Given the recent circumstances during which jallikattu, the traditional sport of Tamil Nadu — which was banned for a few years and has now been permitted by the court to be conducted with certain conditions — comes the film Ilami, which is set against the backdrop of the sport.
Julien Prakash, a former assistant director alongside Ravi Mariya, turns independent with this period movie set in the year 1700, and has Yuvan of Sattai fame and Anu Krishna in the lead.
The actor has undergone a makeover for the film. “I need to do rigorous workouts to get the beefed-up look of a youngsters who excels in jallikattu, in the 18th century. I have to grow long hair as well,” says Yuvan.
Having started her career playing Vijay’s sister in Kaththi, Anu was apprehensive that she would get typecast. But now, she says she has bagged a meaty heroine role in Ilami. Versatile actor Kishore portrays a crucial character while Kalloori Akhil will play the baddie.
Speaking about the challenges involved in choosing the locations, director Julien says, “Cinematographer Yuga and myself had a tough time in scouting locations for this movie. After searching, we managed to find pristine locations (sans electric poles and mobile phone towers) in Kurangani and Nerabailu, where we erected huge sets of villages.”
