Radikaa Sarathkumar portrays an elderly, foul-mouthed woman who gives a hard time to all the inhabitants of her village in the much-awaited film Thaai Kizhavi, directed by debutant Sivakumar Murugesan. To achieve her look, the makers resorted to prosthetic makeup for her ears to hold heavy earrings, worn traditionally by women in rural areas, and to make her wrinkles look real.

Taking audiences behind the scenes of creating the character, Radikaa, in a new promo video for the film, said she sent her images to Kamal Haasan once the trial make-up was completed. "He was the first person I sent it to and he was amazed by it," the actor remarked. The makers then went on to decode every aspect of her looks, from hair to the teeth. "She is basically the real OG Thug," explained the actor, talking about her role in the film.

The teaser of the film, which was released last month, set the stage of the story and her character—an unapologetic matriarch-cum-usurer who beats goons and men in the village when they fail to repay money. She doesn't hold herself back from uttering swear words as well.

The film is produced by Sudhan Sundaram's Passion Studios and presented by Sivakarthikeyan's SK Productions.

In addition to Radikaa, Thaai Kizhavi also stars Singam Puli, Arul Doss, Munishkanth, Bala Saravanan, Ilavarasu, Muthukumar, George Maryan, and Raichal Rabecca. Radikaa was last seen in Revolver Rita, headlined by Keerthy Suresh and directed by JK Chandru, who previously helmed Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham.

On the technical front, the film features music by Nivas K Prasanna, cinematography by Vivek Vijayakumar, and editing by San Lokesh. Thaai Kizhavi releases in theatres on February 20.

Having produced films such as Kanaa, Vaazhl, Doctor, and Kottukkaali, Thaai Kizhavi marks the sophomore film for Sivakarthikeyan as a presenter, with the first being House Mates, directed by T Raja Vel.