11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'STR 49' faces twists and turns: Was there a creative clash between Silambarasan and Santhanam over Ramkumar Balakrishnan's directorial?
Actor
Silambarasan TR
's 49th film, tentatively titled 'STR 49,' was officially launched with a pooja under the direction of 'Parking' fame Ramkumar. Shooting was initially scheduled to begin in June.
However, unexpected roadblocks emerged after the film's producer was caught in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation. Following this, it was reported that Simbu had creative disagreements with the team, leading to delays and internal tensions.
Reported rift between Simbu and
Santhanam
Comedian Santhanam was initially announced as part of 'STR 49,' marking a shift from lead roles back to a comedian's role. According to Asianet, Santhanam placed certain conditions particularly that his character should have equal importance to Silambarasan's.
These demands reportedly created friction between the two, making Simbu temporarily shelve the film. While neither the actor has officially spoken about the reported issue, the sources in the industry indicated that the fallout made Simbu rethink the film and its cast.
Change in direction after script concerns
Another obstacle allegedly originated from Ramkumar's final script, which did not satisfy Silambarasan. With increasing creative issues and production uncertainties, Simbu said that he has dropped the project in its current form and has opted for a change in the director. Ramkumar is now asked to contact other prominent actors for new undertakings, while Silambarasan has moved forward with other collaborations, including directors with films Desingh Periasamy and
Ashwath Marimuthu
.
'STR 49' gets a new life with
Vetri Maaran
The latest buzz confirms that Vetri Maaran has taken over with music composed by GV Prakash Kumar. Based on a North Chennai backdrop, the story reportedly draws from the 'Rajan Vagaira' script originally penned for Ken Karunas. The film features a star-studded cast including Kavin, Nelson, Andrea, and Samuthirakani, and the shoot is already in progress.