Superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film Vettaiyaan has collected over Rs 250 crore at the box office. Following its success, director TJ Gyanvel has expressed keen interest in exploring a prequel to the film.

Gnanvel spoke during a media interaction over Zoom and shared his interest in exploring the background stories of the lead characters, especially focusing on Athiyaan, played by Rajinikanth. He pointed out the complexities and moral dilemmas facing such a character, saying, “I’m more interested in developing a prequel that can delve deeper into Athiyan’s journey.”

Director Gnanavel aims to delve deeper into Fahadh Faasil’s transformation from a small-time thief to a police informer. “It adds layers to the existing story,” he commented, emphasizing that understanding his motivations would enrich the story and give audiences a nuanced perspective. He is passionate about addressing the moral questions associated with encounter killings, a central theme of Vettaiyaan.

“Whenever I read about encounter killings in the news, I always have an impact on them,” he said. “This film challenges whether these encounters are justified or fabricated, highlighting what is simply What seems simple often contains deep issues.”

For Gyanvel, striking a balance between entertainment and serious subjects was paramount. He acknowledged the high expectations of Rajinikanth’s fans, but was committed to ensuring that the messages of the film were not diluted. “While making a film for Rajinikanth’s fans, I aimed to strike a balance between entertainment and social commentary,” he said. Gnanavel said it was Rajinikanth’s daughter who first approached him about the project. Which boosted his commitment to the story.

He attributed the film’s success to the support of Rajinikanth’s family, saying, “Their belief in the story helped us make this film.”

As Gnanvel conceived the prequel, he said he was excited to explore the complex backgrounds of the characters leading up to Vettaiyan. “The prequel could highlight the complexities of their lives before the events of the main story.” he explained, indicating a desire to provide rich context for the audience. Now his goal is to uncover the choices the characters make and how these decisions shape their destinies.

Vettaiyan’s inspiration came from real-life encounters that have sparked public debate about law enforcement. Gnanavel spent a lot of time researching various cases to discover how often the truth remains unclear in such stories. “By highlighting these stories, I hope to give a voice to those who are often ignored,” he said.

He hopes his films will spark important conversations about social issues. The director concluded, “I truly hope that my work can contribute to the discussion about justice and the consequences of our legal system.”

The investigative action drama stars Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Dushara Vijayan, Rana Daggubati, Fahadh Faasil, Ritika Singh and Manju Warrier in lead roles. Composer Anirudh Ravichander, editor Philomin Raj and cinematographer SR Kathir form the technical crew.