Sumo actor Shiva: Despite delays, we are happy to have summer release

Actor Mirchi Shiva, who has been seen in films like Thamizh Padam, Vanakkam Chennai and Kasethan Kadavulada , is gearing up for the release of his next entertainer, Sumo. Scheduled to hit theatres on April 25, the film is directed by SP Hosimin.

‘It was expensive to shoot in Japan’

Sumo is a sports comedy film, which stars real-life sumo wrestler Yoshinori Tashiro, alongside Priya Anand, VTV Ganesh, and others. Speaking about the film, Shiva said, “At first, myself along with VTV Ganesh sir, Rajiv Menon and Hosimin sir had gone to Japan, to approach a local agency who can help us with sumo casting. This is the first feature film from India which will have a sumo wrestler. At the office, we saw a giant person (Yoshinori Tashiro), and we asked him to try out the costume. When we enquired his dietary needs, a voice from inside screamed Butter Chicken, and we came to know that his motive to come to India is to have that dish.”

The team of Sumo shot a trailer of sorts with Yoshinori and sent the video to Ishari Ganesh who is producing the film. “He asked us to go forward with the film after seeing the video, without even knowing the story and narration. He had so much confidence with us, especially when the film is expensive and involves shooting in Japan,” he adds.

Shiva elated to have summer release despite delays

An entertainer, Sumo revolves around a sumo wrestler from Japan who gets washed up on a shore in Chennai and ends up eating everything at a restaurant nearby. Shiva plays the role of a surfer and restaurant waiter. “There will be a few antics the characters do with the sumo and get revenue before realising that they too have to do something for him in return. After knowing about him, the protagonists try to help him back.”

Even as the film took seven years to get released, Shiva is delighted that Sumo is getting a perfect summer release, so that children can watch and enjoy it. “He (Yoshinori) had shared with us that he had gone to a Shiva temple in Japan where the priest said he has the blessings of Shiva and Ganesh. Little did we know that he will be working with me, and Ganesh (Ishari Ganesh and VTV Ganesh,” Shiva recalls.