Director Lokesh Kanagaraj is busy with the promotional activities around his upcoming mass action-drama Coolie with superstar Rajinikanth in lead role. The film is set to hit theaters on 14th of August. The entertainer has an ensemble star cast that includes Tollywood superstar Nagarjuna, Kannada star Upendra, and Shruti Haasan.
The production team has been aggressively promoting the flick in innovative ways. In a recent promotional interview with a leading YouTube channel story teller Lokesh Kanagaraj has talked about his other upcoming project titled Benz. He has penned the story of the movie.
Actor Raghava Lawrence who had his last release in Karthik Subbaraj’s Jigarthanda DoubleX will play the protagonist who goes by the titular name. While Nivin Pauly who was last seen in Tamil in Gautham Ramachandran’s Richie will be seen in the antagonist part named Twin Fish Walter. Malayalam actress Samyuktha of Vaathi fame has been signed in to play the female lead.
Director Bakkiyaraj Kannan, who is known for cooking up films like Remo and Sulthan, is helming the entertainer. The shoot for the drama has been happening in full-fledged. Already two schedules of shoot have been wrapped.
Speaking about how the film happened, Lokesh Kanagaraj revealed, “I wrote the script of Benz nearly half a decade ago. I tried to pitch the project but it did not materialize. Later I happened to discuss the story with my production partners Jagadish Palanisamy and Sudhan Sundaram. They really loved the plot. They suggested that I should get someone else to direct it as it has a lot of scope to be a superhit.”
Lokesh Kanagaraj Superstar Rajnikanth
Talking further he disclosed, “We had a detailed discussion over the business aspect of it. They recommended that I try and bring the character of Benz into LCU. We were in a process to shortlist people to craft the flick. Then I recalled director Bakkiyaraj Kannan whom I know from Sulthan. He is a brilliant visualizer. Hence, we decided to go with him.”
Explaining about an outsider directing his script, he said, “This is the first time someone else is directing a drama in LCU. If it works out well, and if the audience receives it well commercially. I can then confidently handover opportunities to other directors who can direct important subplots of LCU. I have a plan to broaden the horizon of LCU. But like I said it all banks on the success of Benz.”
Benz will be the new entrant to Lokesh Kanagaraj’s universe after Kaithi, Vikram, and Leo. Earlier this year the makers had released Nivin Pauly’s character intro promo video which had the actor in eccentric dual characters. The production house has been tightlipped about the rest of the artists that are part of the flick.
Music director Sai Abhyankkar, who shot to fame with sensational songs like ‘Katchi Sera’ and ‘Aasa Kooda’, is set to make his debut as a musician in the drama. The production unit has planned to have seven songs in the album. Cinematographer Goutham George is cranking cameras for the venture. Editor Philomin Raj has been tasked with editing the entertainer.
Art director Jacki will be engineering sets for the venture. Stunt master Anal Arasu will be designing action blocks for the movie. Benz is funded by Lokesh Kanagaraj himself under the production banner G Squad partnering with Sudhan Sundaram for the production label Passion Studio, and Jagadish Palanisamy for the production company The Route. Netflix OTT platform has purchased the post theatrical rights of the flick.
On the professional front, actor Raghava Lawrence will soon be seen on screens in Bullet helmed by Innasi Pandiyan in which he has collaborated with actress Vaishali Raj. The Motta Siva Ketta Siva actor is currently focused on his next movies Kaala Bhairava crafted by Ramesh Varma, Adhigaram directed by Durai Senthilkumar, Hunter scripted by director Venkat Mohan, and Kanchana 4 helmed and headlined by himself with actresses Pooja Hegde and Nora Fatehi as female leads.
On the other hand, actor Nivin Pauly is anticipating successive releases in Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai filmed by Ram in which he has partnered with actors Soori & Anjali, a couple of Malayalam movies Dolby Dineshan scripted by K V Thamar, Dear Students crafted by story teller Sandeep Kumar & George Philip in which he has shared screen space with actress Nayanthara, and Baby Girl directed by Arun Varma in which he has featured alongside actresses Lijomol Jose and Aditi Ravi.
