Indian 2 director Shankar: 'Vaazhai is a very disturbing film...'

Filmmaker Shankar was left deeply moved and emotionally shattered after watching Mari Selvaraj's latest film, Vaazhai. The film, which delves into the horrors of caste oppression through the eyes of a child, has left a lasting impact on Shankar, who echoed the sentiments of actor Vijay Sethupathi, who described feeling "trapped in the world of Vaazhai."

"Vaazhai is a very disturbing film. I am still under its impact, very strong, and I am not able to come out of it," Shankar admitted, revealing the profound effect the movie had on him. Reflecting on a powerful scene, he said, "When I saw the images of them carrying bananas, I could feel that pain in my shoulders. From now on, if I see a banana, I will remember all these characters. I don't know if I can enjoy a banana from now on."

ALSO READ: Vaazhai leaves Vijay Sethupathi deeply emotional: 'I am trapped in this film'

Shankar, who helmed Kamal Haasan's Indian 2 recently, praised the film’s realism, stating, "Every character is very realistic. This film has beauty, style, and humour, and is technically good. Mari has done it very well." He added that Selvaraj shared with him that the film was based on his own life, describing Vaazhai as more akin to a novel than a traditional movie.

The who's who of the Tamil film industry has praised the film's powerful narrative and its ability to resonate deeply with audiences, offering a stark and poignant examination of caste oppression in society. 

With Vaazhai, Mari Selvaraj has scored his fourth consecutive success. Made on a small budget, the movie is putting up a strong performance at the Tamil Nadu box office. Despite lacking star power, the terrific word of mouth and glowing reviews are helping the movie to draw audiences to theatres. 

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