Jr NTR-Vetrimaaran's long-awaited movie: What's holding it back?

Telugu superstar Jr NTR on Tuesday met the media in Chennai as part of the promotions of Devara: Part 1 and reiterated his wish to work on a film directed by Vetrimaaran. "I'm gonna ask my favourite director Vetrimaaran sir, please do a straight Tamil film with me. We can dub it in Telugu," NTR said.

This statement wasn't just wishful thinking or a promotional tactic to win over Tamil audiences. NTR has been in discussions with Vetrimaaran for a long time. However, the project hasn’t materialized for various reasons.

ALSO READ: Inside Devara Part 1: Jr NTR opens up about Koratala Siva, epic action sequences

Earlier, Vetrimaaran himself explained the primary reason for the delay in collaborating with NTR. "Post Asuran and after the lockdown, I met Jr NTR and we talked. It's bound to happen. It just takes me a long time to complete a film and move on to the next. That’s the problem," Vetrimaaran said.

Vetrimaaran has always been open about his meticulous working methods. Unlike many of his equally successful contemporaries, he doesn't go into production with a rigid script. He is known for reshaping the narrative as the project progresses, allowing his creative instincts to guide the direction of the story. This fluidity often leads to prolonged productions and overshot budgets, but it also results in more deeply layered films.

Despite these challenges, Vetrimaaran has built a strong market for his films, which gives him the freedom to indulge in this flexible approach to filmmaking—a luxury not many of his peers can afford.

Vetrimaaran’s latest project, Viduthalai, has been in production for over two years. Initially conceived as a single film based on a short story, the project expanded into a two-part saga as Vetrimaaran uncovered new storylines during filming. Viduthalai Part 2 is scheduled for release on December 20.

Meanwhile, Jr NTR is busy with the promotions for Devara Part 1, his first solo release in six years. The film is set to hit screens worldwide on September 20.

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