Ahead of Vaazhai OTT release, Mari Selvaraj reveals his biggest regret involving Nikhila Vimal

Filmmaker Mari Selvaraj has opened up about a major regret surrounding his latest film Vaazhai, which has become a surprise commercial success at the Tamil Nadu box office. Originally planned for a direct-to-stream release, the film defied expectations and grossed over Rs 40 crore since its theatrical debut on August 23. Ahead of its upcoming streaming release on Disney+ Hotstar, the filmmakers held a media event to celebrate its success, during which Selvaraj reflected on what he wishes he could change.

During the event, Selvaraj expressed disappointment over his inability to shoot key scenes for the film's climax due to scheduling conflicts with actress Nikhila Vimal, who plays the pivotal role of Poongodi, a schoolteacher. "Many people questioned why the teacher didn’t appear in the climax," Selvaraj said, explaining that he was unable to secure Vimal's dates for the final scenes. He also revealed that the song Paadhavathi, which was added a year after the initial shoot, was a late addition to the film. "I imagined a scene where Sivanaindhan (Ponvel M) would rest his head on the teacher's lap. If we had filmed that, it would have answered a lot of questions," he said. "Missing that shot has been the biggest regret of my life."

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Selvaraj noted that the absence of the teacher in the climax has caused some confusion for audiences but emphasized that it was due to unavoidable circumstances. "In real life, all my teachers were present for me till the end. I express my deepest gratitude to them, but I couldn’t show that in the movie due to timing issues," he added.

Vaazhai is based on events from Selvaraj's childhood. Despite the missed opportunity, Selvaraj hinted at the possibility of Vaazhai 2, saying there are still many stories left to tell. "If some people are still confused about who Mari Selvaraj is, I will keep making movies like this. A sequel could happen, and it would help explain things better, especially with the characters of Sivanaindhan and Poongodi," he teased.

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