Thambi Kalakkittaan”; Arya praises Mr. X Gautham Karthik*
*“The story of Mr. X is based on a true incident that took place in the Himalayas in 1965”; Producer S. Lakshman Kumar*
*“If it’s the Hulk of Tamil cinema, then it’s Arya”; Gautham Karthik is in awe*
*“When you say ‘Kali Venkat’, they write it as ‘Lungi-Vetti’”; Kaali Venkat is a stunner at the Mr. X festival*
*“Music composer Thibu Ninan is a musical genius”; Director Manu Anand praises him*
Following the huge success of ‘Lappar Bandhu’, Prince Pictures is producing S. Lakshman Kumar and co-producing A. Venkatesh’s upcoming film ‘Mr. X’.
Manu Anand, who directed the hit film FIR, has directed this film. Arya plays the lead role, while Gautham Karthik, Sarathkumar, Manju Warrier, Anaka, Athulya Ravi, Raiza Wilson, Kali Venkat and others play the lead roles.
Thibu Ninan has composed the music for the film. Arul Vincent has handled the cinematography, and Prasanna has handled the editing.
The teaser and first single launch of the film was held yesterday evening at Nexus Vijaya Mall, Chennai.
*Speaking at the event, actor Arya said,*
“It was producer S. Lakshman Kumar who recommended me for this film.
When I asked the producer about the big budget after hearing the story,
he confidently said that he would make this film without any compromise to give the fans an amazing cinema experience. In the current era, we are in a situation where we have to rely on theaters alone to make films, beyond OTT.
A big example of that is Lubber Bandu. That is why he had a lot of faith in this story.
Director Manu Anand is a perfectionist in everything. He shot any scene with beautiful advance planning. That is why he finished the film, which was supposed to be shot for more days than planned, within the right time.
For this film, a scene was shot underwater in Mumbai, and the cinematographer also dived into the water with me and shot these scenes. It is very rare to see a cinematographer like this. Since it is an action film, music is very important.
Music composer Thibu Ninan has contributed to this film to that extent. Silva Master worked on this film for almost 80 days. The entire film is an action film. There are a lot of action scenes. He worked almost like the co-director of the film.
Gautham Karthik has played a very cool and sexy character. He has given a stylish performance for this character. Even when Manu and I talk, we say about his performance that “Thambi Kalakkaittan”. It seems that no one else in Tamil can do this character except him, his character has become like a shirt tailored for Sarathkumar.
He had acted in an action scene in a single shot. I was amazed that he could do all this at his age.
Manu Anand lamented that if Manju Warrier had not been given the role of the heroine in this film, her character was so strong in this film that she did not know what she was going to do. He has been following her for almost six months and has brought her to act in this film.
Heroine Anaka would ask many doubts for every scene. I was surprised that so many doubts could be asked even in a film. But they would be healthy.
Atulya Ravi and Raiza Wilson also rehearsed for six hours a day for the action scenes. The reason is that they took so much care so that it didn’t look fake when the women were fighting. I have only acted in this film for about a year and a half. I am sure that this film will be successful,” he said.
*Producer S. Lakshman Kumar said,*
“This film was planned and created over a long period of time. Manu Anand told us this story after finishing FIR. When he told us, we didn’t believe anything. But when he told us about the four incidents, we could believe them. In 1965, India’s intelligence agency took seven plutonium capsules to Nanda Devi mountain in the Himalayas to deal with China. But they unexpectedly got lost there. They have not been found till now. It was an unimaginable danger. This was revealed through a newspaper article published in the United States in 1977. That was the starting point for this film.
We have created the background and consequences of the disappearance of such a nuclear capsule, very close to reality, with a little imagination.
Police officers and soldiers get due recognition for their actions. But intelligence officers who work for the country without revealing who they are, do not get it.
The fathers of the two actors who worked in the film Sardaar were also people who worked in intelligence. It was only when we talked about the story at that time that the truth about them came to light. There are many things they stopped for the security of this country.. This film has been made as a tribute to the patriotism of those soldiers who went unnoticed.
Despite taking such a story, director Manu Anand has created this story by staying close to reality without stretching the imagination too much.
All the main actors featured in this film have acted in action scenes. Be it the sets built for this film or the real locations, everything is magnificent. We believe that this film will definitely give the audience a cinematic experience,” he said.
*Actor Gautham Karthik said,*
“This film is a hundred times more than I expected. You can imagine the fight scenes in any way you want. But Silva Master took great care in protecting the actors. Not only that, he has designed the action scenes in a very unique way.
I was surprised to see the intense rehearsals that Raiza, Anaka and Athulya Ravi did especially for the final fight scene in the climax. When I was acting in the first scene with Manju Warrier, I was in awe of him and stood there.
Having already acted in a film, Sarathkumar sir and I started acting together again in the film Mr. X. He always seems like a father figure to me.
But when it comes to acting in scenes, he is much more formidable than me. If there is one actor who has been my biggest crush since I entered this film industry, it is Arya. He has been a stylish and dedicated actor till now. It was a great pleasure to get an opportunity to act with him.
But when I saw him on the set, he looked like a Hulk. He has maintained his body to that extent.
Even when the flood hit Thoothukudi, Arya came out of his place and asked the people there where the gym was. He is definitely a role model for me.
Director Manu Anand and I had been talking about working together for many years. It was at that time that he invited me to play this role. He correctly predicted and brought out the acting talent in me. I believe I have done it right too,” she said.
*Actress Manju Warrier speaking,*
“Mr. X is an interesting film for me. Everything related to that film is new to me.
Director Manu would explain the story of the film every time he shot each scene.
Although there were many tough challenges during the shooting of this film, the crew was very supportive to complete the film in the face of all of them.
The excitement we had while working on this film is the same that the fans who watch the film will get in the theaters,” he said.
“Whenever I write the name Kaali Venkat in a film, they write that my outfit is a lung
i or a dhoti. I did not get a single chance from Manu Anand’s guru Gautham Menon. But when I got a chance from him, I was surprised. After that, when he told me about my character, I still had doubts. How did they choose me for this? But he has shown me in a different way in this film. The director showed some scenes of Gautham Karthik. It was very amazing. Once, when Arya and I were shooting, I had to leave for a flight in a hurry. “I didn’t even have time to eat. But Arya understood that and sent me a variety of non-vegetarian dishes just for me to eat on the car journey. I will never forget that,” he said.
Actress Anaka spoke,*
“Thank you to the producers who believed in me and invited me to act and to director Manu Anand for giving me this role. You have always been a great inspiration for me to become a better actress.. Many things Arya taught me during the shoot were very helpful in improving my acting.
Even though I only acted in one scene, I am happy to act with Gautham Karthik. Being a fan of Manju Warrier, it was a dream come true to act with her,” she said.
*Actress Athulya Ravi spoke,*
“Mr. X is an important film in my film career. I thank director Manu Anand for believing in me and giving me this role. Arya would immediately appreciate my scenes during the shoot.
Similarly, when it comes to food, whether it is diet food or delicious food, Arya sir will definitely provide it. Gautham Karthik’s sense of dedication, his discipline, and his unique body language all amazed me. I would rather watch Manju Warrier’s scenes than go to the caravan and sit near the monitor and enjoy her performance. That’s how big a fan I am of hers. Music composer Thibu Ninan has already given me a big hit. This is the second film I am working with him on. This Film will be a big hit for him,” he said.
*When cinematographer Arul Vincent spo ke,*
“Although the producers S. Lakshman Kumar and A. Venkatesh are two poles apart, they are a beautiful comÍk llm l0bination. Manju Warrier can be said to be the pride of Indian cinema. Even when shooting scenes in the Rajasthan sun, Sarathkumar would not go to the caravan side even after his shot was over. If asked, he would coolly tell us that we were using a caravan all the time while acting in the film Sooryan.
The Panchabhoots are also present in this film. We kept getting rained on during the shoot. Especially, the rain kept coming wherever we went,” he said.
*Music composer Thibu Ninan spoke,*
“This is the first time I have got a film in this genre. Director Manu Anand has a bit more knowledge about music, so it was easy to work with him,” he said.
*Stunt master Silva spoke,*
“If you know me, director Manu Anand has been a good friend to me since I worked on the film. Manu Anand always knows what each team needs and prepares his team well. We shot this film not only in the north, south, and west of India, but also abroad. I was amazed when Sarathkumar sir finished acting in a single shot. He has prepared himself to such an extent that he is fit.
Even when it was raining and flooding in Thoothukudi, Arya was exercising in his room with two chairs. Everyone who watches this film will love Gautham Karthik. All the actresses including Manju Warrier have acted in action scenes. They also engaged in rigorous rehearsals for that,” he said.
*Actor Sarathkumar speaking,*
“ I was shocked when the producer talked about the story here. Did the director tell the producer all this? If there is an inquiry about this tomorrow, what will you answer if you ask him if you acted knowingly? He has already given the news to the newspapers to the point of making a fuss tomorrow. I should thank the producer for agreeing to produce such a grand film after hearing the story of the film. The reason is that people working in the intelligence sector are the unknown protagonists. Their sacrifice is immeasurable. It is not just an action film, but there are many emotions intertwined in it.
Arya gave food to everyone.. He didn’t give it to me alone, he even gave me sweets. Maybe he was a sweet boy. When I see many of his reactions when Gautham Karthik is also acting together, I remember his father Karthik. Although Manu Anand looks soft, he is not like that in reality.. I regret that he was not given a single romantic scene in the film.. I definitely expect that they will give it in the second part,” he said.
Speaking to Director Manu Anand,*
“For a director to get a second film, the first film should have been successful. I would like to thank Vishnu Vishal for producing such a film. Acting in it. Giving me the opportunity as a director and bravely releasing that film in theaters during the Covid period.
If it weren’t for FIR, I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity for Mr. X. In fact, I got a call from Prince Pictures while the promotions of FIR were going on. When we talked about some stories, it didn’t work out. Only after that did we decide on another story.
They asked if there was a story for Arya. But I was skeptical that Arya would agree. When I inquired about Arya in my circle of friends who knew me in the film industry, they said that telling him a story was a waste.. because he would listen to the story.. but after two days, he would say no. It was with that thought that I went to tell him the story. But in the 20th minute of listening to the story, he assured us that we would make this film.
The cooperation given by the production team was everything we asked for for this film. It helped us make the film so grandly. If I had a fight the most in this film, it was with Silva Master. We would discuss the action scenes a lot and finally find something new. Even if music director Thibu Ninan says that we have enough, he will give us something that satisfies us beyond that. He can be called a musical genius. This film is a much more difficult film than FIR. But Prasanna has edited it beautifully to convey it easily to the fans. The VFX scenes will also be huge in this film. If I am standing here today as a director, it is because of my wife’s continuous support for 14 years,” he said.