The first night in Modha Rathri may have been chaotic for its characters, but the journey behind the film appears to have been just as emotionally charged for its debutant filmmaker. What began as a rural comedy about an arranged marriage eventually found an audience for the emotions beneath its humour, particularly the vulnerabilities of its central characters.

Directed by Raja Karuppasamy and headlined by Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar, the film released in theatres on August 21 before moving to Netflix on September 18. The film has continued to draw attention on OTT, following appreciation from names including Dhanush, Silambarasan and Kamal Haasan.

For Karuppasamy, however, one of the most difficult memories from making the film is tied to Anishma's performance in its climax. In a new Instagram note, the director revealed that he and the actor were both in tears after filming the sequence, leaving them unsure of who should console whom. He also described Anishma as one of the most dedicated artists he has worked with.

“Should I say Thank You or should I say Sorry?” Karuppasamy began his note, saying that words were not enough to express his gratitude for the support Anishma had given him and the film. He singled out her dance, final scream and the emotional release after the climax, saying these may appear as mere scenes to audiences but meant considerably more to those who made them.

The director also recalled the aftermath of filming the climax. “I still remember after the climax, both of us were crying… We didn’t even know whether you had to console me or I had to console you,” he wrote, while praising the actor's ability to completely commit herself to the character.

Karuppasamy's latest post goes beyond praising Anishma as his heroine. He credited her for extending the same warmth to him and his team off camera, saying she continued to stand by him even when some people close to him could not. He ended by thanking her for “giving your soul and life” to Muthuselvi, the character she plays in the film.

Modha Rathri tells the story of strangers who get into an arranged marriage that neither of them wanted. However, a confession makes them go away from his place on the wedding night, which contributes to chaos among themselves and their families.