Malayalam filmmaker Vijay K Mohan will make his Kollywood directorial debut with Imai starring Sarish, Akshya Priya, and Arun Thirumozhi Varman in the lead roles. Speaking to CE, Vijay says the film is inspired by a real-life incident. "It's a crude love story. I got the idea when I bumped into a stranger on a train. We had a casual conversation at first, and slowly, he told me his story, which I realised would make a nice film." The director says that his co-passenger was initially apprehensive, but was later convinced. "We've added a few extra elements to the story to make it a dramatic experience for the audience," he says.

Having been shot in and around Chennai, Puducherry, Pollachi, and Kerala, the film will be released next month. Mikku Kaavil and Aathif are being launched as music composers with this film. Arun Thirumozhi Varman is the brother of the yesteryear actress Disco Shanthi.