Director Ashwath Marimuthu, who is set to helm the much-anticipated film Dharman (Thalaivar 173) starring Rajinikanth and backed by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, described the project as a "historic moment" for Tamil cinema during the film's launch event.

"What is happening here is history," Ashwath said. "Every filmmaker dreams of making a film with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. To direct a film starring Rajinikanth and produced by Kamal Haasan is something extraordinary. We are blessed to witness and be a part of this."

The director expressed gratitude to Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Mahendran, Disney, and the production team for making the project possible. He also thanked Silambarasan and AGS Productions for their support, saying they helped pave the way for him to realise his dream.

Speaking about the film's music, Ashwath revealed that this will be his first collaboration with composer Anirudh Ravichander. "We have eight songs in the film, and each one belongs to a different genre. I'm eagerly waiting to work with him. This is going to be an agmark Anirudh album," he said.

The filmmaker also confirmed that shooting will commence on Thursday, with the first schedule featuring Rajinikanth's introductory song. He further thanked actors Simran and Raashii Khanna, who are part of the cast, while promising to reveal more details about the characters at a later stage. "Every character in the film has a unique identity," he said.

Ashwath also shared his experiences of working with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. Recalling his first meeting with Kamal, he said, "I always had a fear about meeting Kamal sir. I kept wondering what questions he would ask me about my films. But when I met him, he simply told me, 'I am a Rajini fan. Do a Rajini film.' That immediately put me at ease."

The director revealed that Rajinikanth had been equally encouraging throughout the process. "After I met him, he sent me a voice note saying that we have to do this for RKFI and Kamal Haasan. He told me we need to win and asked me not to take it for granted," Ashwath said.

Praising the veteran stars, he added, "Despite having over 50 years of experience, both Rajini sir and Kamal sir have the enthusiasm of newcomers. That's what keeps them young and energetic. Even if I called Rajini sir at 11 pm, he would patiently listen to my ideas. He gave me complete freedom and comfort. He said he would suggest ideas like an associate director, but the final decision would always be mine."

Addressing speculation about the film's story, Ashwath clarified that the project is not based on the popular 'Rs 5 Doctor'. "This is the deadly and thrilling story of Doctor Swag Dharman, with strong family emotions woven into it," he said.

The filmmaker also revealed some of his creative inspirations for the project. "Padayappa (1999) is my favourite film in Rajinikanth's filmography, while Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006) is one of my favourites from Kamal sir's career. In a way, this film will be a mix of both those worlds."

Concluding his speech, Ashwath promised that "Doctor Swag" would set screens on fire and confirmed that filming is set to begin from Thursday.