WHAT MADE DIRECTOR MAHENDRAN AGREE TO VIJAY 59?

Vijay’s 59^th film under the direction of Atlee had its launch yesterday, the 26^th of June. The film has Samantha and Amy Jackson as the lady leads with G V Prakash as the music director. The film is produced by Kalaipuli Thanu.

An interesting highlight of the film is that it would feature the legendary director Mahendran in an important role. It has been reported in certain sections of the media that this is the legend’s first on-screen appearance.

But clarifying the same his son and director John Mahendran tells behindwoods, “Many years back dad had appeared for a very short duration in a film as a director, with Bhagyaraj sir and Radhika Ma’am. Later in the recent years, he came as himself in Vikraman sir's Ninaithadhu Yaaro. So technically, he has had his on screen appearance earlier. But this is the first time he would be portraying a character in Vijay 59”.

Explaining what made the much respected director agree to Vijay 59, John states, “My dad liked Atlee’s hard work a lot. Apparently when Atlee was working with director Shankar in Sivaji and Endhiran, he had interacted with Rajini sir who had reportedly talked much about his Mullum Malarum days with my dad. Rajini sir had told Atlee that all his body language and mannerisms have been greatly influenced by Mahendran. This had made Atlee create a character just like my dad for his next script. Moreover, Atlee’s humane nature when his co-director met with an accident had also impressed dad a lot”.

Besides Atlee, producer Thanu had also expressed his desire that it would be a great honor for him and his banner if Mahendran agreed to be a part of his production venture.

About the role of his dad in Vijay 59, John explains that it is not a guest appearance or a dad’s role to Vijay or anything like that. “The role that dad would be doing in Vijay 59 will have a full run in the film equal to Vijay”.

It sure would be an interesting preposition to watch the revered director of Tamil cinema who had taught the stalwarts of industry all about acting, in an all new avatar sharing his valuable experience with the young brood. Stay tuned for more updates!