Devarattam is a caste-based film: KE Gnanavel Raja

Director Muthiah's fifth directorial, Devarattam, has ruffled feathers ever since its inception, and more so after its trailer dropped. Be it certain dialogues in the latter, or even the film's title itself, the project has faced backlash for its casteist undertones. 

Which is probably why every member of the crew on stage for the press meet of Devarattam, which took place in Chennai today, stressed that the Gautham Karthik-starrer was not a caste-based film. Right from the director to the supporting cast, including writer-actor Vela Ramamoorthy, everyone vehemently denied that Devarattam glorified a particular caste, and said that the title actually denotes an art form. 

However, producer KE Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green, who took the stage last, said, "Devarattam oru jaadhi padam dhaan. It is Muthiah's depiction of the way of life he is acquainted with. Just like our earlier film, Attakathi, directed by Pa Ranjith, was based on the life and people he knew."

Meanwhile, Muthiah stuck to the narrative that Devarattam was anything but casteist. "I haven't grown up seeing caste, and my film does not showcase it either. This film, like every other project of mine, is based on the sanctity of relationships. Devarattam is actually about how we treat women in our lives. A particular incident triggers the protagonist, Vetri, and the film follows what happens when he takes up a social cause with the support of his loving family," said the director.

Devarattam, which marks Manjima Mohan's return to Tamil cinema after a year, has music by Nivas Prasanna and cinematography by Sakthi Saravanan. The film is slated for release on May 1.