Selvaraghavan says, ‘I’ll Keep Chiselling at ‘Pudhupettai 2’ Until I’m Satisfied;’ offers no clarity on Brother Dhanush Returning for The Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)

Filmmaker-actor Selvaraghavan is preparing for the release of his Tamil film “Manithan Deivamagalam” on April 10. The film’s title may gesture toward divinity, but Selvaraghavan is quick to undercut the premise with a philosophical shrug; the idea of a human becoming God, he says, can never happen.

“More than a psychological exploration, I’m attempting something rooted in reality and truth,” Selvaraghavan exclusively tells Variety India, adding, “Cinema often leans into exaggeration, but when you speak the truth, it can come across as psychological.”

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Across a career spanning nearly 25 years, Selvaraghavan has directed 14 films and appeared in close to 10 as an actor. Yet he resists any notion of mastery. “Both crafts are extremely different,” he says. “Acting is very difficult. My brother Dhanush often told me I would understand its hardships only when I faced the camera myself. There’s so much to learn. I still consider myself a disciple in both direction and acting.”

Acting, he adds, offers a rare vantage point. “After a shot, you sit back and observe. There’s time to absorb everything happening on set.” During the shoot of “Manithan Deivamagalam", directed by Dennis Manjunath, the pace was relentless. “Everything moved so fast, I never even saw the director eat or sleep,” he reveals.

Reflecting on his journey since his directorial debut with “Thulluvadho Ilamai” (2002), made under the guidance of his father Kasthuri Raja (who is credited as the filmmaker), Selvaraghavan talks about making films with flawed characters. “I don’t see things as flaws or defects, but being real. And reality includes flaws. Life is full of them. I’ve never planned anything. What feels wrong to me might feel right to someone else.”

For someone who lives one day at a time, Selvaraghavan is often questioned about the future of sequels to his films “Aayirathil Oruvan,” “Pudhupettai” and “7G Rainbow Colony.” “When I made those films, I never thought about sequels. It both saddens and delights me when people call them my best work. When I look at films like ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ ‘Salangai Oli’ and ‘Sankarabharanam,’ I feel I haven’t yet made a film that satisfies my own vision.”
Selvaraghavan recently confirmed he has completed writing “Pudhupettai 2,” the follow-up to his 2006 gangster drama. “I’ll keep chiselling away at it until I’m satisfied,” he says, adding that casting is underway. Will Dhanush return? He offers a measured “No comment.”

Looking ahead, the director has two projects slated for 2026, “7G Rainbow Colony 2” and “Mental Manadhil.” The former continues the original’s story, born out of a question that evolved into a narrative. The latter, he says, is a deeper inquiry into human behaviour and evolving thought. “It’s about understanding people who don’t fit into conventional moulds,” Selvaraghavan says. “What it means to be them, that’s the film.”