Jason Sanjay, son of actor-turned-politician Vijay, is gearing up for his first outing as a director with Sigma. The film’s promotional campaign kicked off in Salem on Tuesday, with lead actors Sundeep Kishan and Faria Abdullah joining the debutant filmmaker at a pre-release event.
The evening also offered a few personal glimpses from Jason, who spoke about his connection with the city and the memories he made while filming there. He described Sigma as a story about an ordinary man whose choices lead him into difficult situations, adding that the idea of facing the consequences of one’s decisions is something audiences could relate to. He also recalled watching his father’s Thirumalai when he was just three years old and revealed that his mother was the first person he called after being confirmed as a director.
But it was when Jason brought up his family that the atmosphere inside the venue changed. The crowd responded with loud cheers, which eventually turned into chants of TVK, the political party founded by Vijay. Jason paused his speech, smiled and nodded before acknowledging the crowd with a thumbs-up. The chants continued until he was able to resume speaking.
The moment comes at a time when speculation about the equation between Vijay and Jason has been doing the rounds on social media. Rumours of a family rift gained traction earlier this year following reports that Jason had unfollowed his father on Instagram. There was also speculation surrounding Jason’s name, with reports claiming that he had dropped the initial ‘V’, while Vijay’s wife Sangeeta Sornalingam’s reported divorce petition and its subsequent withdrawal added further fuel to online discussions. Neither Vijay nor Jason has publicly addressed the speculation.
At the event, Sundeep Kishan also spoke warmly about Vijay, calling the actor the “identity of our film” and one of its biggest inspirations. Jason appeared to agree with the sentiment as he smiled while his lead actor spoke.
Sigma marks Jason Sanjay’s directorial debut and is backed by Lyca Productions. The film is a heist comedy featuring Sundeep Kishan, Faria Abdullah, Sampath Raj, Shiv Panditt, Yog Japee, Sheela Rajkumar and Raju Sundaram, among others. Thaman S has composed the music. The film, which was initially announced for July 31, was postponed following the release of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan.
