Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
With 'Kaantha' now in theaters, I spoke with director Selvamani Selvaraj about the film’s lush period-noir world and its fictionalized take on the lives and ambitions of mid-century Indian celebrities revolving around the legendary director Ayya (Samuthirakani) and his strained relationship with T. K. Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan), a film star he helped establish and popularize.. Our conversation explored how he shaped this 1950s post-colonial Madras drama, why he was drawn to these imagined legends, and what it meant to place them inside a story charged with rivalry, desire, and shifting power.
'Kaantha' also stars Bhagyashri Borse as Kumari, Mahadevan's love interest. The uneasy professional bond between director and actor fractures further with the arrival of the debutante Kumari, entangling all three in a tense, emotionally volatile triangle. As ambition collides with insecurity, the film moves toward a dangerous contest of truth and deception.
The cinematography by Dani Sanchez-Lopez is particularly striking—an atmospheric blend of chiaroscuro shadows, period detail, and richly textured frames that deepen the film’s noir sensibility. Complemented by music from Jhanu Chanthar and Jakes Bejoy, the world of 'Kaantha' feels both mythic and intimate.
Produced by Rana Daggubati, Dulquer Salmaan, Prashanth Potluri and Jom Varghese under Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films, the film arrives as Selvaraj’s return to fiction filmmaking. Known for merging realism with emotional complexity, his past work includes assisting Ang Lee on Life of Pi and directing the acclaimed Netflix documentary series The Hunt for Veerappan. With Kaantha, he channels those sensibilities into an ambitious tale of identity, legacy, and the cost of artistic pursuit.
In speaking with with Selvamani Selvaraj, whose reflections illuminate the drama behind the film’s beautifully crafted façade.
'Kaantha' is in theaters now.
#kaantha #dulquersalmaan #samuthirakani #selvamaniselvaraj #bhagyashriborse #tamillanguage #interview #fanboynation
With 'Kaantha' now in theaters, I spoke with director Selvamani Selvaraj about the film’s lush period-noir world and its fictionalized take on the lives and ambitions of mid-century Indian celebrities revolving around the legendary director Ayya (Samuthirakani) and his strained relationship with T. K. Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan), a film star he helped establish and popularize.. Our conversation explored how he shaped this 1950s post-colonial Madras drama, why he was drawn to these imagined legends, and what it meant to place them inside a story charged with rivalry, desire, and shifting power.
'Kaantha' also stars Bhagyashri Borse as Kumari, Mahadevan's love interest. The uneasy professional bond between director and actor fractures further with the arrival of the debutante Kumari, entangling all three in a tense, emotionally volatile triangle. As ambition collides with insecurity, the film moves toward a dangerous contest of truth and deception.
The cinematography by Dani Sanchez-Lopez is particularly striking—an atmospheric blend of chiaroscuro shadows, period detail, and richly textured frames that deepen the film’s noir sensibility. Complemented by music from Jhanu Chanthar and Jakes Bejoy, the world of 'Kaantha' feels both mythic and intimate.
Produced by Rana Daggubati, Dulquer Salmaan, Prashanth Potluri and Jom Varghese under Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films, the film arrives as Selvaraj’s return to fiction filmmaking. Known for merging realism with emotional complexity, his past work includes assisting Ang Lee on Life of Pi and directing the acclaimed Netflix documentary series The Hunt for Veerappan. With Kaantha, he channels those sensibilities into an ambitious tale of identity, legacy, and the cost of artistic pursuit.
In speaking with with Selvamani Selvaraj, whose reflections illuminate the drama behind the film’s beautifully crafted façade.
'Kaantha' is in theaters now.
#kaantha #dulquersalmaan #samuthirakani #selvamaniselvaraj #bhagyashriborse #tamillanguage #interview #fanboynation
