Thiagarajan’s journey to bring the acclaimed film Andhadhun to Tamil audiences as Andhagan has been fraught with numerous challenges. From acquiring the rights to navigating multiple director changes, and enduring pandemic-related delays, the road to completion has been anything but smooth. Here’s a detailed look at the series of unfortunate events that have shaped Andhagan’s production.
Acquisition of Rights and Initial Planning (2019)
In August 2019, Thiagarajan announced his acquisition of the remake rights for Andhadhun, outbidding major producers like Dhanush and Siddharth. His persistent discussions with the original film’s production house since its release secured these rights. Initially, Gautham Vasudev Menon was considered for directing, but he eventually passed on the project.
Director Changes and Title Reveal (2020-2021)
January 2020 saw Mohan Raja announced as the director. However, due to scheduling conflicts with a Telugu film, he exited in October 2020 and was replaced by JJ Fredrick. The title “Andhagan” was officially unveiled on 1 January 2021. By March 2021, Fredrick also departed, prompting Thiagarajan to take over directing and screenwriting duties, with Pattukkottai Prabakar penning the dialogues.
Casting and Character Decisions (2019-2021)
Thiagarajan confirmed in August 2019 that his son, Prashanth, would play the lead role of the pianist, leveraging Prashanth’s musical training. Despite initial discussions with Tabu and Ramya Krishnan, neither joined the project. By August 2020, Yogi Babu and Karthik were cast, with Karthik playing the retired actor, a role initially portrayed by Anil Dhawan. Simran, K. S. Ravikumar, Priya Anand, Vanitha Vijayakumar, and Samuthirakani joined the cast, bringing diverse talent to the film. Lakshmi Pradeep, a finalist from Star Vijay’s Super Singer, made her acting debut.
Production Delays and Filming Challenges (2020-2022)
Filming was set to start in April 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production commenced in January 2021, with principal photography beginning on 10 March at Prashanth Gold Tower, Chennai. After Fredrick’s exit, Thiagarajan aimed to finish filming in 35 days without breaks. However, plans to shoot the climax in London were scrapped due to lockdowns, with filming continuing in Chennai until mid-2022. A song sequence choreographed by Prabhu Deva was filmed in November 2022.
Music and Distribution (2022-2023)
Santhosh Narayanan composed the film’s music, with Sony Music India acquiring the audio rights. Singles like “En Kadhal,” “Yosichi Yosichi,” and “Kannile” were released, with another single, “Dorra Bujji,” pending. In March 2022, Kalaipuli S. Thanu acquired worldwide distribution rights via V Creations.
Release Delays (2022-Present)
Despite wrapping production by November 2022, Andhagan has faced ongoing release delays. Updates from the makers have been scarce, with new posters sporadically released on public holidays or festivals. The exact release date remains uncertain as the film navigates through its series of unfortunate events.
