Director AR Murugadoss is making a comeback to Tamil cinema after seven years with Sivakarthikeyan's Madharaasi. During the audio launch of the film, the director, in his half-an-hour-long speech, heaped praise on the actor for his dedication and growth in cinema and also commented on the viral scene from Vijay's GOAT where Sivakarthikeyan is handed a symbolic 'gun' in the film.

He started the speech by stating that he was advised by everyone around him to not "hype the film." But just as I decided to stay quiet, another call came in urging me to speak my heart out—because confidence in your film should show. And honestly, the starting point of this film was Sivakarthikeyan," he said.

Murugadoss' speech was filled with appreciation for Sivakarthikeyan and his rise to stardom. "When we finish writing a script, Sivakarthikeyan’s stardom would’ve already moved a few steps ahead. That’s how fast he’s growing," he stated.

Having witnessed Sivakarthikeyan's growth, the director called his career "an inspiration" to aspiring actors. "He first won over family audiences. Now, he’s captured the youth. And when that happens, you only go higher," he said.

The director also had a few words to say about the viral scene in Venkat Prabhu's GOAT that became a talking point for months together. Vijay passing a gun to Sivakarthikeyan to hold Rajiv Menon (Actor Mohan) hostage, was interpreted as him handing over the baton of the next big actor to the Amaran star. Now, Murugadoss has added a line commenting on the same in the trailer uttered by Vidyut Jammwal. "That scene and dialogue was added during the production of Madharaasi. when you watch the film, you’ll see how firmly he holds it," he said, much to the applause of fans from the crowd.

Praising music composer Anirudh, the director highlighted his impact on modern Tamil cinema.

"Before Anirudh, people talked about performances. After he entered, they started noticing the background score. His music doesn’t just complement a film—it energises it. Even when I’m tired, I listen to his Vikram BGM to recharge. You’ll witness the same magic in Madharaasi," he noted.

Rukmini Vasanth, in her second Tamil film after Ace, plays Malathi, Sivakarthikeyan's love interest in the film. However, she was not the first choice for the role. Explaining how she was chosen for the film, Murugadoss shared, "I had spoken to two top female actors, and we were working on dates. But after I watched Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, I paused everything and called Rukmini. I knew she was Malathi. She’s brought the character to life in a way no one else could have."

He also expressed his gratitude to Vidyut Jamwal for returning to play the antagonist after many years. Murugadoss also made sure to underline the contribution of actor Biju Menon. "I’m a fan of his voice," the director admitted. "After Ayyappanum Koshiyum, I knew he was perfect for this role. During the edit, I had almost forgotten his original tone. But when he dubbed for Madharaasi, the whole character lifted. His base voice is the soul of his role." The director concluded his speech by thanking the producers and reaffirming his confidence in the film.

The rest of the cast includes Shabeer Kallarakkal and Vikranth. The technical crew of the film includes Sudeep Elamon as the cinematographer, and Sreekar Prasad as the editor. Madharaasi is slated for release on September 5.