V House Productions, produced by Suresh Kamatchi, has produced Seven Seas Seven Hills, the latest film from director Ram, who is known for creating emotionally driven stories that directly touch the hearts of audiences.
After a short gap, actor Nivin Pauly is making his return to Tamil cinema as the lead through this film. Soori, who has recently taken on more character-driven leading roles, plays another important character alongside Nivin Pauly. Anjali plays the female lead. A rat also plays an important role in the film.
The film has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, who has regularly provided the musical soul for director Ram’s films. Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai is scheduled to release in theatres on October 1.
A pre-release event for the film was held at the MGR Film and Television Institute campus in Taramani, Chennai, attended by the film’s cast and crew as well as several personalities from the film industry.
Producer Suresh Kamatchi
Producer Suresh Kamatchi said:There are certain directors I really like because they suit my taste. I met director Ram when Taramani was being made. At that time, I wondered whether I had grown enough as a producer to make a film with him.
“Some people even mocked me, saying, ‘You are only a small producer.’ Around that time, actor Simbu voluntarily offered me his dates and said, ‘Produce my film.’ Venkat Prabhu directed that film, and that is why I am standing before you today.
“Later, Ram came to me with a story. I wanted to make a film with Ram more than anything else. That opportunity eventually became Seven Seas Seven Hills.
Nivin Pauly was announced as the hero, and I was extremely happy. I have liked him ever since Premam. Then Soori came on board. When we were looking for the heroine, we called Anjali and she agreed immediately.
Because this was a Ram film, we were also fortunate to have Yuvan Shankar Raja. Even now, Ram is personally working on the film until the final stage. I would be happy to work with him on many more films.”
Kamatchi also said that Aazhi Pictures acquired the film and Sakthi Film Factory is releasing it. In Kerala, the film will be released by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, while Color and Colors will release it in Telugu-speaking regions. DD Entertainments will release it in Karnataka, and Triple M Productions has acquired the overseas rights.
Lyricist Madhan Karky
Lyricist Madhan Karky said:
Whenever I step onto a stage where director Ram is present, I always feel a sense of guilt because it reminds me that lyricist Na. Muthukumar is no longer with us. I loved the songs that came from the Muthukumar–Ram combination.
I really like Nivin Pauly’s understated acting. Similarly, Soori amazed me in Viduthalai. People say that Vetrimaaran changed Soori, but that isn’t exactly what happened. He changed the way audiences look at Soori.
I love the way Ram celebrates nature in his films. He celebrates the five elements in different ways.”
Music Composer Santhosh Dhayanidhi
Music composer Santhosh Dhayanidhi spoke about his admiration for Yuvan Shankar Raja:
This stage is extremely important to me. I am a huge fan of Yuvan Shankar Raja. When I first bought a keyboard and started practising, I used Yuvan sir’s songs. Later, when I studied music production, I learned by analysing his songs.
There is so much depth, love and soul in every Yuvan song. I still follow him and learn from him.
During Maryan, Yuvan came to A.R. Rahman’s studio to sing a song. I was the last assistant there at the time. I asked Rahman sir if I could watch Yuvan sing because I wanted to see him perform, but I was told I couldn’t enter.
Today, sitting on the same stage with Yuvan sir is something I don’t even have words to describe.”
Lyricist Madhi Pugazhenthi
Madhi Pugazhenthi said this was his first major public stage appearance. He came through the Agaram Foundation and initially joined director Ram as an assistant.
I am proud that I have now written a song for the very film of the director I once worked under as an assistant. Writing for composer Santhosh was very comfortable and simple because we could discuss many things and take advice from each other.”
Director and Actor Parthiban
Parthiban praised both Ram and Soori:
Soori is a perfect example of how far young people can rise. His growth is not that of an ordinary actor; it is the result of tremendous hard work.
Director Ram knows nothing beyond cinema. He is a magician in cinema. He is loving, intense and relentless when it comes to making good films.
Every Ram film has his anger and style as its first hero.
Nivin Pauly’s acting technique is unique. You could call him ‘Nivin Polytechnic’! There is a natural quality in his acting where he seems not to be acting at all.
The trailer has a sense of mystery about where the story is heading, and that is the strength of a director. I want Seven Seas Seven Hills to become a huge success, and I want to watch it on the first day, first show.”
Director Vetrimaaran
Vetrimaaran recalled what legendary filmmaker Balu Mahendra had once told him about Ram:
When I was with Balu Mahendra sir, one day he became very emotional and told me, ‘There is a man who knows how to tell a really good story.’ He was talking about director Ram.
When I watch certain people tell stories, I sometimes wonder why I cannot tell stories like that. One of those people is Ram.
From Kattradhu Thamizh, Peranbu and Thanga Meenkal to Seven Seas Seven Hills, Ram has continued to expand himself both as a person and as a filmmaker. His stories have also continued to evolve.
In Seven Seas Seven Hills, he has rearranged many elements and simplified the storytelling so that the emotions reach the audience directly.
One of the film’s most special aspects, I think, is that the sound of a human being and the sound of another living creature are heard together.”
Actress Anjali
Anjali said that Seven Seas Seven Hills gave her a “larger-than-life” experience:
Everyone has certain larger-than-life films that they dream of being part of. I wondered what it would be like if I did something like that. Seven Seas Seven Hills gave me exactly that experience.
Nivin Pauly is a wonderful co-star. Every day when he came to the set, I felt challenged. I am not someone who plans exactly how I will react to another actor, but Nivin would come up with small expressions and completely change the scene. So I also had to bring something new from my side. It became a healthy competition.
At the same time, we developed a comfort zone from the very first day.
I have known Soori for a long time. I remember shooting in Courtallam once, where there was only one treadmill. Both Soori and I wanted to work out, so we would take turns running on it. We would also play cricket outside.
I feel very personally happy about Soori’s success. Given his good heart, he deserves everything he has achieved, and I hope he achieves even more.
And I have to mention the rat in this film—it is also one of our co-stars. Thank you, rat!”
Speaking about Yuvan Shankar Raja, Anjali said:
Yuvan is not only one of my favourite music directors but also one of my favourite singers. My favourite song from this film is ‘Ezhu Kadal Ezhu Malai’.
After Kattradhu Thamizh, when I heard Yuvan’s ‘Paravaye Engirukkirai’, I had a certain feeling. I got the same vibe from this song. The Ram–Yuvan combination is always magical.
I have known Ram as a well-wisher, mentor and even like a father. Everyone knows how close this film is to his heart. Thank you for writing my character so beautifully.”
She also noted that she has now completed 20 years in cinema.
Actor Soori
Soori thanked the audience and media for the success and recognition he has received:
I keep celebrating the success of Mandadi by cutting a cake every day. I am extremely proud and happy about the film.
Whatever success or respect I receive, I don’t keep it on my head and behave according to my wishes. I bow my head, accept the respect, put it aside and immediately run towards my next project.
I always wanted to work with important directors such as Vetrimaaran, Ram, Bala and Mysskin. I got the opportunity to work with Vetrimaaran, and then Ram came into my life through Arun Viswa.
At first, I was excited but also a little scared. Some people had told me that Ram’s territory was risky. But once I went there, I realised there couldn’t be a better place.
He didn’t speak to me like a typical director. He spoke casually and jokingly, and that gave me tremendous confidence.
Vetrimaaran told me, ‘Go ahead. You will learn something new there, and that will help you a lot.’
I was eagerly waiting to work with Ram. The first time they took me to the set, there was a huge train set, with the five elements of nature surrounding it—and around 70 rats!
Ram would give me the dialogue and then tell me when to speak. He would say, ‘First action is for the rain; second action is for the train; third action is for the wind coming through the window; fourth is for the trolley; fifth is for the wind; sixth is for thunder; lightning is coming…’
I would ask, ‘Brother, when is my action?’ He would say, ‘Wait, this is the order. Stay correctly.’
The ninth action was for the rat! The tenth action was for us! The entire shoot was fun and completely different.”
Nivin Pauly
Nivin Pauly said:
I am very happy. The Seven Seas Seven Hills unit was a wonderful experience.
Whenever a film becomes successful, it makes you very happy. But in cinema, we have to remain committed because the audience is there for us.
It is the audience who gives us this love. So I keep thinking that I should make a good film for them and move forward.
It has been a long time since I heard the word ‘comeback’, and now my name is attached to it too—‘Nivin Pauly comeback’.
Personally, I feel that every film is an attempt at a comeback. So let this film also be my comeback to Tamil cinema.”
Director Ram
Director Ram explained the central idea of the film:
Seven Seas Seven Hills is coming on October 1. If I had to describe the film in one line, it would be: whether it is a rat, an elephant, a tree or a blade of grass, everything is alive. That is what the story is about.
Recently, I watched Kattradhu Thamizh again. It made me wonder whether we are still the same people we were back then. A lot has changed. But I feel that I am still the same.
When I made Kattradhu Thamizh, Muthukumar was the one who took me to Yuvan Shankar Raja. I hadn’t even narrated the story for 30 minutes when Yuvan said he would do the film.
That friendship has continued ever since. If he says no, only then can I go somewhere else for music! He is doing my next film as well.
Our relationship isn’t merely that of a director and music director. We are friends and well-wishers.
During Parandhu Po, a situation suddenly required 22 songs. Yuvan was in Dubai at the time. He told me, ‘Our friend Santhosh Dhayanidhi is there. Work with him; I will support you.’
Something similar happened with Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai We had completed everything, but a year later I completely changed the order of the film. At that time Yuvan was busy with his concert and we had to deliver the film to the OTT platform.
Again, he told me, ‘Go to Santhosh; he will do it correctly.’
For him to have the confidence and affection to give another composer an opportunity within his own film—that is something very special.”
