GV Prakash, who was last seen in Kingston, is all set to be seen in Mu Maran’s crime thriller, Blackmail. The film, also starring Teju Ashwini, is set to hit theatres this Friday. At the film’s audio launch, Blackmail’s producer Amalraj Jeyakodi expressed his gratitude towards GV Prakash for forgoing 50 percent of his salary in order to complete the film’s production. In an exclusive conversation with CE, director Mu Maran further opened up about the gesture.
The director shares that nearly a week’s worth of shooting was left incomplete due to financial troubles. “The producer tried his best to give us the funds required for the last 8 days of the shoot. But despite his efforts, we needed a lot more financial assistance to complete the film,” Maran reveals. He adds that it was the producer’s idea to approach GV Prakash, which Maran was completely against. “The producer asked me if we could request GV Prakash sir to give up a bit of his salary, to which I did not agree. But with no way out, the producer approached GV sir, and the next minute, he agreed to let go of 50 percent of his salary. The shooting went smoothly only because of his gesture,” the filmmaker says.
Maran, who made his directorial debut with Iravukku Aayiram Kangal and followed it up with Kannai Nambathey—both crime thrillers—has made yet another in the genre with Blackmail. Shedding light on the film’s theme and his decision to take up the commonly known subject of blackmail, the director explains, “Blackmail is something that existed in the past and will not cease to exist anytime soon. The subject is universal, but the nuances are specific.” Further, the filmmaker discloses the nuances that he has brought to this film. “There are certain emotions and fears attached to the act of blackmailing, and that’s what I wanted to portray with this film. Most of us have never faced threats, but we have seen them in the news. This film will show what goes on in the life and mind of the victims of blackmail.”
Blackmail also stars Srikanth, Bindhu Madhavi, Linga, Thilak Ramesh, and Muthukumar. Gokul Benoy handles the cinematography for the film, with music by Sam CS and editing by San Lokesh. The film’s stunt sequences are choreographed by Rajasekhar, and costume design is by Thilakapriya Shanmugham and Vinod Sundar.
Blackmail is all set to hit theatres on August 1, alongside a slew of other films, including Housemates, Surrender, Accused, Usurae, Chennai Files: Muthal Pakkam, and Mr Zoo Keeper.
