The official word is out from Lyca Productions. Its next is Mafia, directed by Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru fame Karthick Naren, and starring Arun Vijay, Prasanna and Priya Bhavani Shankar. The film starts shoot on July 6, Karthick told Silverscreen.
Presenting to you all the first look of @lycaproductions ? next#MAFIA ? Starring ? the dashing @arunvijayno1 ? Directed ? by the young & talented @karthicknaren_M ?@Prasanna_actor @priya_Bshankar @DoneChannel1 pic.twitter.com/mTswsvvTqO
— Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) July 2, 2019
Speaking about the project, Karthick says that even when writing the script, he only visualised Arun for the protagonist’s role and Prasanna to play the antagonist. “When you watch the film, you’ll know why. During the initial scripting stage, my team felt they would be perfect for the film. I like Prasanna’s subtle turn in front of the camera, and we needed that. Arun was the first person we took the script to. There’s a lot of good vibe among us, and I am looking forward to the shoot.”
The entire film will be shot in Chennai, hopefully in one schedule, says the young director who made waves with his debut, a taut thriller.
And, like the rest of the world, he’s awaiting the release of his sophomore effort, Naragasooran, another thriller with an ensemble cast headlined by Arvind Swami, Shriya Saran, Sundeep Kishen and Indrajith, among others. Sources say work on the film is complete, and the team is waiting for some legal clearances before release.
Once that releases, it is expected that Karthick will at some stage revive Naadaga Medai too. “My experiences in the industry so far have made me wiser,” he smiles.
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Actor Prasanna is fresh from the adulation for his turn as Ravi Prakasam in Thiravam on Zee5, where he plays a middle-aged scientist who is on the quest of an alternative fuel. He’s also making his Malayalam debut in Brother’s Day, co-starring Prithviraj. Actor Kalabhavan Shajohn (you might remember him as Constable Sahadevan from Drishyam) makes his directorial debut with this film. “I’ve almost finished the shoot, and the film should be out in time for Onam,” he says.
How does someone like Prasanna, known primarily for his ‘good boy’ roles in cinema, look at playing the antagonist? “I actually enjoy myself, because a hero is expected to be principled and righteous; the villain can get away with certain character quirks. I get to behave in a manner I normally never will. And, playing the stylish villain offers you more scope to perform rather than when you are a namesake hero,” he says.