Ahead of Aranmanai 4 release, Sundar C opens up on reviving Sangamithra

Filmmaker Sundar C is gearing up for the release of his upcoming directorial, "Aranmanai 4." While promoting the movie, the director also revealed his determination to take his long-delayed project, "Sangamithra," to the floors soon.

"We are trying to start the production of 'Sangamithra,' and I believe that it will happen by the end of this year. Because everyone involved in that film knows the true value of it. Every member of the cast is eagerly waiting to start this project, and we are working towards that," he said in an interview.

"Sangamithra" is the most ambitious project in Sundar's career. Following the massive success of director SS Rajamouli's "Baahubali: The Beginning," Sundar announced his plans to direct a period drama on an epic scale. The nationwide success of "Baahubali" showed the true potential of the Indian box office, prompting the filmmakers to dream bigger and become more ambitious.

Sundar and his team made a huge splash in the media by announcing "Sangamithra." He even had the main cast and crew ready to go to the shoot. Thenandal Films was supposed to bankroll the project with Jayam Ravi, Arya, and Shruti Haasan playing the lead roles. Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman was roped in to score the music.

Sundar, along with his main cast and crew, even unveiled the first-look posters at the 2017 Cannes International Film Festival. The entire team was gung-ho about the project, and many believed it would be Tamil cinema's answer to "Baahubali."

"This project is my dream of 15 years. There was only one film about sea pirates that was made in Tamil nearly 50 years ago, 'Aayirathil Oruvan.' That movie fascinated me to a great extent, and that was the starting point for this dream," Sundar had said at the time.

Later, the project never really took off for reasons best known to the filmmakers.

Sundar's "Aranmanai 4," the fourth entry into his horror-comedy series "Aranmanai," will hit the screens worldwide on May 3.