After the success of Rickshaw Mama, P. Vasu decided to make another project with Sathyaraj under his production banner 'Kamalam films' named after Vasu's mother.
Vasu narrated three scripts and asked Sathyaraj to select one of them.While the first was a cop drama, the other two were an action thriller and a rural movie.Sathyaraj selected the script with the police backdrop as he was impressed with Vasu's tight screenplay.At the launch of the film, Rajinikanth clapped the shot, Vijayakanth directed the first shot and Prabhu switched on the camera.Sukanya played the female lead. Walter Vetrivel was her 10th film after her debut in Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991).Ranjitha played the second lead. It was her fourth film after her debut an year ago in Nadodi ThendralThe film score and the soundtrack were composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The background score was apparently completed in 2 days.The soundtrack, released in 1993, features 5 tracks with lyrics written by Vaali.The 'Chinna Raasaavae' song, choreographed and performed by Prabhudheva, alongside Sukanya, became one of the film's major attractions.The song was sung with a lot of spunk by Mano and Janaki Amma.The 'Mannava Mannava Nee Mannadhi Mannanallava' song, picturised on Sukanya, became yet another selling point for the film. The song was sung by Sunanda.W. Vetrivel released for Pongal 1993, alongside Bharathiraja's Captain Magal, K Balachander's Jaathi Malli, Balu Mahendra's Marupadiyum, Santhana Bharathi's Chinna Mappillai and G Amaren's Koyil KaalaUpon release, Walter Vetrivel received positive acclaim from the critics as well as the audience.The film had a slow opening initially, but then went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters in Sathyaraj's career.It completed a 250-day run in many theaters in Tamil Nadu.Walter Vetrivel has since then developed the status of a cult cop-classic among the Tamil audience.Goundamani's comedy track for the film became viral several years after release, thanks to the advent of cable TV.Walter Vetrivel was remade in Telugu as SP Parasuram, with Chiranjeevi and Sridevi, in 1994.SP Parasuram also had a Malayalam-language dubbed version titled as Super Hero S. P. Parasuram. The blockbuster is one of the last works of Sridevi in Telugu cinema.Walter Vetrivel was remade in Hindi as Khuddar, with Govinda, in 1994. Karishma Kapoor played Sukanya's role in the Bollywood film, which also turned out to be profitable.Walter Vetrivel was also remade in Kannada as Dalavayi, with actor BC Patil.A cop drama titled Walter, starring Sathyaraj's son Sibi, is currently under production. The upcoming film's connection to the 1993 film is still unknown.