Actor Karthi rang in his birthday on Monday with a film launch, as the pooja ceremony for his yet-to-be-titled 30th film was held with director Kalyan Shankar of Mad and Mad Square fame. Meenakshi Chaudhary has been signed on as the female lead, marking the first collaboration between the two. Sithara Entertainments is backing the project, with filming already underway and a title and first look expected soon.

Kalyan Shankar brings his signature comedy sensibility to Tamil cinema for the first time with this project, having previously worked as both director and writer in Telugu, with credits including Mad, Mad Square, Tillu Square, and the Navarasa anthology. Meenakshi Chaudhary, last seen in the Telugu film Anaganaga Oka Raju, is familiar to Tamil audiences from her appearance in Vijay's GOAT.

Further details on the cast, crew, and plot are yet to be announced. Karthi also has Marshal, directed by Tamizh of Taanakaran fame, in the pipeline. Set in the 1960s and co-starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, Sathyaraj, and Prabhu among others, Marshal is targeting a Diwali release.