Venkat Prabhu recently shared a delightful behind-the-scenes story about how Attakathi, the debut film of director Pa Ranjith, finally made it to theatres, crediting Vetrimaaran’s infectious laughter as the unexpected catalyst. Speaking during a Galatta Plus roundtable, Venkat Prabhu reminisced about the crucial role Vetrimaaran played in facilitating the release of Attakathi, which faced delays due to production hurdles.
Actor Dinesh, who rose to fame with Attakathi and later cemented his place in Tamil cinema with Cuckoo and Visaaranai, has experienced a career resurgence with the success of Lubber Pandhu. Reflecting on his journey, Dinesh acknowledged the transformative impact of Attakathi and expressed gratitude for the filmmakers who believed in the project.
Venkat Prabhu recounted how Attakathi producer CV Kumar and Pa Ranjith approached him for help during the film’s stalled release. “I thought Gnanavel Raja might be the right person to step in. We decided to watch the film together, and Vetrimaaran joined us,” Venkat recalled. But it wasn’t just the film that left an impression. “Vetri laughed so hard during the screening that we ended up watching him instead of the film. His laughter was contagious, and it convinced Gnanavel to take on the project.”
Dinesh humorously added that Pa Ranjith later joked, “Vetri sirichitte padatha vithutaaru (Vetri’s laughter sold the film).”
The incident reflects the camaraderie and mutual support within the Tamil film industry, highlighting how moments of genuine appreciation can shape careers and bring projects to life. Notably, 2024 has been a significant year for all involved—Pa Ranjith with Thangalaan, Vetrimaaran with Viduthalai 2, Venkat Prabhu with GOAT, and Dinesh with Lubber Pandhu, reinforcing their collective influence on the industry.
