AJ Murugan, director of Simbu’s 2004 starrer Manmadhan, says that Simbu took credit for the film’s story that he wrote, and this has spoilt his career. The film was Murugan’s debut directorial, and he claims the film’s script and story were by him.
In an interview with a YouTube channel, he said, “The script for Manmadhan was initially written for Ajith sir. I told him a basic template during the shoot of Nee Varuvai ena in 1999. But he said he will get back to me. Later in 2001, when I told the same script to Simbu, he locked the script and told that he wanted to do it as his third film.”
“Everything went well, but producer SK Krishnakanth called me one day and said Simbu wanted credits for the film’s story and dialogues. When I spoke about it to Usha madam (TR’s wife, Simbu’s mother), she rudely said, ‘I did not ask for suggestions, you can direct the film if you give the story credit to Simbu.’ While agreement was signed with my name under story, screenplay and direction, I was left with no choice but to agree (to give Simbu the credits) because it was a question of my career,” he said.
Simbu promised to give him money and offer other film opportunities, but never kept his promise, said Murugan, “When I went to meet him after the film’s release he had totally changed. I couldn’t even meet him. Today, TR sir is saying that it is a crime when someone’s rights are grabbed from them. What did they do to me? Simbu betrayed me.”
When Murugan was asked why he was claiming rights for the film after all these years, he said it was because many others were now coming forward to claim their rights to films.
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“I thought even I should get back my rights. Moreover, only now I heard that talks are on to sell Hindi remake rights for the film. If it was Simbu’s story, why did they wanted me to direct the film? I’m not a director like Shankar or AR Murugadoss. When I’m the director of the film, why didn’t they give me what I deserved?”
Murugan says he even approached producer Dilli Babu for Manmadhan Chapter 2, who initially paid him an advance amount. But Simbu and his family were stopping him from taking the film forward. “Dilli Babu told me get ready to tell the script to Atharvaa, but I didn’t hear a single word from him after that. Simbu and his family are preventing me from doing the film, as the story is registered in their name.”
“The same thing happened when I approached Ascar Ravichandran sir in 2008 regarding Kettavan. Ravichandran sir dropped my project. I didn’t know what they are telling the producers,” he added.