The upcoming Tamil thriller, Andhaghaaram (2020), which is being presented by popular filmmaker Atlee, is likely to be the third Tamil mainstream film to have a direct OTT release after Ponmagal Vandhal (2020) and Penguin (2020). Reports said that the film, directed by Vignarajan, has been picked up by Netflix for an exclusive worldwide release.
According to a report by the digital news platform Cinema Express, the film is expected to arrive on Netflix soon. However, an official announcement about the film’s direct OTT release is yet to be made.
The film’s trailer was unveiled in April. Going by the trailer, the thriller sees the lead characters, Arjun Das and Vinoth Kishan, play a cat-and-mouse game with each other. There is also a hint of the supernatural in the trailer.
The film features Vinoth playing a blind character. He said his character will not have audiences empathize with him. "I may be playing a blind character but it won't make audiences empathetic. It's an exciting role and quite different from how blind characters are usually portrayed in Indian cinema. The blindness is just a disability here," Vinoth had told the Hindustan Times newspaper.
"What's really interesting about the role is that it has a pivotal part to play in the story. I feel audiences will be so engrossed in the film that they will ignore the fact that I actually play a blind man," he added.
Vinoth had to do his homework to pull off the role. Last seen in a strong negative lead in Tamil thriller Vidiyum Munn (2013), the actor said his character in Andhaghaaram is "totally different from what I've played in my last film. It's very positive and you would be surprised with the importance that's given to it in the story."
According to the actor, the film's story revolves around three protagonists from different time periods, but there is a common element that connects them all.