In an era of OTT services, and on-demand movies, a movie's lifespan in theaters is shorter than what it used to be. At such a time, i.e. 2025, a Tamil film titled Amaran has completed 100 days of theatrical run. A biopic based on the life of Indian Army Major Mukund Varadarajan, Amaran stars Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, is based on a book titled India's Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, is written and directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy, and is a joint production venture of Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, and Sony Pictures International. 

 

In lieu of Amaran completing 100 days on February 7, 2025, MovieCrow looked into the film's journey, and it painted an interesting picture right from its inception to its development, and the challenges it faced. A macro view of the same below: 

 

Rajkumar Periyasamy & A Missed Opportunity

It was Rajkumar Periyasamy who brought the idea of Amaran to Kamal. However, it was NOT his immediate next choice after Rangoon. Rajkumar was initially set to direct a large-scale film (conceptually) and spent months on pre-production. However, before it could go into production, the film was stalled due to scheduling conflicts. As a result, he returned to working in television and was involved with Bigg Boss Tamil right from Season 1.

 

Kamal Haasan's Entry – & No, It's NOT Amaran

While working on Bigg Boss, Kamal Haasan encouraged Rajkumar Periyasamy to come up with a story for his production house. Basically, Kamal offered Rajkumar a film under his banner, knowing he had previously directed Rangoon. Upon arriving at Kamal's office, Rajkumar realized that a dedicated team was in place to evaluate scripts, amid many others who had come to narrate their stories. The team approved a story he narrated - a film with a relatively small-scale budget - which Rajkumar believed would be his second directorial venture. The story was based on a true incident, but it was not Amaran. At this stage, the director and producer had agreed to work together, and work had begun, but the film was still not Amaran.

 

A Phone Call, A Discussion & A Glimpse of Amaran

In the midst of working on his upcoming film with Raaj Kamal, Rajkumar received a phone call from Vakil Khan (co-producer of Amaran)—a close friend of his. Vakil insisted that Rajkumar read India’s Most Fearless (Part 1) by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, a book about various army heroes. He suggested that Rajkumar consider directing a story based on it, mentioning that the rights were with Sony Pictures.

 

Vakil specifically pointed out an army hero from Tamil Nadu featured in Chapter 7. The book contained only incidental records of Major Mukund’s heroic deeds, and Rajkumar didn’t feel confident about adapting it into a film just yet. He wanted to explore more aspects of Major Mukund’s life before making a decision.

 

A vivid memory of Mukund’s daughter, her bond with her father, along with images and videos, deeply resonated with Rajkumar. He decided to take some time for further research.

 

Amaran's Entry

Out of personal interest, Rajkumar gathered extensive information on Major Mukund, seeking perspectives from various people connected to him. He even obtained Mukund’s father’s phone number and had a conversation with him. Rajkumar was clear that if he were to make this into a film, it shouldn’t feel like a documentary but rather a compelling cinematic experience. Despite compiling insights from multiple sources, he still felt it wasn’t enough for a full-fledged film.

 

By chance, Rajkumar met Indu Rebecca Varghese, Mukund’s wife, who works in Australia, during her visit to Thiruvananthapuram. After gaining deeper insights from her, he realized there was a profoundly emotional journey in Mukund’s life, which convinced him to turn it into a film.

 

Rajkumar conveyed his thoughts to Vakil and Sony, submitting the story he had compiled through his research. However, he informed them about his prior commitment to Kamal Haasan’s banner and explained that he either needed to complete that project first or discuss the possibility of prioritizing this one.

 

Amaran is ready, but Rajkumar now faces a crucial decision—should he return to finish his previously committed second film, or move forward with Amaran?

 

Kamal's Nod of Approval & Co-Production

At this stage, Rajkumar approached Kamal Haasan and shared the developments and idea of Amaran. Impressed by the concept, Kamal suggested producing both films under his banner. However, when Rajkumar mentioned Sony's involvement, Kamal proposed a co-production partnership instead.

 

When Rajkumar conveyed Kamal’s idea to Sony, they saw it as a great opportunity—collaborating with an icon like Kamal was something they had always hoped for. Without hesitation, they agreed.

 

With the foundation set and the production team ready for a new beginning, Amaran officially took shape. Rajkumar’s second film was now Amaran. But this was just the beginning—greater challenges lay ahead.

 

The New Face Challenge & Kamal's Kanden Seethaiyai

With Amaran ready to take off, the team faced a major challenge—who would be the right choice for the lead role? Kamal insisted on casting a fresh face.

 

Though Rajkumar had Sivakarthikeyan in mind, it was Mahendran who first suggested his name. Beyond physical attributes, Rajkumar felt Sivakarthikeyan could have an emotional connection to the character. Coming from a police family and having once stood in line as a schoolboy to pay tribute to Major Mariyappan Saravanan, SK’s patriotic spirit resonated with the role. These reasons solidified Rajkumar’s decision to cast him.

 

When he communicated this to Kamal, the legend responded with "Kanden Seethaiyai," implying that his idea of a “new face” was not necessarily a newcomer but an actor who had never attempted a role like this before. Kamal then instructed his team to finalize Sivakarthikeyan for the film and made all necessary arrangement.

 

An Enthusiastic Sivakarthikeyan

Rajkumar met Sivakarthikeyan one evening for narration, which went on for hours, stretching late into the night. Sivakarthikeyan completely understood the depth of the role and was deeply engaged, even asking Rajkumar about the finer details of certain scenes. Rajkumar could sense that SK was fully invested—the energy and involvement assured him that Sivakarthikeyan was ready to take on the role.

 

Rajkumar reached home at 3 AM, only to receive messages from Sivakarthikeyan soon after. By morning, SK called him and asked him to inform the production house that he was on board for the film.

 

Beyond physical transformation, Sivakarthikeyan attended workshops to refine his performance, ensuring he captured the nuances Rajkumar envisioned for the character.

 

Amaran Not a Film – A Responsibility

It wasn’t just Sivakarthikeyan—everyone associated with the film realized that Amaran was not just another project; it was an ode to a hero. A deep sense of responsibility gripped the entire team.

 

Sai Pallavi, after reading the script, personally reached out to Indu to understand her emotions better. She asked Rajkumar numerous questions to ensure she fully immersed herself in the world of Amaran.

 

Rajkumar, driven by his vision, was eager to bring Mukund’s journey to life on screen. He wanted to highlight the proxy war Mukund faced in his personal life while also capturing his experiences on duty. To achieve authenticity, he insisted on shooting at the exact locations where Mukund served, believing that the landscape and his comrades were characters in themselves.

 

Hectic Process – Risky Locations – Colonel Saravanan Vinod

Making a biopic on an army officer is no easy task. The script had to be submitted and approved by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army – ADGPI. Colonel Saravanan Vinod personally volunteered to assist the team throughout the approval process.

 

Despite the risks involved, Rajkumar was fixed about filming in the exact locations where Mukund had served. He insisted on shooting in the same zones, the same company headquarters, and even the very room where Mukund operated. Some of these locations were in conflict zones, making the process highly challenging, but the team took on the risk with determination. The Indian Army provided protection to ensure their safety.

 

The commitment to authenticity went beyond just location that Sivakarthikeyan used Real guns for some shots.

 

Numerous Hands Came Together to Shape Amaran

Many hands played a role in bringing Amaran to life—from Mukund’s family to the families of Sepoy Vikram and Colonel Saravanan Vinod, as well as other army personnel who offered their support. Madras Christian College (MCC) even allowed their campus to be used for filming for the first time, solely because Major Mukund was an alumnus. The movie title holders, production teams, and countless others contributed to shaping Amaran into what it is today.

 

This wasn’t a story that followed a set path from start to finish—it was the result of many people coming together at different points, ultimately shaping the film into reality.

 

When an interviewer told Kamal, "Happy that you chose this story," he immediately responded, "We didn’t choose it—it happened."

 

Various Reasons, One Target

Everyone involved had their own reasons for bringing Amaran to life, but they all worked toward a single goal.

 

For Indu Rebecca Varghese, it was a way to honor Mukund. When Rajkumar approached her, she saw this as an opportunity to do something meaningful for him—especially knowing Mukund’s deep love for movies.

 

For Sivakarthikeyan, it was personal. He connected Mukund’s role with his own father and had always had a deep admiration for uniforms, making this film an easy and heartfelt choice.

 

For Rajkumar, it was a soulful journey. He wanted to bring Mukund’s untold story to the world, ensuring his sacrifices and experiences were known.

 

In the film’s introduction video, Rajkumar revealed that Kamal Haasan had undergone army training for Aalavandhan. His long-standing admiration for the armed forces was well-known, making it easier for the team to gain access and support from the military.

 

"The story itself found the right people in the process," Rajkumar remarked in the film’s introduction—and we can’t help but agree.

 

Staging the Content (Marketing) – 1 Crore TN Footfall

Every filmmaker promotes their product; however, an extra push was rather evident ever since the title announcement. Kamal Haasan, as the producer, toured multiple cities in India and abroad along with the team, interacting with audiences. They staged the film so well that a case study could be made on their efforts to promote it globally. The team carried pride throughout the staging. A special premiere show was organized for army personnel in Delhi, and they sensed victory right there after the premiere.

 

1 Crore+ Footfall

Post-release, the film achieved a 1 crore+ footfall in Tamil Nadu alone. The global numbers placed it in the top league of star-driven films. For a film of this genre to receive such an extraordinary reception is unprecedented in Tamil cinema.

 

End Word: A milestone moment for Amaran as it completes 100 days since its release! So much went into bringing this story to life. Congratulations to the entire team— Sivakarthikeyan, Rajkumar Periasamy, Kamal Haasan (RKFI), R. Mahendran (RKFI), Sony Pictures International Productions, S. Disney (Executive producer), Sai Pallavi, GV Prakash—for their relentless efforts in showcasing Major Mukund’s journey, and delivering a perfect tribute to the hero.

Amaran is now streaming on Netflix! 🎬🔥