Thandakaaranyam director Athiyan Athirai: Many actors, producers feared that the story was too serious and rejected
Thandakaaranyam director Athiyan Athirai talks about his second directorial, which is all set to release in theatres on September 19.
Last Updated: 03.15 PM, Sep 14, 2025
It is nearly after six years after his first film Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu release, director Athiyan Athirai is coming back with his sophomore film Thandakaaranyam. The film stars Dinesh and Kalaiyarasan in the lead roles, and promises to be a gripping drama that talks about people, power, and place.
Thandakaaranyam director Athiyan Athirai interview:
In a chat with OTTplay, filmmaker Athiyan Athirai talks about Thandakaaranyam and he begins with giving the explanation and meaning behind the title. “Thandam is a weapon of sorts which is Y shaped, and other meaning refers to fine imposed on those who commit wrongdoings. Aaranyam means forest, which can also refer to the forest folks and communities. So, the title can mean either a place of punishment or people of forest.”
However, the director also talks about the Dandakaranya forests (in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh). He says, “It is in the heart of India, and one of the densest forests which houses many species. It is also associated to epics like Mahabharat and Ramayana, and part of Indian history and always been a warzone. There are those who want to grab the land of indigenous people and local animal species. This film explores many such layers, it has romance, separation, friendship, and oppression from authority.”
Thandakaaranyam is based on true incidents
Athiyan says that Thandakaaranyam is based on true incidents, which has been fictionalised to an extent for cinematic liberty. He adds that the story is taken from lives of people he has met. “Dinesh plays Sadaiyan, a tribal leader, while Kalaiyarasan plays a young man coming from the community. When one of their dreams is snatched, how the other tries to go to any extent to retrieve, is what that forms the story,” the director says.
When asked if the film falls under any particular genre, Athiyan says that he never tries to fit his stories into specific genres. “Even in life, we have different emotions through the day. Similarly, I don’t like to confine into one genre. This is a man’s story, about his emotions, dreams, and life. My goal is to create some impact or conversation among people after watching the film.”
However, when the filmmaker takes stories from real life, Athiyan says that he uses cinematic liberty in a way that upholds the values he wants to speak. “Probably in a real-life, a person may not have the agency to ask questions, but when it comes to my story, I design him in such a way, he is able to do so.
Athiyan’s both the films have been bankrolled by Pa Ranjith, a filmmaker who is known to voice out against systematic oppression in society through his films. Athiyan says that collaborating with someone like Ranjith, has been a boon to him. “My first film Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu was pitched to many people before he took up. They did not understand the film and my vision. Similarly, Thandakaaranyam was taken to many productions and heroes. They feared that it is more offbeat and serious, even as I try to reason them it is commercial. But this film shatters the vision and narratives so far portrayed onscreen. Hence, naturally when it is new, there were a lot of rejections. But Ranjith was able to understand the story and support.”
The filmmaker says that whatever knowledge he has gained so far, is contributed by society as well. “I am a compilation of all that I have seen, heard, felt, realised from the happenings of society. But at the same time, I also want to use that knowledge to challenge those facets which are oppressive and regressive. I want to do my part of knowledge-sharing and give it back to the society. It is through my films that I want to converse,” he adds.
Through Thandakaaranyam if there is something that it can impact, Athiyan says he wants the film to expose the struggles of forest folks and how they are often displaced from their land. “They are also used as slaves and bonded labour under the hands of corporates and other officers, without putting their knowledge of local land. I wish my film throws light on indigenous people.”
Thandakaaranyam is set to release in theatres on September 19.
FAQs
Q. What is the next film of Attakathi Dinesh?
A. Attakathi Dinesh's next film is Thandakaaranyam, to release on September 19.
Q. Who is the music director of Thandakaaranyam?
A. Justin Prabhakaran is composing the music for Thandakaaranyam.
Q. What is Thandakaaranyam release date?
A. Thandakaaranyam releases on September 19.
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