The trailer of actor Shiva’s upcoming film Sumo is out. Written by the actor himself, and directed by SP Hosimin, the film is being bankrolled by Ishari K Ganesh for Vels Film International. The film also stars Japanese sumo wrestler Yoshinori Tashiro and Priya Anand alongside Shiva. Shiva and Priya Anand will be seen together once again after their 2013 romance-drama Vanakkam Chennai.
SP Hosimin, who has worked as director Shankar’s assistant and also directed the Bharath-starrer February 14 (2005) and Shanthanu’s Aayiram Vilakku (2011), is making a comeback with this film.
The trailer begins with Shiva walking towards the seashore on noticing something massive washed ashore. He finds an unconscious Sumo wrestler and calls for help from the locals to provide first aid. On rescuing him, the wrestler wakes up to Shiva’s face and gets a hold of his finger, not leaving him thereon. We find him gorging on bananas, lollipops, Chinese food, murukku, and of course sushi but with an unsettled mind and score to settle in Japan.
Music director-Singer AR Rahman took to Twitter to release the trailer.
Glad to release @DirectorHosimin @VelsFilmIntl‘s Super Fun #SUMOTrailer @actorshiva
➡https://t.co/L24sNSJFBJ @tasyDex @PriyaAnand @DirRajivMenon @nivaskprasanna @Ashkum19 @isharikganesh @RIAZtheboss @Cinemainmygenes @SonyMusicSouth— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) December 10, 2019
Shiva plays a Chennai-based surfing trainer, and Priya Anand plays his love interest. Apart from the lead, Yogi Babu, Srinath, VTV Ganesh, and eighteen other sumo wrestlers, referees, and instructors also star in important roles.
Shiva had earlier told Silverscreen that he began working on the script right after the release of Tamizh Padam 2 last year. “I’ve always wanted to write and direct films, and this story on a sumo wrestler was on my mind for long. I traveled to Japan to scout locations and cast for the film and that’s where I met Yoshinori Tashiro,” said the actor.
Recommended
Shiva added, “He’s a wrestling champion and also a very good actor. Sumo wrestlers are happy people and in the film, he is true to his character. This is a story about love across borders and I think we need more films on this theme.”
Rajiv Menon has cranked the camera, Nivas K Prasanna has composed music, Praveen KL on the edit and Karthik has helmed art. Kalyan master has choreographed dance while Pradeep has choreographed action sequences. It is said that director Rajiv Menon agreed to be the cinematographer owing to his love for travel, and also because this was an opportunity to film sumo wrestlers.
The film, set in both Japan and Tamil Nadu, will hit screens on Pongal 2020.
Watch the Sumo trailer here.