Cartoonist-turned-assistant director-turned-aspiring director with a script, set in the 17th century, spoofing everything from cricket to Coca Cola, giving messages in the most subtle and funny way possible. Making a sarcastically funny film about a fictional historic figure was a never before heard of concept in Indian cinema, let alone Tamil cinema. The script demanded a funny and whacky actor in the lead; it simply had to be Vadivelu. Making a period film (which would automatically cost a lot) with a comedian in the lead for the first, was a gamble and guess who had the courage to go for it? Shankar! It was a landmark film in Tamil, which changed perceptions forever.