Debutant director Keerthiswaran, who previously worked as an assistant to filmmaker Sudha Kongara for nearly seven years, is all set to make his directorial debut with Dude. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the film stars Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles and is slated for a Diwali release.
In a press note, Keerthiswaran shared that he had veteran actor Rajinikanth in mind while writing Dude. “When I began writing the story, I imagined how Rajinikanth sir would have played this role if he were 30 years old. I wrote it keeping that image in mind. Pradeep fit the character perfectly, and he instantly liked the story,” he said.
The film revolves around two youngsters who run an event management company in Chennai. “The story is not just about love—there’s also a mass element, which audiences will understand when they watch the film. Having my debut film release for Diwali truly feels like a dream come true,” the director said.
Keerthiswaran revealed that Mamitha Baiju was roped in for the project even before her hit film Premalu was released. “We cast her after watching Super Sharanya. Once Mamitha came on board, the film started to feel like what it would have been if Rajinikanth and Sridevi had acted together,” he shared.
Talking about the film’s making, he added, “We worked meticulously on costumes, locations, and visuals. My technical team is the biggest strength of this film. Music composer Sai Abhyankar, who was eager to experiment, has done a great job.”
Featuring a young creative team, Dude also stars Sarathkumar, Rohini, and Parithabangal fame David in pivotal roles. “Many are calling Dudea Gen Z film, but it’s made as an entertainer that both today’s youth and family audiences can enjoy. Everything you expect from a Pradeep film will be there,” Keerthiswaran concluded.
