Directed by Madhimaaran Pugazhendhi and produced by Elred Kumar under the banner of RS Infotainment, Mandadi, starring Soori, Mahima Nambiar, Suhas and Sathyaraj, has become a huge success and is continuing its successful theatrical run.
The grand success celebration of the film was held at the Chennai Trade Centre. The film’s cast, crew and technicians participated in the event and shared their happiness over the film’s success.
Director Vetrimaaran said:
“When we talk about a film, the most important thing we have to consider is the audience’s acceptance. When people accept and celebrate a film, we too have to accept that. There is nothing more to discuss beyond that. When people accept and celebrate it, it is very important that we celebrate it too. Thank you to everyone. Let us celebrate this grand success.
There is something I want to tell Madhimaaran. We have reached the place that we had been fighting to reach all these years. From now on, patience and composure are needed. I believe that if we proceed calmly and carefully in everything, things will work out well.
Thank you, Elred sir. Thank you for giving Madhimaaran opportunities and for giving opportunities to our assistant directors as well. Elred sir is one of the finest people in this cinema industry.
A long time ago, I narrated the story of Viduthalai Part 1 to him. I was hesitant because I thought the cost of making it would be very high. But he kept encouraging me and said, ‘It’s okay, sir. We can make it.’ I can never forget that moment.
One shot cost as much as making two small-budget films. Yet he never hesitated. That is how special he is.
Even in Mandadi, when Madhi hesitated about the cost of shooting a particular scene because it was not coming out as expected, Elred sir gave him complete freedom and told him to shoot it again. He even asked him to go back to the sea and shoot for another 20 days. He is a producer who has such great love for cinema. He always involves himself in filmmaking as though he is an assistant director.”
Speaking about Soori, Vetrimaaran said:
“When I look at Soori, I can clearly see his entire journey. His hard work and dedication are evident, and there are many moments that stand as proof of how far he has come from beginning his journey with a single shot in a film.
His growth is visible to the people as the growth of ‘our own boy Soori.’ Anyone who watches his journey can understand that the dreams of someone like us, someone from our own family, have been brought to this level.
We are witnessing the journey of how the dedication of someone from a remote corner can eventually take him to a great place.
People celebrate Soori as one of their own and celebrate his success as though it were their own success. That is a great strength for him.
They see the innocence of someone who has just arrived from his hometown in his face, and that is why people show him so much love. I want him to preserve that quality as well.”
RS Infotainment producer Elred Kumar said:
“Regarding this film, I must first speak a little about director Madhimaaran. He doesn’t talk much about anything or anywhere. He simply sits quietly, as though he has nothing to do with anything. But while sitting like that, he observes and absorbs everything.
As a producer, the first thing I look for in a director who signs an agreement with me is discipline. That is the first and most important point. Many directors today do not have that discipline. It includes everything from personal discipline to dedication towards their work.
The commitment he gave me was that he would not shoot even a single scene beyond what was written in the screenplay. He told me, ‘I will shoot only what is in the screenplay, sir. Otherwise, you may have to throw away scenes during editing. I will shoot only what is necessary.’
And he did exactly that. I was the one who asked him to shoot some additional days for the song.
The director shot exactly what he had written in the screenplay without making any changes.
Moreover, this was his first film. It was his first experience in several formats. It was his first IMAX film, his first Dolby film and his first experience with HD and several other technologies.
There were many technical challenges. The people who mastered Hollywood films such as Odyssey also worked on this film. They told us that if they were going to handle the IMAX work, they would come themselves to do the mixing, colour correction and mastering.
They said that we had to provide the first copy 20 days before the film’s release. That was their condition.
When I asked Madhi about it, he confidently told me, ‘Tell them we can deliver it.’
He planned everything perfectly and delivered it 22 days before the deadline.
Vetrimaaran sir transformed Soori into a leading man; Madhimaaran has transformed him into a mass hero.”
He continued:
“In Tamil Nadu, the practice of going on theatre visits is relatively less common. But in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the film is performing extremely well. Visiting theatres there was a wonderful experience.
There is one thing this film has achieved. People coming out of theatres are calling him ‘Soori Anna, Soori Anna.’ Instead of calling him by his name as an actor, they have started calling him by the character’s name.
Usually, only one particular character from a film gets talked about. But in this film, all the characters are being discussed.
That is one of the changes created by Mandadi.
Commercial films also generally follow a particular format, and you have changed that format. There is no introduction song for the hero here. His introduction is very simple. The protagonist himself is presented in a simple manner.
What is there to make commercially in such a film? Yet this film is running like a huge commercial success.
The box-office reports coming from theatres across all centres are extremely encouraging.”
He further said:
“I want to mention something about Soori. Once, I went to the shooting spot. He had just come back from the sea and was extremely tired. Soori Anna had injured his leg and was having difficulty walking.
When he saw me, he signalled with his hand and asked me to wait for ten minutes. When I looked carefully, I saw him sitting among a large group of people and talking with them. Only later did he come to meet me.
He told me, ‘Please don’t misunderstand me.’
I have been involved in many areas of cinema. In shooting locations, there are often small actors and workers who hope that the hero will at least smile at them when he sees them.
But he is so humble. He wants to give to the people around him what he himself longed for.
Even when I told him to take rest, he continued taking care of his work.
This humility has taken him to this level, and I believe it will take him even further. I think he will remain like this until the end.
Regarding Suhas, we had gone to Hyderabad for Chattaipuli. When he entered cinema, he was working from an office with all the friends he had been with at that time. They are now working in different fields.
He told me, ‘These are the people who have always been part of my journey.’
I told him, ‘That is enough. Continue to remain like this.’”
He added:
“When Mahima appears in the film, audiences in theatres become emotional. Simbu STR had praised the film. All the scenes he praised were scenes featuring Mahima.
The timing comedy by Bala Saravanan is creating huge laughter in theatres.
I don’t know how Peter Hein master created such magic in the action sequences. He understood the story and the concept and worked accordingly. He has delivered spectacular work even while sitting away from the location.
Sathyaraj sir is not here today because he could not attend. But his presence is felt throughout the film.
Thank you very much. Thank you to the entire film crew. Congratulations to everyone.”
Actor Ravindra Vijay, who played the character Singaram, said in a video:
“I could not attend because I am currently shooting in Hyderabad. But my heart is here.
This is a time for us to appreciate ourselves. It is a time when we can thank ourselves.
This film will continue to stand even after many years.
A big thank you to director Madhimaaran for writing and directing such a film. You have delivered such a grand film.
A producer like this is something that very few people can get. He personally handled everything, and having a producer like him is truly a blessing.
Every place where cinematographer Kathir sir placed his camera is beautiful and grand. You have shown both the grandeur of the sea and the grandeur of human emotions.
Thank you.
The speed of the editing took the film to another level. We must celebrate this film.”
Mahima Nambiar, who played the female lead, said:
“When I first spoke to the director, I was hesitant and afraid, wondering whether I would be able to play this role.
At that time, I had doubts. The director told me, ‘You will have to struggle to perform this character. Are you ready for that?’
I said I was ready.
He then told me, ‘If that is the case, you can do the character easily.’
That is how I approached it. Today, this has become an unforgettable character in my life.
Whenever I go to theatres, I see people celebrating Soori’s success as their own success. I feel very proud.
I am happy to be a part of such a film.
Whenever Bala Saravanan appears, theatres erupt with laughter.
My heartfelt thanks to this director and to the producer who gave us such a film.”
Director Madhimaaran Pugazhendhi said:
“Before beginning my speech, I want to dedicate the success of this film to the owners of the traditional boats. They are people who fight with the sea every day while taking care of themselves and their livelihoods.
I dedicate this success to those fishermen and their families who have protected this tradition for generations and continue to carry it forward with a purpose, as well as to the generations that will come after them.
This film belongs to you. Thank you very much.
I would like to express my gratitude to my friend Sathish, who introduced me to the world of Mandadi and taught me about it, and to Assistant Professor Mohan Vasanthan, who introduced me to many stories that have not yet been told.
Let us discover many more stories and continue this journey.”
He continued:
“Director Vetrimaaran sir told me that once Elred sir likes a director and places his trust in him, the film will no longer remain entirely in the director’s hands.
That is exactly what happened with this film.
Because I worked in the way he liked, a film that initially started with an average medium budget gradually expanded into a much bigger film.
A film that initially started only in Tamil became a five-language film.
It moved beyond being released on screens in our hometown and reached IMAX screens.
The reason for all this is Elred sir.
He believed in a story of mine that had never given me a success before and decided to make this film. The responsibility was largely on my shoulders because I was aware of the trust he had placed in me.
I carried that responsibility every minute while continuing to focus on my work.
Elred sir believed in me and kept encouraging me throughout.
Today, when I think about the impact this film has created, I realise that you do not necessarily have to make a huge film to become a great director.
Even if a small director has a big dream, and there is a producer like Elred sir who believes in that dream, it can become possible.
This film has shown that possibility to every assistant director.
My thanks to Elred sir.
Next, I want to thank Soori sir.
If someone wants a second chapter in life, the character Muthukaali is an example of what one has to go through to achieve it.
This character is extremely personal to me. I searched for this story within myself.
Thank you for bringing Muthukaali to life.”
He added:
“Suhas sir once told me that people with dark skin often face difficulties in coming up in life and spoke with sadness about colour-based teasing and discrimination.
At that time, I told him, ‘Don’t talk about all that in Tamil Nadu. That is not how things are here. Our film will succeed.’
And that is what happened.
I believe I fulfilled what I had promised Mahima about her character.
Thank you very much.
You have spoken in your interviews about how you handled the character and the efforts you made. I watched them. Thank you very much.
My thanks to Peter Hein master, who contributed greatly to these efforts.
Cinematographer Kathir, music composer GV and so many others have contributed to this film.
Not only them, but numerous people at the shooting locations also worked hard and supported this film.
My thanks to everyone.”
Actor Soori, the hero of the film, said:
“On behalf of our entire film team, I would like to express my biggest thanks to all the people across the world who have accepted Mandadi as their own creation and are celebrating it.
That is exactly how they are celebrating it today.
On behalf of our entire team, I thank them.
Our heartfelt thanks to all the good-hearted people who have celebrated Mandadi in so many different ways.
A very, very, very big thank you to the production company and to Elred Kumar Anna for creating such a film.
At the same time, a very big thank you to Madhimaaran Anna, who created this work so beautifully, emotionally and as a quality film.
It feels like I should tell him, ‘You have won, Maara.’
You have truly won, Madhimaaran.
Immediately after narrating this story to me, you explained to me what Muthukaali should be like.
You told me, ‘After losing 20 years of his life and returning to his village after 20 years, how would he be? What would his state of mind be? Even if someone called him, how would he turn around? How would he sit? How would he behave?’
You clearly explained everything to me.
Even small things that reminded him of his past and things he disliked would make him angry. You explained how he would react when such things touched his memories.
My friends and I kept thinking about all of this for an entire week.
I kept thinking about how we could portray it and how we could approach the character.”
He continued:
“I kept thinking, ‘If someone had swallowed a rock and was carrying it inside him, how would he look? How would he walk? If someone provoked him beyond a certain point, how would he express himself?’
I kept thinking about all these things.
I discussed and debated them with the director.
At that point, Anna told me, ‘This is what I am expecting. The character should be like this.’
When everyone says today that Soori’s performance is excellent, I see Madhimaaran through Muthukaali.
Thank you so, so, so, so much, Anna.”
Soori also said:
“When I went to Andhra Pradesh, they told me, ‘Please take good care of our Suhas Anna. We will take good care of you.’
The film has achieved a huge success in Telugu. Thank you very much.
Peter Hein master, I give you a royal salute.
They handed Mandadi over to you completely.
If I have said anything incorrectly, please forgive me.
For this film, the master’s son Kiran struggled for 20 days.
I can never forget how much the master himself struggled while shooting the Mandadi song in the middle of the sea, when there was no one around.
He worked with only the actors around him and went through so much difficulty.”
He continued:
“For the very first time, we received wishes from Superstar Rajinikanth. I can never forget that.
After watching the film, Sarathkumar sir called me at one in the morning. After watching the scene where I ask Mahima for forgiveness, he told me that he became emotional.
Napoleon sir called from America.
Parthiban sir also called and congratulated me.
Chiyaan Vikram sir wished me and spoke with me for ten minutes before leaving.
I also received wishes from Karthi sir, STR Silambarasan brother, brother SK, friend Vimal, Nani brother, RJ Balaji brother, Siruthai Siva sir, Thanu sir, and Naam Tamilar Katchi coordinator brother Seeman.
My thanks to all of them.”
He added:
“Cameraman Kathir sir is another hero of our film. Thank you.
My heartfelt thanks to music composer GV.
Thanks to Chokkalingam Mudhaliar, who made arrangements for the boats.
I am actually afraid that I might forget someone’s name while thanking everyone.”
He concluded:
“At one point, the producer told me, ‘We don’t need to promote this film any further. The people themselves will take it forward.’
Just as he said, the people themselves are celebrating it.
Thousands of reels related to Mandadi are being created and celebrated by the audience.
My heart is full.
Thank you to everyone.
I will always remain the same Soori.
People have started telling me that Soori should now get a phone and all that. I have never had a manager. My dear younger brother Udayashankar is the one who takes care of everything.
Thank you and greetings to everyone.”
