the film crew in attendance.
Mr. A. M. Vikramaraja, President of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Associations, graced the event as the chief guest and officially unveiled the film’s title.
Speech by A. M. Vikramaraja
Speaking at the event, Mr. Vikramaraja said that while many successors struggle to uphold family businesses, Legend Saravanan has risen through sheer hard work to become one of Asia’s leading retailers. He praised Saravanan’s dedication, predicted that Leader would surpass the success of his debut film, and described it as an inevitable blockbuster.
He highlighted Saravanan’s concern for small traders, his proactive stance on issues like GST and food safety laws, and his continuous efforts to protect grassroots merchants from corporate and online trade pressures.
Calling the event a “family function of traders,” he expressed confidence that Leader would elevate Saravanan’s name globally.
Music Director Gibran Vaibodha
Composer Gibran Vaibodha said that director R. S. Durai Senthilkumar possesses a rare magic of delivering films that appeal to all sections of audiences. He noted that Leader revives a genre Tamil cinema has missed for a long time and promised both powerful background music and melodious songs suitable for family audiences.
He also expressed happiness about collaborating again with Think Music.
Director R. S. Durai Senthilkumar
The director emphasized the importance of the media, calling journalists the first gateway to reaching the audience.
He shared that his initial meetings with Saravanan began in September 2022 and revealed that what started as a belief that Saravanan acted out of passion turned into admiration for his deep understanding of cinema.
He narrated an anecdote from Saravanan’s childhood dreams of becoming a star like Hindi film icons, praising his journey from fulfilling family responsibilities to finally realizing that dream through unwavering confidence and courage.
He lauded Saravanan as a producer who granted complete creative freedom and as an actor ready to fully trust the director’s vision.
Producer / Actor Legend Saravanan
Addressing the gathering, Legend Saravanan clarified that “Leader” is not a political film, despite its title. It is a pure commercial entertainer, and the released glimpse represents the film’s overall essence.
He described the story as one about an innocent father and son whose peaceful life is disrupted by a powerful gang, with the narrative unfolding from there.
He praised the director’s tight screenplay, Gibran’s impactful background score, and the technical excellence of the crew.
The film was shot over 40 days in Thoothukudi, followed by 15 days in Georgia, with additional schedules in Jaipur, Chennai, and Ooty.
Saravanan shared his personal journey—from idolizing Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in his childhood to dedicating himself to his family business and working tirelessly every day, a discipline he maintained even during the film’s shoot.
He stated that Leader blends strong content with mass action elements, aiming to entertain audiences across all age groups.
Expressing concern for the current slowdown in the film industry, he emphasized that cinema supports thousands of workers and wished for every film to succeed for the welfare of the industry.
He announced that:
• The first single will be released on February 14 (Valentine’s Day)
• The next glimpse will be released on March 6
• A grand audio launch event will be held ahead of the April theatrical release
