Dayal Padmanabhan’s “Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku" Press Meet
Chennai:
State Government Award winning filmmaker Dayal Padmanabhan, known for his compelling and content driven storytelling across languages, is gearing up for the release of his much anticipated Tamil film ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’, slated to hit screens on June 25. Produced by KV Shabarreesh under the banners 2M Cinemas and D Pictures, the film features an ensemble cast including Vetri, Rangaraj Pandey, Brigida Saga, Maaran, Saravanan, Lizzie Antony, Logan Kannan, Narmadha, Aruvi Madhan, Kanya Bharathy, Kavitha Bharathy, and Subramaniam Siva in pivotal roles.
A grand press meet of ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ was held in Chennai in the presence of the cast and crew. Adding to the excitement, an exclusive visual synopsis and character introduction of the film was specially screened for the media and press fraternity, offering an intriguing glimpse into the film’s world and characters, while significantly heightening expectations for its theatrical release scheduled for June 25, 2026.
Here are excerpts from the event.
Actor Writer Kavitha Bharathi said, “This is truly a proud moment for me, as Dayal Padmanabhan is celebrated across Karnataka for his consistently ambitious body of work. Now, his third outing in Tamil, ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’, has created even greater expectations. Initially, Dayal called me and asked me to handle the screenplay and dialogues for this film. LKV is a special movie for all of us who have been part of it, and I strongly believe it will offer a unique experience for audiences as well.”
Cinematographer M.V. Paneerselvam said, “A film becomes more engrossing when the writing is strong. In fact, it becomes easier for technicians to bring out their best work. My friendship with Dayal blossomed after I was awestruck by his debut film, the original version of ‘Kondraal Paavam’. The uniqueness about Dayal is that while many filmmakers tend to expand and elevate their canvas and scale as they grow, he remains deeply committed to his vision. He does not indulge in exaggerations, but instead approaches every department with meticulous planning. Not many filmmakers involve cinematographers in the script process, but Dayal does. His respect for the entire team is phenomenal. I have witnessed such conviction and determination only after K. Balachander sir. I am glad to have worked with this wonderful team, and I believe this film will be a visual treat for audiences.”
Music Director Darbuka Siva said, “As technicians, we often get opportunities to work on several projects, but only a few make us pause, reflect, and ask ourselves what the true takeaway is. Not every film leaves me with pride after completion, but LKV has given me immense satisfaction and happiness for being a part of it. We never had conversations about hook steps, trending formulas, or viral elements. Dayal sir had a sincere approach towards the film and never wanted anything beyond what the script genuinely demanded.”
Actor Vetri said, “I have never come across a filmmaker as meticulously planned as Dayal sir. One day, I received a call from the producer asking me to meet him. After watching ‘Kondraal Paavam’, I sincerely wished to collaborate with Dayal sir, and I am glad this opportunity happened. The film has shaped up beautifully, and I thank everyone in the team for their tremendous support. Thank you all.”
Actor Saravanan said, “Many may perceive ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ as Dayal sir’s third outing as a filmmaker, but he has already directed 18 films in the Kannada industry. I truly wish to see him flourish further and make many more films in Tamil cinema. I hope he goes on to create more than 50 films in his career. His planning was so inspiring that it allowed everyone on set to work with clarity and peace of mind. I thank the entire team for this wonderful opportunity. ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ will certainly be a special film for audiences. Thank you all.”
Actress Brigida Saga said, “I am extremely happy to be a part of this film. Everyone here has already spoken so highly about the director that I hardly know what more to add. He is truly a masterclass filmmaker. More than being an exceptional director, he is an incredible human being. He made me feel extremely comfortable on the sets and cared for everyone in a very fatherly manner. His planning and execution are phenomenal. Personally, this film is very close to my heart. When I got this opportunity, my very first scene involved carrying my children and waiting for my husband’s character. I instantly connected with the soul of my grandmother while performing that scene. Throughout the film, I carried the same emotional connection, which made this project deeply special to me. I am a workaholic, and every time I am part of a soulful film, it becomes a memorable takeaway. This film has given me one such experience. My co star Vetri is a wonderful and sweet person, a dedicated and genuine artiste. I sincerely thank the entire team for this beautiful opportunity.”
Actor Aruvi Madhan said, “Usually, when a small budget film is backed by strong content, it is bound to yield good results. I experienced this through my directorial venture ‘Noodles’, which turned out profitably. I am happy to see Dayal sir working in the same space. One of the biggest surprises for me was receiving my remuneration in advance, even before shooting commenced. When a film is made with proper planning and execution, it naturally leads to strong commercial results. Dayal Padmanabhan sir has done a commendable job with this film, and I am eagerly looking forward to its release. Thank you all for the support.”
Actress Lizie Antony said, “I have played the role of Soodamani in this film. Usually, artistes tend to have a small sense of doubt while putting in their complete involvement and effort into a project. There is always a lingering feeling of whether the final output will justify their hard work. However, when it comes to a Dayal Padmanabhan sir project, actors need not worry about such things. He is an extremely well planned filmmaker with a crystal clear vision, assuring every artiste that their performances will be elevated beautifully through his presentation. ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ will definitely appeal to audiences across all sections. Thank you all.”
Actor Director Subramaniam Siva said, “Dayal is a man of immense clarity. Even if he were constructing a house, he would probably have a special direction for thieves to easily walk through and complete their burglary. I say this humorously, of course. Such is the level of his planning. I have witnessed this kind of clarity in Dhanush, and now I see the same in Dayal. ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ is a film that beautifully bridges the gap between commercial and offbeat cinema. He initially planned to complete the film in 20 days, and eventually accomplished it with remarkable execution.”
Actor Aarav said, “‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’ deals with a crucial question of whether a criminal deserves the death sentence for murder. Dayal Padmanabhan is a wonderful filmmaker who consistently creates films with meticulous planning and manages to complete them within a short span of time. I have always admired his directorial proficiency. Every filmmaker desires to communicate a belief or message, directly or indirectly, and Dayal sir does it effortlessly. I often ask him why he does not make films with bigger stars, but he remains so genuine and focused on creating content driven cinema with proper planning. This movie is going to be a special experience for audiences from all walks of life.”
Director Dayal Padmanabhan said, “My producer Sabareesan is currently busy shooting for his next film in Mauritius, and Rangaraj Pandey is accompanying him as well. This is the reason both of them could not be present today. This is my 22nd film and my third Tamil film. As a team, we have intentionally concealed certain details about the movie, which will be revealed during the post release press meet. This film is based on real life incidents and is set against the backdrop of 1972, revolving around a night in the life of a prisoner on death row, revisiting his past. After stepping into the Kannada industry, my fluency in Tamil became slightly shaky, and I must sincerely thank Kavitha Bharathi sir for making the screenplay and dialogues look so promising. I thank all my actors, who have given their heart and soul to this project. My technicians have been extremely patient despite the pressure I placed on them. Brigida has a beautiful character in this film, and both Vetri sir and Rangaraj sir have equal prominence in the narrative. I especially want to mention Saravanan sir, who reduced his remuneration and even gave us an additional shooting day for the climax simply because he felt deeply connected to the project. On the day of wrap, Rangaraj Pandey returned Rs.2 lakh from his remuneration, stating that we had completed the shoot two days ahead of schedule. The entire team has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey, and I feel truly blessed to have worked with them.”
Following the speeches, the cast and crew members engaged in an interactive Q and A session with the press and media fraternity, sharing further insights about the film, characters, and the making process. The event concluded on an enthusiastic note, with the media appreciating the exclusive visual synopsis and character introduction screening, while anticipation continues to build for ‘Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku’, which is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 25.
