The music and preview release ceremony of the film ‘Kuyili’, produced by V.V. Arunkumar and directed by Murugasamy and starring actress Lisi Antony in the lead role, was held in Chennai. At the event, senior producer K. Rajan, director and actor Balaji Sakthivel, director and actor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu, were present to release the music and preview of the film.
Debut director. Directed by Murugasamy, the film ‘Kuyili’ stars Lizzy Antony, Ravisa, Dashmika, Deepthi, Pudupettai Saravanan and Ratchasan Saravanan in pivotal roles. Praveen Raj has handled the cinematography and Ju Smith has composed the music for the film. The film, which is a story of a mother’s struggle to survive and to create awareness about the evils of alcohol, is being distributed by Mohan.
Scheduled to be released in theatres worldwide soon, the film’s music and preview were also attended by the film crew, including MP and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu leader Thirumavalavan, senior producer K. Rajan, director and actor Balaji Sakthivel, and director Sreejar were present as special guests.
Producer Arun Kumar said, “I welcome everyone who has come here as special guests. I would like to thank the crew who worked hard to make this film a success.
First of all, I would like to thank my parents. Because they taught me things like ‘Don’t cheat’, ‘Don’t lie’, ‘Don’t steal’, and ‘Work hard and you will succeed’. Following them, despite many obstacles and delays during the making of this film, we have overcome all of them and successfully completed it. I would like to thank all the ‘Kuyili’ boatmen who worked hard for this. I also congratulate, welcome, and thank the friends who invested in this film.
First of all, I would like to thank my parents. Because they taught me things like ‘Don’t cheat’, ‘Don’t lie’, ‘Don’t steal’, and ‘Work hard and you will succeed’. Following them, despite many obstacles and delays during the production of this film, we have successfully completed everything. I would like to thank all the ‘Kuyili’ boatmen who worked hard for this. I also congratulate, welcome, and thank the friends who invested in this film.
This film speaks of the pain of a mother. How many challenges does a mother face to raise her son? How many struggles do they face? How do they fight until the end of their lives? This film narrates. I would like to thank all the stars who acted in this film, including actress Lizzy Antony who played the role of Kuili, and the technical artists who worked.
This is not a commercial film but a film for the society. I applaud the director for this. If at least five percent of the people who watched this film after its release reform themselves… that is the success of this film,” he said.
Actress Dashmika said, ”I suddenly got the opportunity to act in this film. So I am happy at this moment. I was doing a small role in some shooting when I got the call to act in this film. I was excited when the team said that you should act as the heroine in a film against a drunkard. I thank the director and the producer for believing in me and giving me this role,” he said.
Senior producer K. Rajan said, “I welcome the great man who is not a leader of any particular community or caste, but a leader of all, and of the entire Tamil nation.
He and I have known each other since he was a law student. We would meet every day when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu protest was going on.
He played a role in the formation of the Indian alliance, like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
His voice has been heard and continues to be heard in Parliament.
This film ‘Kuyili’, produced by BM Film International, is a wonderful family film. It has wonderfully told how a mother fights for her family. For this, I commend director Murugasamy and producer Arun Kumar who made this film with courage.
This film is a film made to eradicate alcoholics. There is no glamour in this film, they have made it natural by casting some familiar actors. It has wonderfully told what atrocities are caused by alcohol.
I am close to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Thirumavu. But I am a little bit biased on this issue of alcohol. Alcoholism has ruined many families. Many families have become victims. Therefore, alcohol should be banned not only in Tamil Nadu but also in the whole of India.
In the current situation, 20 to 25 percent of women have started drinking. The country is going very badly in this regard.
Therefore, I am asking the Tamil Nadu government to do something. Alcoholism should be eradicated in some way.
There are five songs in this film. But as far as I am concerned, this film does not need so many songs. The audience does not like to watch song scenes in the theater. But all these songs are good. There is a meaningful song, it talks about the eradication of alcohol, and the pain that mothers suffer due to alcohol. Therefore, I am proud to be participating in the music launch of this film. I wish this film success. I wish the producer to get back the money invested in the film. I also request the Tamil fans and the media to support this.
“I request the producers and directors to give the film a Tamil title,” he said.
Director P. Murugasamy said, “When I was working as an assistant to director Balaji Sakthivel, I read about people like Karl Marx, Ambedkar and Father Periyar. Through that, I learned many things. After that, I joined the Googi Film Institute and studied film. More importantly, I also learned political education. I also learned about the lives of ordinary people there. Only through that could I create a good work.
The music composer, cinematographer, editor, assistant directors, actors, I would like to thank all the actresses.
I don’t look up to Karl Marx, Ambedkar, Periyar. I look up to the great Tamil revolutionary, who has all three together. I have grown up listening to his struggle and speeches since I was a child. I have also grown up watching Paranjith,” he said.
Music composer Jus Smith said, “First of all, I would like to thank my parents. After completing my college studies, they have never asked me anything since I expressed my desire to pursue a career in music. Next, I would like to thank the producer of this film, Arun Kumar. I have been talking to him for the past ten years. Every time he calls me on the phone, he asks about my well-being and encourages me to be the music composer if I make a film. After ten years, he became a producer and invited me to compose the music for this film.
There are more people who have failed in cinema than those who have failed in cinema. None of the people who invited me to cinema are with me now. They are not in cinema either. They have gone to other fields. At this point, only producer Arun Kumar believed in me and gave me a chance.
The experience of composing music for this film was different. It was unforgettable. Director Murugasamy said that ‘Kuyili’ is not a commercial film, but a film that expresses opinions. He said that I should compose music accordingly. After that, he liked all the songs I composed.
There are five songs in this film. All five songs are about not drinking alcohol. Four new singers have sung the songs in this film,” he said.
Speaking, director Sreejar said, ”Cinema and politics have been traveling together for two years. Recently, politics has become a topic of conversation in cinema.
I believe that the film ‘Kuyili’ speaks about the politics and culture of the oppressed people. In this film, they have taken a lesson about those addicted to alcohol. They have portrayed motherly love very beautifully.
The hero of this festival, Joe Smith, was identified and introduced by me ten years ago. I think there are many songs in this film. Two songs are enough for such films. In this hectic life situation, we have reduced the film to one and a half hours. We think this is enough.
The film ‘Kuyili’ is a film that teaches good culture and good manners. It is clear that they have recorded pain. Congratulations to the director, producer and crew of the film,” he said.
Director Balaji Sakthivel said, “I want to make a biographical film about the life of the leader of all people. If anyone tries to do this, I am ready to cooperate with them.
The director of the film, Murugasamy, has been my assistant since the film ‘Kalluri’. He directed a short film and showed it to me and then joined as an assistant. He is still with me. I think he is also an actor and would have acted in this film too.
When I acted in the films ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and ‘Asuran’, he would come with me and absorb the things that happen there. I believe he made this film only after doing all that.
Director Murugasamy has a very simple background. He has done a lot of charity work with the late actor Karmayilsamy. I am happy to see that the simple Murugasamy has risen as a director. I sincerely appreciate producer Arun Kumar for giving him this opportunity.
He has directed this film from the perspective of simple people. There is strength in it. This is the strength of this film. I believe he has also made the screenplay of the film well. I request everyone to support this film to make it a success,” he said.
Actress Lizzy Antony said, “I believe in four things the most: self-interest, hard work, perseverance and patience. This is what I have been practicing in my life till now. I saw these things in producer Arun Kumar too.
The call for this film first came to me from him. He narrated the story of this film to me. If a producer has told the story beautifully in my life, then it is him. That experience was unforgettable. I also liked the subject matter of this film.
I told the producer that the title of this film should be ‘Kuyili’. He immediately agreed.
I request the fans and the media to support this film to make it a success,” he said.
Vithuthi Chiruthaigal Party leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said, “I was late to come here for this event because I was participating in the protest organized by the left wing movements against the military action against the tribal people in the state of Chhattisgarh. I heard a song from the film on the stage. I came to know about what the film is about by asking my brother Rajan.
In this current situation, I appreciate the courage of director Nar Murugasamy and producer Arun Kumar to make a film against alcohol with social responsibility. I congratulate them wholeheartedly.
It is a source of joy and pride that the younger generation has created this work, not with the aim of making films for commercial purposes, succeeding in it, or making a profit from it, but with a sense of social responsibility, with the desire to guide people, to free people from the suffering of alcoholism, to be liberated. I am proud to see this group. I congratulate them and convey my greetings.
As you all know, we recently held a conference for women on alcohol and drug abuse. It became a topic of discussion. It was also the subject of harsh criticism.
While speaking, Annan Rajan mentioned that ‘alcohol should be abolished nationally’ and that Thirumavalavan should raise his voice in Parliament regarding this and that he could have spoken in Parliament. His confidence has not been lost. I have spoken about this in the Lok Sabha. The confidence he has placed in me is amazing.
When I spoke in the Parliament, the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a political comment on this. We are thinking beyond that. We have a widespread view that not only the youth of Tamil Nadu but also the people of our country, including the entire country, should not be affected by alcohol. Therefore, I have been emphasizing for a long time that the Government of India should adopt the policy of alcohol abolition as a national policy.
We accept Mahatma Gandhi as our national leader. We print his portrait on rupee notes. The most important of his policies is alcohol prohibition. While we accept Mahatma as the Father of the Nation, do we not take into account his lifeblood policy, alcohol prohibition?
The government has not seen fit to let the states look into this. Not only Tamil Nadu but also other state governments see this as a way of earning their own income. What if someone gets hurt? The indifference continues. I have been worried about this for decades. I have spoken about this on many platforms. We have implemented resolutions in many conferences.
Today, not only alcohol, but also drugs including cannabis are being sold openly. Drugs that were in circulation only in urban areas… have now infiltrated villages as well. For this, we held a conference and in it, we implemented a resolution by urging the government to declare alcohol eradication as a national policy for the whole of India. This has been criticized. It has been criticized politically.
Alcohol should be abolished throughout India and drugs should be controlled. Not only those belonging to a particular community, but many younger generations are also addicted to alcohol and ruining their lives. They lose the ability to run a family. They have a marriage relationship in some way and have two children. But they are not responsible enough to take care of them… protect them, educate them, and create a good future for them. They cannot stand and stagger. They are drunk from early morning till they go to bed. The house bears all the burden of the family. Only by going directly to the field can you realize how terrible it is.
This is one of the rallies that have gripped this country.
I listened to the first song in this film. They have made all these atrocities into lines. This song touches our hearts deeply. A very, very important song. A song that should be played in every village. A song that everyone should have on their phone. A song that can create awareness. The music is also excellent. Vettavalam. Ramamoorthy has written this song. My compliments to him too.
Each of us has a responsibility in this matter. There is no need to get political and make judgments.
When I talk to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister about this personally, he also has concerns about this. But this is a social structure, a system. Government structures sometimes become so overbearing that they can operate against our will.
There is a need for widespread awareness among the people. Today, we can see that alcohol is also a reason behind the increase in religious riots and atrocities.
We should continue to spread awareness without thinking about what the film ‘Kuyili’ can achieve. At least some youth can be protected from such harm. They can be prevented from becoming victims of tragedy. The younger generation can be protected.
Until the liquor shops are closed, every hospital should have a drug rehabilitation center, this is my demand. I have also conveyed this to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. All hospitals should have a psychological counseling center. For this, specially trained doctors should be employed.
Alcoholism does not only affect an individual. It affects the society. Therefore, alcohol and drugs should be controlled. Then they should be completely eradicated,’ he said.
Lyricist Vettavalam T. Ramamoorthy said, ”I have written two songs that will be in this film. I thank the producer and director for giving me this opportunity.
The problem caused by alcohol is only relevant when those affected by it say it. Sometimes, the truth can be told. It will benefit everyone…
I too became addicted to alcohol and have since written the songs for this film. My family members were supportive of this…
Don’t touch alcohol. Even if you touch it, leave it. Only then will you be happy,” he said.
