“Raayan” is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Dhanush, marking his second directorial venture. Produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, the film features Dhanush in the lead role, supported by a stellar ensemble including S. J. Suryah, Prakash Raj, Selvaraghavan, Sundeep Kishan, Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, Aparna Balamurali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Saravanan.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Originally announced in January 2023 as “D50,” celebrating Dhanush’s 50th film as a lead actor, the film’s official title was unveiled in February 2024. Principal photography commenced in July 2023, primarily in Chennai and Karaikudi, concluding by mid-December 2023. The music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with Om Prakash handling cinematography and Prasanna GK managing editing duties.
Initially set for release on 13 June 2024, the film’s premiere was postponed for undisclosed reasons. “Raayan” is now slated for a worldwide release on 26 July 2024, coinciding with Dhanush’s birthday week.
The cast of “Raayan” includes:
– Dhanush in the titular role of Raayan
– S. J. Suryah
– Prakash Raj
– Selvaraghavan
– Sundeep Kishan portraying Raayan’s brother
– Kalidas Jayaram also portraying Raayan’s brother
– Dushara Vijayan playing the role of Raayan’s sister
– Aparna Balamurali
– Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
– Saravanan
Production
Development of “Raayan” has been an intricate journey for Dhanush, marking his 50th film as a lead actor and second directorial venture. Initially announced on 29 December 2017, Dhanush revealed plans to collaborate with Hema Rukmani and Murali Ramasamy, heads of Thenandal Studio Limited, for the project. He confirmed his dual role as director and lead actor, with production slated to commence the following year. A ceremonial muhurat puja took place in Chennai on 7 September 2018, setting the stage for the ambitious bilingual film to be released in Tamil and Telugu.
Originally titled as DD2, the film was set to feature a star-studded cast including Nagarjuna, Aditi Rao Hydari, S. J. Suryah, R. Sarathkumar, and Srikanth. Music maestro Sean Roldan, cinematographer Om Prakash, and editor Prasanna GK were enlisted to complement Dhanush’s vision. Hema Rukmani praised the script as Dhanush’s passion project, emphasizing its compelling storyline during the project’s unveiling.
Despite early momentum, the project encountered delays. By March 2019, reports surfaced suggesting that filming had been sporadic due to scheduling conflicts among the cast. Speculation arose that the project might be shelved, but subsequent updates clarified that it was merely on hold as Dhanush immersed himself in other commitments, notably his film “Asuran” (2019).
In mid-2020, Dhanush approached his elder brother, Selvaraghavan, to potentially direct segments of the film amidst ongoing challenges. However, further setbacks were encountered, exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which further postponed production plans.
“Raayan” stands as a testament to Dhanush’s resilience and creative vision, navigating challenges to bring his ambitious cinematic vision to life.
Casting
For his role in “Raayan,” Dhanush opted for a distinctive appearance, sporting a shaved head, clean-shaven beard, and a handlebar mustache. Sundeep Kishan joined the cast in a significant role, reuniting with Dhanush after their collaboration in “Captain Miller” (2024). Kalidas Jayaram was confirmed for another pivotal role, stepping in for Vishnu Vishal, who had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.
Dushara Vijayan also secured a crucial part in the film, while S. J. Suryah reprised his collaboration with Dhanush in an important capacity. The ensemble cast further includes Selvaraghavan, Prakash Raj, Aparna Balamurali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Saravanan, all playing prominent roles as confirmed by the production house in late February 2024. Varalaxmi reunites with Dhanush after their previous film together, “Maari 2” (2018).
Although initially considering musician Deva for an antagonist role requiring the North Chennai dialect, Dhanush’s offer was declined by Deva. Additionally, reports indicated that Nithya Menen, who starred with Dhanush in “Thiruchitrambalam,” would join the cast as the female lead opposite Dhanush.
Filming
Principal photography for “Raayan” commenced with an auspicious puja ceremony held on 5 July 2023 at East Coast Road in Chennai, attended by the film’s cast and crew. Initial filming took place at this location before transitioning to a sprawling set featuring approximately 500 houses at Adithya Ram Studios, also in Chennai, where the bulk of the shooting continued.
The schedule at Adithya Ram Studios included pivotal scenes involving actors S. J. Suryah and Sundeep Kishan. Subsequently, the production moved to Karaikudi for the second schedule starting in mid-November, spanning a week to capture additional sequences.
According to Dhanush, filming concluded nearly by 1 October, with the final scenes wrapped up by 14 December, as announced via his Twitter account. The shoot’s progression reflects meticulous planning and execution across diverse locations, emphasizing the film’s expansive scope and narrative depth.
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