Exclusive! Magizh Thirumeni: Filmmakers shouldn't impose their plan to divert from the commercial route on producers

Filmmaker Magizh Thirumeni, who is content with the response to Kalaga Thalaivan, feels that he doesn't believe in roping in an actress to play the female lead just for the sake of it. In a chat with OTTplay, he tells that it is the story which ultimately decides the need to have a heroine in a movie.

The Udhayanidhi-starrer, which was released last Friday, deals with the story of a smart whistleblower who manages to accomplish his mission despite facing several odds from various quarters. Nidhhi Agerwal plays the female lead in the movie which garnered appreciation for its screenplay.

Quiz him on the need to have a female lead in the movie which touches upon an intense topic, pat comes his reply, "Many Tamil films are releasing today without resorting to run-of-the-mill commercial aspects, which is a good sign. But the inclusion of a female lead or a song are a few aspects which most of the moviegoers expect in a film even today."

He adds, "I don't think we can change certain things overnight. Moreover, I believe a filmmaker shouldn't impose his decision to divert from the regular commercial route on his producer. All said and done, Kalaga Thalaivan's story required a romantic interest for its protagonist."

Magizh says that the hero, who is hell-bent on taking revenge against a leading corporate firm, is a common man who has other interests in life. "I didn't want the protagonist to be a one-dimensional person. I wanted to explore the humane side of him. So, I felt he should have a lover," he explains.

Netflix has acquired the film's digital rights, and its OTT premiere is expected to happen in the second week of December.