Vijay's Theri has been re-released in theatres 10 years after its release, on Friday. Helmed by Atlee, the film also stars Samantha and Amy Jackson in lead roles. Recently, the film's producer, Kalaipuli S Thanu, shared that another senior filmmaker was considered for the role of the antagonist, which was eventually essayed by the late filmmaker, Mahendran.
Speaking to Galatta, he said, “Initially, Atlee had another senior filmmaker in mind for the antagonist’s role. Bharathiraja sir was his first choice, but he chose not to take it up. Atlee was clear about two names: Bharathiraja sir and Mahendran sir. Interestingly, Mahendran sir did not know that Bharathiraja sir had also been approached for the same character. From the very beginning, however, Atlee felt that Mahendran sir would be the perfect fit for the role."
Further, Thanu said that he personally met with Mahendran for the role. "Later, Atlee called me and requested that I meet Mahendran sir at his residence. I already shared a rapport with the family, as his son, John Mahendran, had directed Sachein, which I had produced. During our meeting, I told Mahendran sir that Atlee had written a powerful character for him. Though it was a villain’s role, I assured him that it was a strong, layered part, one that audiences would talk about long after the film’s release," he narrated.
Theri marks the third collaboration between Vijay and Thanu after Sachein (2005) and Thuppakki (2012). The film was the first of the three films that came out of the Vijay-Atlee duo. Theri was followed up by Mersal (2017) and Bigil (2019).
Theri, the sophomore film of filmmaker Atlee, follows a recluse, Joseph Kuruvilla (Vijay), who is extra cautious to stay under the radar, runs a bakery in Kerala's Alappuzha, and is a single father of Nivi (Nainika). But as fate has it, he has a not-so-pleasant encounter with a local goon, which brings everything to the surface he kept avoiding: attention, danger, and his past.
The film also stars Radikaa Sarathkumar, baby Nainika, and Rajendran. The film's huge success resulted in the Hindi remake, Baby John (2024), directed by Kalees and starring Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Jackie Shroff and Wamiqa Gabbi.