If there was one catalyst that led to Kochadaiiyaan getting made, it was Rajinikanth’s 2011 illness, says Tamil director K.S. Ravikumar, known for blockbusters Muthu, Avvai Shanmughi and Dasavatharam.
“Post the release of Enthiran, Rajinikanth called me over for a discussion. Soundarya [Rajinikanth Ashwin, director of Kochadaiiyaan and daughter of Rajinikanth] had started work on a 3D animated film, Sultan — The Warrior, featuring her father, but that was shelved.”
“Rajni sir suggested a knot based on a historical theme and asked me to develop it into a story. The idea was to blend the new story into Sultan — The Warrior, with one half becoming an animated film and the second half to be shot live.”
After 10 days, Ravikumar was ready with a story that he narrated to Rajinikanth.
“Rajinikanth liked it,” continued Ravikumar.
In the story, Rajinikanth would play three roles.
“We decided that this would be a feature film and shot live. Unfortunately, Rajinikanth’s illness and subsequent hospitalisation put the brakes on all our plans. That’s when Soundarya came up with the idea of turning the story into an animation film, so that her father could work on the film without straining himself,” said Ravikumar.
Rajnikanth agreed to the idea. Kochadaiiyaan was born.
“This film will be a prequel to Rana, which we plan filming later as a feature film. In this story, Kochadaiyaan is the father of Sena and Rana. Rajni sir was impressed with Kochadaiiyaan’s character and suggested that we bring him in only in the second half.”
Why did he not direct the film himself?
“Rajnikanth wanted me to make this film and after Dasavatharam [the Kamal Haasan film with 10 roles], I was conversant with CG effects. But Kochadaiiyaan required a technology that I was not educated in. Soundarya was better equipped, having studied the course. So, she went on to direct the film while I helped her with dialogues and emotions.”
Ravikumar began work on his next film, Linga, featuring Rajinikanth, on May 2 in Mysore, Karnataka. Bollywood actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Anushka Shetty are the leading ladies.