Arun Vijay, who plays the antagonist in Dhanush's upcoming directorial Idli Kadai, which is slated for release on October 1, revealed that he instantly said yes to portraying a villain as he trusted the Kuberaa actor's directorial skills.
Speaking at the film's pre-release event in Madurai, the Retta Thala actor said, "Parthiban appreciated me, saying that I had the guts to take on a villain role when I am already playing heroes in movies. I didn't mind it. After working on Yennai Arindhaal, I had the urge to play a key villain for a long time but the right opportunity for it didn't turn up and I couldn't find a good story. But when Dhanush asked me, I instantly said yes. I trusted him as a director and entered the project. The way the character has been handled is that it has been kept strong throughout."
Praising Dhanush's acting and directorial skills, Arun Vijay said, "Everyone knows him as a great actor whose presence enthralls audiences, but I noticed many things in him as a director. The clarity he holds is impeccable. But above all, he is a great human being. He keeps everyone around him happy."
He also recalled instances where Dhanush would randomly stop at a roadside stall and eat food. "We also used to take bikes to the shooting spot. All these memories are unforgettable. He is true to himself. Not a lot of people are like that. That's why he has a loyal fan base," he added, underlining that Idli Kadai will be an important film in his career.
Dhanush stars as Murugan in Idli Kadai. The star cast includes Nithya Menen as Kayalvizhi, Sathyaraj as Vishnu Varadhan, Arun Vijay as Ashwin, Samuthirakani as Marisamy, Rajkiran as Sivanesan, Shalini Pandey as Meera and Parthiban as R Arivu.
The recently-released trailer Dhanush as a man who quit his job at a Michelin restaurant to help save his father's (Rajkiran) idli store. At one point in the trailer, Sathyaraj's character tells his son, played by Arun Vijay, to learn from Murugan instead of leading a wastrel life as a prodigal son. The plot also includes a conflict between Arun Vijay's character and Dhanush's Murugan, which emerges after the latter's departure from his restaurant.
At the audio launch of Idli Kadai, which was held a week ago, Dhanush revealed that the film is a nostalgic ode to his childhood where he sold flowers to eat idlis. He also stated that it takes inspiration from true characters and incidents that left a deep impact on him. He had previously directed Pa Paandi, Raayan and Nilavukku En Mel Ennadi Kobam.
The technical crew comprises Dhanush's frequent collaborator, composer GV Prakash, cinematographer Kiran Koushik, editor GK Prasanna, and art director Jackson.
The film is produced by Akash Bhaskaran through his Dawn Pictures banner and Dhanush through his Wunderbar Pictures banner. Inban Udhayanidhi, son of Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, will get his first film credit as a distributor.
