Karuppu (film)

Last updated

Karuppu
Karuppu film poster.jpg
Teaser poster
Directed by RJ Balaji
Written byRJ Balaji
Ashwin Ravichandran
Rahul Raj
T. S. Gopi Krishnan
Karan Aravind Kumar
Produced by S. R. Prabhu
S. R. Prakash Babu
Starring
Cinematography G. K. Vishnu
Edited byR. Kalaivanan
Music by Sai Abhyankkar
Production
company
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Karuppu (transl.Black) is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language action drama film [1] directed by RJ Balaji from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ashwin Ravichandran, Rahul Raj, T. S. Gopi Krishnan and Karan Aravind Kumar. Produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, the film stars Suriya and Trisha Krishnan, alongside Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, Swasika, Sshivada, Supreeth Reddy and Yogi Babu.

Contents

The film was officially announced in October 2024 under the tentative title Suriya 45, as it is the actor's 45th film in a leading role. Principal photography commenced the following month in Pollachi. The official title was announced in June 2025. The film has music composed by Sai Abhyankkar, cinematography handled by G. K. Vishnu and editing by R. Kalaivanan.

Cast

Production

Development

In September 2024, it was reported that Suriya would collaborate with RJ Balaji for the former's third directorial venture. [2] Balaji had written a script which was initially narrated to Vijay for his 69th film, [3] [4] but did not progress. [a] He then subsequently met Suriya, before the release of Kanguva (2024) and had narrated the same script, which the actor being impressed. [2] The film was intended to commence after Suriya had completed shooting for Retro (2025). [7] [8] The project was reportedly produced by S. R. Prabhu and S. R. Prakash Babu's Dream Warrior Pictures, collaborating with the actor for the second time after NGK (2019). [9]

The company made a public announcement on 14 October 2024, [10] confirming the project, tentatively titled Suriya 45, as it was the lead actor's 45th film. [11] [12] The announcement poster, which released on the same day, featured a collection of lengthy sickles and spears with a horse galloping between it, led to speculations about the film being a mythological or fantasy drama. [13] Ashwin Ravichandran, Rahul Raj, T. S. Gopi Krishnan and Karan Aravind Kumar co-wrote the script with Balaji. [14] In late November, G. K. Vishnu was confirmed as the cinematographer, returning to Tamil cinema after six years since Bigil (2019). [15] [16] The following month, editor R. Kalaivanan, production designer Arun Venjaramoodu and action choreographer Vikram Mor were announced as a part of the technical crew. [17] The film's official title Karuppu was announced on 20 June 2025, Balaji's birthday. [18]

Casting

In November, it was reported that Trisha had been cast as the lead actress in her fifth collaboration with Suriya, following Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002), Ayutha Ezhuthu (2004), Aaru (2005), and Manmadan Ambu (2010); [19] [b] her participation was confirmed only on 14 December. [20] The following day, the producers confirmed the casting of Indrans and Swasika, although the latter had earlier hinted at her involvement via social media. [21] [22] Subsequently, Yogi Babu, [23] Sshivada, [24] Natty Subramaniam, [25] Supreeth Reddy and Anagha Maaya Ravi were announced as a part of the cast the same month. [26] The film would further mark the Tamil debut of Anagha. [26]

Filming

Principal photography began with an inaugural puja ceremony on 27 November 2024 at Masani Amman temple in Pollachi with the presence of the film's cast and crew. [27] The first schedule commenced the following day in Coimbatore. [28] [29] In early December, pictures from the sets leaked online which featured Trisha and Suriya dressed as lawyers, leading to speculation about their characters. [30] By mid-February 2025, the team planned to shoot key sequences at the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai. [31] During filming at Velichal in the KelambakkamVandalur stretch, the makeshift platforms set by the art direction team, resulted in unexpected roadblocks which led to the concerned local villagers informing to the authorities. In response, the police intervened and halted filming, citing that the makers failed to obtain proper permissions for shooting and the officials advised the production team to secure prior approval from the Tambaram Metropolitan Police Commissioner's office. This resulted in the planned schedule to be cancelled. [32]

In early March 2025, the team moved to Hyderabad for filming a crucial sequence at the Ramoji Film City. [33] Later that month, the production team planned for a song shoot resembling a festive backdrop. [34] Arun Venjaramoodu constructed a huge set at the Adityaram Studios in ECR for a song sequence that featured over 500 dancers beside the lead actors, and the song would be choreographed by Shobi. [35] [36] In early May, it was reported that filming was planned to wrap later that month. [37]

Music

The soundtrack was initially announced to be composed by A. R. Rahman in what would have been his fourth with Suriya in the lead, after Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004), Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006), and 24 (2016). [38] However, Rahman opted out for unknown reasons, and on 9 December, Sai Abhyankkar was announced as the new composer. [39]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Verappa"Arun Srinivasan Sai Abhyankkar, Arivu 1:40

Marketing

The first teaser was released on 23 July 2025, Suriya's birthday. It revealed his character's name to be Saravanan, a reference to the actor's real name, confirmed speculation that he would be playing a lawyer, and includes references to his previous films such as Ghajini (2005). [40]

Notes

  1. The project then went to H. Vinoth and became Jana Nayagan (2026). [5] [6]
  2. The film featured Suriya in a cameo appearance.

References

  1. "Karuppu teaser: Suriya unleashes full swag in RJ Balaji's action drama". India Today . 23 July 2025. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Will RJ Balaji direct Suriya's 45th film?". The Times of India . 24 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  3. "'ദളപതി 69'നായി കഥ പറഞ്ഞത് ഇരുപതോളം സംവിധായകർ,രണ്ട് തവണ വിജയ് സാറിനോട് ഞാൻ കഥ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; ആർജെ ബാലാജി" [Around twenty directors narrated the story for 'Thalapathy 69', I narrated the story to Vijay sir twice; RJ Balaji]. Reporter TV (in Malayalam). 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  4. வினோத்குமார், S (19 November 2024). "விஜய்யுடன் மூன்று முறை நடந்த மீட்டிங்..ஜஸ்ட் மிஸ்ஸான தளபதி 69 வாய்ப்பு..ஆர்.ஜே பாலாஜி சொன்ன காரணம்..!" [Three meetings with Vijay.. Just missed the opportunity of Thalapathy 69.. RJ Balaji's reason..!]. Samayam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. Nyayapati, Neeshita (13 September 2024). "Thalapathy 69: Vijay signs a final film before entering politics; fans call it 'one last dance'. Watch". Hindustan Times . Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  6. "Vijay's Thalapathy 69 gets official title of Jana Nayagan; check out actor's first-look poster here". DT Next . 26 January 2025. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  7. Sundar, Anusha (25 September 2024). "Suriya 45: Tamil star to collaborate with this actor-filmmaker for the first time?". OTTPlay . Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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  13. "'Suriya 45': Is RJ Balaji's film with Suriya a devotional fantasy drama?". The Times of India . 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
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  25. M, Narayani (16 December 2024). "Natty joins RJ Balaji's Suriya 45". Cinema Express . Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
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