“Ranjit was always there to inspire me and give me guidelines of what the person could look like,” says Chiyaan Vikram who plays three different characters in Thangalaan
Thangalaan is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in the entertainment world. Well-studded with a gripping story, captivating plot, mesmerizing canvas, and mind-blowing performances, the film started to create waves ever since its release in other languages and is all set for its Hindi release today on 30th August. While the film perfectly holds the audience’s attention in every scene, it’s Chiyaan Vikram’s outstanding performance that emerges as the most crucial factor in making Thangalaan what it is. The actor has given his heart and soul to perfect his character on the screen as he played three different roles.
“One is a great-great-grandfather, his portion is a little lengthy. You have to show travel through time and the different generations of Thangalaan. He had to look like me but how different can we make him look? Ranjit was always there to inspire me and give me guidelines of what the person could look like”.
Chiyaan Vikram was seen playing three different roles in Thangalaan, and he indeed performed his best in all. He portrayed Thangalaan Muni, Kaadaiyan, Thangalaan’s great-grandfather, and Arasan “Aaran” (The Protector of Gold). Remarkably, the actor underwent major physical transformations for his roles. For one of the roles, he lost weight and only wore a langot as the character’s costume, which is a very rare thing for any actor to attempt. He also went half-bald for another role. For yet another role, he had to sit for 4 to 5 hours of makeup before reaching the set and starting the shoot. Moreover, to maintain the film’s raw and authentic feel, the actors had to drench themselves in mud, making it very difficult to shoot in the real outdoor locations. This indeed speaks volumes about Chiyaan Vikram’s dedication and perseverance, which is clearly evident in his fabulous performance in the film.
Thangalaan is yet another cinematic spectacle from the South. It tells the real story of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) when they were discovered by the British, who exploited and looted them for their own purposes. The film continues the South Indian film industry’s trend of bringing unique concepts to audiences. It’s yet another film from the South with an unusual concept.
Directed by Pa. Ranjith, Thangalaan starring Chiyaan Vikram and Malavika Mohanan in prominent roles, was released worldwide on August 15, 2024, in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. The film will be released in Hindi on August 30th. The music of the film is composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar.