Oct 09, 2026 5:00pm IST
‘Baththa’ Director Balaji Tharaneetharan on Vijay Sethupathi: ‘He Is Willing To Take On Scripts Others Might Hesitate To’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Balaji Tharaneetharan’s Vijay Sethupathi-starrer “Baththa,” with virtually no pre-release buzz, has succeeded purely on strong word of mouth and glowing reviews. The low-profile writer-director has made just four films in the last 12 years, three of them with Vijay Sethupathi. Balaji’s debut film, “Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom” (2012), was a trendsetting blockbuster that helped establish Vijay Sethupathi as a commercially viable mainstream hero. The duo followed it up with “Seethakaathi” (2018), an above-average grosser, and, eight years later, “Baththa.” In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Balaji Tharaneetharan opens up about the film's making and success.
What factors do you think made Baththa such a success?
The script and everyone associated with the film had tremendous faith in me, even though my last film was released quite some time ago. They believed in me, and that made me feel even more responsible. Several factors contributed to the film’s success, but the main ones were the story, which took over two years to develop, and the actors and technicians who came on board. Once the project was fully assembled, we completed the film in just 60 days across two schedules.
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This is your third collaboration with Vijay Sethupathi. What is your equation with him like?
Vijay Sethupathi is a complete actor and a director’s delight. He listens and is willing to take on scripts others might hesitate to do. At the same time, he asks a lot of questions about the character because he genuinely wants to understand and absorb its traits from real life. We hit it off from our very first meeting. For a star of his stature, he believes more in the character he is playing than in image or conventional heroism.
The best thing about him is that he is open to suggestions and willing to portray realistic characters without unnecessary commercial or mass padding. Take his role in Baththa, for instance. He plays a gangster, and in a conventional commercial film, that would usually mean plenty of action and larger-than-life mass moments designed to elevate the hero. But he was willing to explore the human, emotional side of the gangster, as my script demanded. That is his specialty. He enjoys exploring characters and doing something different.
Tamil cinema has changed considerably over the years, with more content-oriented films finding acceptance at the box office. Your thoughts?
Yes, today’s audiences are accepting a lot of real-life characters, even in mainstream commercial films. They not only appreciate realism when it is justified by the story, but they also question illogical situations and plot points. That is why many films that have done well recently have strong stories to tell. Audiences increasingly want content that connects with them.
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Sai, the child actor who played a role almost parallel to Vijay Sethupathi, and music director Sai Abhyankkar have both received a lot of appreciation.
Sai, who played the pivotal role of Sabari—the child without whom the story would not have moved forward—was selected after an audition. We trained him, and he was excellent. After watching the film, Director Shankar tweeted that he deserves a National Award! Sai Abhyankkar, the music director, has a very good understanding of music and tremendous potential. He gave his best, particularly with the background score. It was truly teamwork. Credit should also go to Lijomol Jose and all the technicians who contributed to the film.
What next? Will you make another film with Vijay Sethupathi?
I have three or four storylines in mind. I will pick one of them and develop it further. Who wouldn’t love to do another film with Vijay Sethupathi? But first, I want to concentrate on the script. It may take some time.
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