One of the most prominent directors in Tamil cinema, Gautham Vasudev Menon is known for his police action and romance films, like Minnale, Kaala Kaaka, Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu, Varanam Aayiram, and others. He is now directing Joshua and Dhruva Natchathiram. Gautham Menon has acknowledged that American films’ “depth and aesthetics” serve as a major source of inspiration for him. He typically has all of the characters in his movies wear urban casual clothing, have identical haircuts, and speak English. Moreover, his films stand out from other modern Tamil films for their powerful portrayals of female characters.
One of very successful films Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu, starring Kamal Haasan, which earned the actor a State Award for Best Actor, is not just a fan favorite but also closest to the director’s heart. The reason being, it is the only film in which his father makes a screen appearance.
In an interview, the director described how he had granted his father’s wish and created a memento for him before his passing. Since Gautham Vasudev Menon’s father loved Kamal Haasan and his films, he directed a few scenes for Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu in his own house for his father to see. In addition, he included his father in a scene in the Karka Karka song by Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu where Kamal Haasan enters a pub for a shootout to leave a lasting impression on his father.
It was a short role but it was a dream come true for his father. It should be mentioned that the father character in Vaaranam Aayiram was inspired by this very character. Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu released in 2006, and Gautham Vasudev Menon’s father passed away the very next year.
Prakash Raj, Daniel Balaji, and Salim Baig performed supporting roles in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, which starred Kamal Haasan, Jyothika, and Kamalinee Mukherjee in major roles. The neo-noir action revolves around the main character, DCP Raghavan, who is on the trail of two serial killers.
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