Director Venky Atluri has revealed that Vishwanath and Sons wasn't the film he had initially pitched to Suriya. According to the filmmaker, the actor first heard a narration for a biopic, but legal hurdles surrounding its rights eventually paved the way for the family drama.
Speaking to Galatta Plus, Venky said he had approached Suriya with a completely different script. "It was actually a surprise that Suriya sir agreed to do this film. When I first met him, I narrated a biopic. He loved the idea and was very excited, but there were rights issues surrounding the project," he said.
The director added that Suriya was also keen on returning to a lighter, family-orientated film after years of action and socially driven dramas. "He told me it had been around 12 to 14 years since he had done a cute love story or a proper family entertainer. After films like the Singam series, Soorarai Pottru and Jai Bhim, he wanted to do something breezy. He also felt he had already done two biopics recently, so maybe it was a sign to move on," Venky recalled.
It was then that the filmmaker pitched the basic premise of what would become Vishwanath & Sons. "I told him I had another idea, though I wasn't sure if he'd be interested. Since we were speaking over the phone, I only narrated the concept — a story about a 40-year-old and a 20-year-old", he said.
The pitch led to producer Rajsekar Pandian inviting Venky to Chennai for a full narration. "Around the 10th or 15th scene, I noticed he started tearing up. After the narration, he immediately called Suriya sir and told him, 'It's a beautiful script. You have to do it.'"
Venky said Suriya instantly connected with the story when he heard the complete narration. "He loved it in the very first sitting. From that point, there was no stopping us. I narrated the script in April, and we began shooting by May or June. Everything happened very simply, but looking back, it still feels surprising. I really thank God for the way it all came together."
Vishwanath and Sons stars Suriya, Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, and Radikaa Sarathkumar, among others. The film revolves around Sanjay Vishwanath, a 40-year-old international pistol shooter whose life takes an unexpected turn when a woman in her 20s falls in love with him. Directed by Venky Atluri, the family drama features music by GV Prakash Kumar and is backed by Sithara Entertainments in association with Fortune Four Cinemas.
The film is gearing up to open in theatres on August 14.
