'Arasan': Vijay Sethupathi Joins The Vetrimaaran-STR Film

In exciting news, the makers of Vetrimaaran’s new film Arasan have put out a poster welcoming Vijay Sethupathi to the sets of their under-production film. Arasan stars Silambarasan, and the gangster saga is part of the Vada Chennai universe and is likely based on the life of real-life Chennai-based gangster Mylai Siva. Siva’s life is said to have been associated with gang violence in the Mylapore area of Chennai.

Vijay Sethupathi had played an important role in Vetrimaaran’s two previous films, Viduthalai (2023) and Viduthalai 2 (2024). It was the film’s producer, Kalaipuli S Thanu, who posted the announcement on social media with the caption, “Manidham inaigiradhu, magathuvam therigiradhu (Humanity connects, greatness is on display).”

In late October, the same team had launched a retro first-look poster from Arasan. This title translates to ‘king.’ It is being produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu, who had previously collaborated with Vetrimaaran and Dhanush on Asuran. This is Silambarasan’s first film with Vetrimaaran. The project’s tentative title was initially ‘STR 49’, and the team eventually released a new poster, hinting at the film’s mood and themes.

Dhanush, being the producer of Vada Chennai, is the owner of the film's intellectual property, the filmmaker said in a recent video announcement, adding that it's morally right for a person to ask for money for their copyrighted content. "The day after I met Simbu, I spoke to Dhanush about this and told him we could go two ways with this film, which is either set the film in the world of Vada Chennai or do it as a standalone film and that it depends on him. He told me to do whatever is comfortable for me. He told me he would give NOC and said no money was needed."

Silambarasan’s last release was Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, while Vetrimaaran had produced this year’s film Bad Girl.