Vada Chennai

Vada Chennai (English: North Chennai) is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language gangster thriller film written and directed by Vetrimaran. Produced as a trilogy by A. Subaskaran`s Lyca Productions and Dhanush's Wunderbar Films with Vetrimaran's Grass Root Film Company, it features Dhanush in the lead role with Vijay Sethupathi, Amala Paul and Andrea Jeremiah in other key roles.^[1] The film had been in the news since late 2009 with an official announcement only made in November 2011 that the filming would commence by March 2012.^[2] After being temporarily shelved, the film re-materialised in May 2015 with a new cast and production started in June 2016.

Cast

• Dhanush
• Vijay Sethupathi as Aravinda
• Amala Paul
• Andrea Jeremiah
• Samuthirakani
• Daniel Balaji
• Kishore
• Karunas
• Pawan
• Subramaniam Siva
• Cheenu Mohan
• Daniel Annie Pope

Production

Development

During the production of Aadukalam (2011), Vetrimaaran simultaneously readied up another script titled Vada Chennai and it was announced that Karthi signed the film in October 2009.^[3] In February 2010, it was revealed that the film would see Karthi play the lead role of a fisherman who is drawn into a mafia gang unwillingly.^[4] It was reported that the film would be produced by Dayanidhi Azhagiri and the female lead role would be portrayed by Anushka Shetty, who would play a Marwari girl.^[5] However talks with Karthi fell though after the film became delayed and in July 2010, Vetrimaaran revealed that discussions were being held with three lead actors to play the lead role.^[6] The film made news without an official announcement over the next year and following the success of Aadukalam, Vetrimaaran began considering other scripts instead.^[7]

In October 2011, the producers announced that the film would start soon and would feature Silambarasan, Rana Daggubati and Kishore in pivotal roles, with Vetrimaaran adding that the story of Vada Chennai was first written in 2003 and that he took notes from the first script to make his other two films.^[8][9][10] Vetrimaaran's usual team of cinematographer Velraj, editor T. Kishore, art director Jackie and music director G. V. Prakash Kumar were also confirmed to be a part of the crew.^{[11] [12]} The director confirmed that Andrea Jeremiah would play a pivotal supporting role.^[13] Divya Spandana, who previously worked with Vetrimaaran in Polladhavan, was approached for a role but did not sign on during January 2012.^[14] In a turn of events, Rana Daggubati opted out of the film in February 2012 citing date issues and the film's delay.^[15] Furthermore it was alleged that the delay of the film had also irked Silambarasan, with reports suggesting that Jiiva would replace him if the actor walked out of the project.^[16] In April 2012, Dayanidhi Azhagiri announced that the project was postponed and announced that Vetrimaaran would move on to make another film for his production house starring Dhanush in the lead.^[17] Vetrimaaran subsequently contemplated making several different projects with the actor in the lead, before beginning filming for Soodhadhi in March 2014. Months into production, the film was also postponed.^[18]

In May 2015, Dhanush revealed that he would produce and feature in Vada Chennai and the venture would restart production in September 2015. Samantha and Andrea Jeremiah were revealed to be among the lead actresses, while Santhosh Narayanan would be the film's composer after Dhanush had fallen out with Prakash Kumar.^[19] The start of the project was postponed until 2016 as Dhanush completed his outstanding projects, with Vetrimaaran revealing that the film would be made in two parts and that the shoot would go on for over three hundred days.^[20][21] In late 2015, the team held talks with Jiiva and Vijay Sethupathi about portraying other pivotal characters in the film, though neither actor immediately signed on.^[22] Lyca Productions announced that they would produce the film in early 2016 and that Vada Chennai would be a trilogy rather than two films. Samuthirakani and Daniel Balaji were subsequently signed on to portray other pivotal roles.^[23] Likewise several actors who have previously worked on Vetrimaaran's films such as Kishore, Karunas and Pawan joined the cast during June 2016.^[24] Before the film's shoot started, Samantha opted out of the film citing scheduling issues caused by the film suddenly becoming a trilogy and was replaced by Amala Paul in the leading female role.^[25] Vijay Sethupathi also agreed to portray an extended cameo in the film, with Dhanush announcing his inclusion during July 2016.^[26]

Filming

Production for the film began on 22 June 2016 with the first schedule of the shoot held at Binny Mills in Chennai.^[27][28]

Sequel

Director Vetrimaaran says he planned to make Vada Chennai as trilogy film like Satyajit Ray `s The Apu Trilogy. this film story is classified into three party story.

1st part of Vada Chennai is planned to release in mid month of 2017 and 2nd part release in year(2017); and last & final part release in 2018.

References