At the trailer launch of the upcoming period drama, Neelira, director Rathna Kumar was all praise for the film. The director also referenced Oscar winning film, Sinners (2025), when describing Neelira.
At the trailer launch of the event, Rathna Kumar said, "I am proud to say that my film, Meiyaadha Maan (2018), was the first fiilm produced under the Stone Bench banner. I am happy that Sananth, who was the lead on my first film, and Vidhu, who I am working with now, on 29, are working on this film."
The director added, "This is a one and a half hour film. Even that can be called the highlight. A film called Sinners (2025) won a couple of Oscars. There were so many layers, politics, and ideologies in that film. Like that film, Neelira too has many places where silences are used to speak."
"When I was directing a film, Somatheeran was on board to help with a Sri Lankan character's dialect. He was specific with his directions and would scrutinise for the correct pronunciation of every body. There I realised the kind of director he would be and the kind of impact his films would have," said Rathna Kumar praising Neelira's director.
Describing the impact of Neelira's story, Rathna Kumar said, "This film will change the way we view the Sri Lankan issue. We think that war is far away from us." He added, "I hope that through this film, people will now understand a lot about the hardships and sufferings faced by our brothers in our neighbouring country. We all suffered for a while when we were in lockdown. But the Tamils of Eelam have been suffering there for decades."
The cast of Neelira includes Naveen Chandra, Roopa Koduvayur, Kapila Venu, Rohit D Kokate, Kayal Vincent, Swathy Krishnan, and others.
Rana Daggubati is also backing the film under his Stone Bench banner.
