Director Vetri Maaran, currently working on multiple projects including STR 49 and Vada Chennai 2, shared his thoughts on role models. He urged students to develop self-awareness and the ability to distinguish between good and bad by reading and staying informed about issues in society.

Addressing college students at a recent event, director Vetri Maaran said, “They say man is a socio-political animal. Politics is not limited to voting. We need to understand who we are, where we are, the kind of situation we are in, and what we should do. This awareness is very important. As students, you must cultivate that skill.”

He further urged students to be mindful of their goals and the role models they choose to follow. “You must know where you are heading in life, what you are pursuing, whom you are following, and why. It’s equally important to understand whether that person is the right one. At the very least, you should know what is right and wrong, what should be done and what shouldn’t. For this, you need to stay aware of what’s happening around you, read, and learn about society and the forces shaping it,” he said.

Underscoring the importance of values, Vetri Maaran stressed that principles like secularism, inclusivity, and equity must never be compromised. “If someone makes you compromise on these values, they are misleading you, he added.

On the work front, production for Silambarasan's highly-anticipated STR 49 is currently going on in full swing. Recently, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu announced that the film's promo will be unveiled on October 4. Vetri Maaran earlier revealed that the upcoming film will run parallel to the story of Anbu (Dhanush), from Vada Chennai (2018). While both STR 49 and Vada Chennai will have common characters, but Dhanush's Anbu will not feature in the new film.

Meanwhile, Vada Chennai 2, headlined by Dhanush, will start filming from next year and will release sometime in 2027.