From Ashok Selvan’s Dedication to Peter Hein’s Action Sequences… A Grand Introduction Event for ‘Anbil Avan’!

From Ashok Selvan’s Dedication to Peter Hein’s Action Sequences… A Grand Introduction Event for ‘Anbil Avan’!

Chennai, September 23, 2026 ‘Anbil Avan’, starring Ashok Selvan, Preethi Mukundan, Sabumon Abdusamad, Kathir Balu, Maha Delhi Ganesh and others, is directed by R. Karthikeyan. The story of the film has been penned by Vignesh Raja, director of Por Thozhil. Govind Vasantha has composed the music, Gautham Rajendran is the cinematographer, R.K. Selva is the editor, and Manikandan Srinivasan is the art director.

The film is jointly produced by K. Karunamoorthy, Ashok Selvan and Abhinaya Selvam under the banners of Ayngaran International and Happy High Pictures. Rasi Chidambaram of Sri Kumaran Films is presenting the film.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Happy High Pictures, producer Abhinaya said:

The story was the reason we decided to make this film. We liked the story so much that we decided to produce it. It was that good. We then assembled a wonderful and intelligent team. I would say this is a dream team for a dream project.

My brother and I have always shared a very good relationship. I am the one who talks and does things more often. We are always talking to each other. Whenever I have doubts about anything, my brother is the one who gives me the confidence to go ahead. Based on the characters Ashok plays, one should not assume that he is a serious person. We are always talking and laughing together. If I tell him something twice, he listens, and I do the same.

Ashok is not just my brother; he is also a very good friend. ‘Anbil Avan’ is about how a loving couple faces challenges and fights their way out of difficult situations. His character is someone many women may wish they could have as a husband.

Speaking on behalf of Ayngaran International, its publicity director Kavitha Pandian said:

This is a film that is very close to my heart. I was amazed by the actors, the technicians and the efforts of the entire team. I have come here on behalf of our Karunamoorthy sir. Ashok Selvan has delivered a wonderful performance in this film.

He is not only like a brother to me but also a friend. We are like twins in our bonding. I request everyone to watch this film in theatres.

Actor Gautham Karthik, who attended the event as a friend, said:

I watched the trailer and teaser of this film and thoroughly enjoyed them. Everything looks fantastic. Ashok Selvan is my friend. Just as someone may be called a dream lover, I would call Ashok a dream friend. We have become very close over the past two years. Whenever I talk to him, he makes me forget my problems. I consider myself fortunate to have his friendship.

This film has come out wonderfully. There is a certain magic in it. Even the sound design is excellent.

Think Music’s Santhosh said:

I am extremely happy. We have been associated with Ashok Selvan from his very first film and have worked together on most of his films. We are happy to be part of this film as well. Govind Vasantha is like one of our own artists. There are five or six songs in this film. ‘Aasai Varame’ and ‘Kalla Nikkiriye’ have become huge hits.

Govind Vasantha told us a year ago that this album would become a big success, and that is exactly what has happened. Everyone in the film has competed with one another and delivered their best. Ashok Selvan and Preethi Mukundan have performed and danced very well. The climax will be something nobody expects. Thank you for giving Think Music the opportunity to be part of this film.

Editor R.K. Selva said:

I entered this project through Ashok Selvan. We were college friends. This is a story involving two people, and Preethi has an equally important role as Ashok. Vignesh Raja has written the story brilliantly. Govind Vasantha’s music is excellent. Initially, we planned for three songs, but it eventually became six.

Ashok and I made a short film together. I am very happy and proud to see him grow into a big actor today. He has come a long way.

Cinematographer Gautham Rajendran said:

First, I would like to thank Abi akka. I thank director Karthik for trusting me and giving me this opportunity. I am also grateful to him for giving me the freedom to experiment in different ways. I learned many things from Ashok anna. The confidence he placed in me helped me perform better.

Actor Harish Kalyan said:

Ashok has given us many films through his performances as an actor, and several of them have been successful. He has now grown into a major actor. I wish him the very best in all his efforts.

He told me that he jumped from a height of 70 feet for a stunt sequence. I asked him whether it had been documented as evidence. I was not surprised that he did it because he is that courageous. He is someone who inspires many people. He is a person who performs real achievements and real stunts.

Preethi Mukundan chooses good stories and is working in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. She is a dedicated actress. Abi akka is extremely talented and has brought together several talented people to create this film. I am happy to be among those who are wishing this film well.

Govind Vasantha’s music has become a big success. Everyone should support this film. I believe Ashok Selvan will become a pan-Indian star in the next five years.”

Music composer Govind Vasantha said:

I can say that this is one of the films I truly enjoyed working on after a long time. It was a very happy experience.

About 99 percent of the films I have worked on have been with first-time directors. Many of them have gone on to become excellent technicians and filmmakers. This film also has many talented technicians. The film has been made with a very promising level of quality.

Story writer and Por Thozhil director Vignesh Raja said:

As a writer, I am extremely happy. Before entering cinema, I made corporate films. During that period, we were travelling by car near Jaipur in North India. It was raining heavily, and we were worried that the equipment mounted on top of the car would get wet. So, we stopped the Innova, found a flex banner nearby, broke it and used it to cover the equipment before continuing our journey.

We had not noticed whose image was on that flex banner. Because of that, we got into a major problem. That incident became the first seed for this story.

This is a love story. It is about a couple who dream of living a certain kind of life and how they face the challenges that come their way.

Abhinaya and Ashok Selvan came on board first, followed by Karthik. The film has come out much better than I imagined.

I have known Ashok Selvan for 15 years. Back then, we would watch Mission: Impossible and imitate the way the characters spoke. He became the first hero in my first film. Today, we have become like family. Ashok and I have run from street to street together in our early days. Thinking about him makes me both happy and proud.

Actor Kathiravan Balu, who plays a villain, said:

While making this film itself, we knew how well it was going to turn out. Govind Vasantha’s songs have come out very well. There are several sequences in the film that were shot in a single take.

Normally, such scenes would be performed by trained stunt artists. But that was not the case here, and yet the team managed to shoot those sequences effectively. It is truly commendable.

I thank Ashok Selvan, Abhinaya and the director for choosing me.”

Maha Delhi Ganesh, who plays another antagonist, said:

First, I would like to thank the team for this opportunity. Even while shooting difficult and intense scenes, Preethi Mukundan performed without showing any discomfort or hesitation. I would like to thank her for that.

Whenever we had doubts, the director would come and clarify everything for us. The entire team stood by us throughout. The action sequences choreographed by Peter Hein master have come out brilliantly. It is a great honour to have acted under his direction.”

Another antagonist, Sabumon, said:

I have come from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. I initially thought I should not speak Malayalam here. Though I was born in Kerala, I spent my childhood near the border, so I know a little Tamil. I love Tamil. I love Tamil culture, Tamil people and Tamil cinema.

We worked together like a family on this film. Although I have acted in Tamil films before, this has been an important and unforgettable experience.

Ashok Selvan, Karthik and I would often have arguments with each other. I am a very calm person, but I have played a ruthless character in this film. More than that, they treated me very strictly during the shoot.
They made me perform even in minus-degree temperatures without any special consideration. In real life, I am a peaceful person, but I have played a very intense character in the film. They chased me around and made me work extremely hard. They did not even give me time to catch my breath!

At the time, I felt the pain and frustration. But when I watched the film, all of that disappeared.

I did not know what to speak at this event. I even asked my wife to use ChatGPT and write something in Tamil for me. But I could not read it properly and forgot everything!

I need your love and support. In this film, I did not just find a producer; I also found a friend. I found friends who are very close to my heart. Thank you to everyone.”

Stunt choreographer Peter Hein said:

This film is personally very important to me. It is not like the usual films I work on. I had worked with Vignesh Raja before, and we became friends. Producer Abhinaya gave me the screenplay and asked me to read it and take it up if I liked it.

At that time, I was working on 17 films. I wanted to understand how the action sequences would look from the director’s perspective. I asked him how he envisioned every action scene and what he wanted the sequences to look like.

After coming into this film, my entire approach changed. I became like a member of the family. Ashok Selvan became like a younger brother to me. I was there with this film like an elder brother.

In my 34 years of experience, I have never felt this kind of emotional connection to a film. I felt as though this was my own company and my own production house. I became like a member of their family.

You may not believe this, but because of my personal circumstances, there were times when I sat alone at the shooting spot and cried. After crying, I would immediately return to work on the action sequences. I cared deeply about this film. We would discuss everything with the director and Ashok Selvan, and that is how we created the sequences.

It was a new experience for me. There are three villains in the film, and all of them have performed brilliantly. This is an entertaining film, but we approached it very seriously.

Preethi Mukundan was like a rose surrounded by blades and nails in this film. I gained many new experiences while working on this project.

I was working on ‘Mandadi’ at the time. Even though I had many films in hand, I told my secretary that I would not take up any other work for 45 days and not give dates to anyone because I could not leave this film midway.

I adjusted many things for this one film because I treated it like a family project and was deeply involved in it. The music is very good. Gautham, the cinematographer, has done a wonderful job. Ashok Selvan and Abhinaya, I will always be behind you.

The action sequences in this film will be an unexpected treat.

There is a video currently going viral in which young women say they want two lakh rupees or five lakh rupees and a husband who looks like Yash. If they had watched this film, or if this film had come earlier, they would have said they wanted a husband like Ashok Selvan!

Director Ashwath Marimuthi said:

I came directly from a shooting spot. I started my shoot two hours earlier and finished two hours earlier just so that I could attend this event. Everything I have received in cinema started here with Oh My Kadavule.

The story was one of the reasons that film worked, and Vignesh Raja played an important role in it. We are part of the same team and regularly discuss films.

Action is the foundation of this film, and therefore Peter Hein master is a huge strength. Music composer Govind Vasantha is another major strength. Their success is important to me. This film is a great example of how a movie can work when its foundation is strong.

When Preethi Mukundan was approached for Dragon, she initially declined. Later, I told her that a wonderful film was coming her way. That film was this one.

They told me Ashok Selvan had jumped from a height of 70 feet. That did not surprise me because even if he were 150 feet up, he might still jump! He is an action hero.

When I directed him, he was never late to the set even once. Even now, in the film I am directing, Dharma, Superstar Rajinikanth sir has never been late despite his age. He remains enthusiastic every day.

Even after 50 years of experience, he still asks with excitement what we are going to do that day.

Initially, I was nervous about how I would direct him. But he made himself completely comfortable with me and adapted to my working style. His dedication is astonishing.

Ashok Selvan loves and respects cinema. This moment is very important to me.

Music composer Nivas K. Prasanna said:

I am very happy. This feels like a family function to me. I remember working with Ashok Selvan in Thegidi. It makes me proud to see how much he has grown today. I wish him continued growth and success.

Director R. Karthikeyan said:

First, I would like to thank my assistant directors and assistant cinematographers who worked with me. Over the past two years, I have probably spoken more with my co-director than with my wife! Thank you to everyone.

I don’t think I have much to say about the film because the film speaks for itself. I have confidence in it. From the censor authorities to the producers, distributors and OTT companies, everyone has said that the film is good. We are eagerly waiting to show it to the audience.

I have known Ashok Selvan for ten years. Since 2017, we have started several films that could not continue for various reasons. There were occasions when producers did not want us, and occasions when we did not want to work with certain producers. We have experienced everything from shooting for a single day to completing 13 days of filming before a project stopped.

When I think about Ashok Selvan and Abhinaya, I feel proud. I am also proud of Happy High Pictures. They are willing to give opportunities to debut directors in Tamil cinema. Come to them with good stories.

Ashok Selvan’s ability to choose stories can be seen right from Thegidi.

Thank you for making me a director. Without Vignesh Raja, this film would not have happened. That is how strong the story was.

Abhinaya chooses good stories. Once, when I was travelling to Madurai because my elder sister was unwell, I received a phone call. That is how this journey began. She gave me confidence and offered me this opportunity. The entire film has happened almost magically because of that trust.

The encouragement and support given by Ashok Selvan were very important. He involved himself in my film almost like an assistant director. His help with promotional activities was also tremendous.

I am happy that we have made the film properly. I wish Happy High Pictures continued growth and success.

They provide opportunities to debut directors and talented people. They have assembled a highly talented team. If we give them one idea, they come back with ten more ideas.

The cinematographer, editor and sound engineer who worked on this film are all extremely talented.

The involvement of Peter Hein master in this film was extraordinary. He may look like a child, but once it comes to work, he goes beyond everything. The final 30 minutes of this film can be called Peter Hein master’s film.

Despite having several personal problems, he worked continuously on this film for more than 40 days.

Govind Vasantha chooses good lyrics and creates wonderful music. He has also used Tamil singers in the songs. The songs and lyrics are beautiful.

When I visited his home in Kochi and watched the way he composed music, I was amazed. When I kept suggesting changes and asked him to modify a line, he told me, ‘If I do that, it will no longer be my song; it will become your song.’ I will never forget that.

Some people have a huge team of assistants. But he is a one-man army. He plays the violin, veena and even instruments whose names I don’t know. I discovered a unique composer of this generation through this film.

Abhinaya Selvam is a courageous woman and an example of a strong woman. If assistant directors send her a screenplay, she responds within three hours. Everyone should make use of that opportunity.

Preethi Mukundan was not completely satisfied with one particular performance during a scene, but she kept asking what she should do and how she could improve. She is extremely enthusiastic and constantly tries to improve. She is not just a star; she is an actress who is committed to the craft.

Cinematographer Gautham is very dear to me. Very few people reinvest what they earn from cinema back into cinema. Like Kamal sir, Ashok Selvan also puts what he earns from cinema back into cinema. It is rare to find a producer like him.

Abhinaya and Ashok Selvan are not from extremely wealthy families. They come from middle-class backgrounds. People may think Ashok is very wealthy because of his appearance, but they worked hard and faced many difficulties to make this film.

Actress Preethi Mukundan said:

This event is very important to me and brings me immense happiness.

First, I have to speak about Abhinaya. She is a powerhouse. She is a very strong and powerful woman.

When audiences watch a film, they see the actors on screen. They do not always see the powerful people working behind the scenes. But they are the real strength of a film, and Abhinaya is one of the most important among them.

She has been a great inspiration to me. I love her very much. Ashok Selvan and Abhinaya welcomed me into their team as though they had adopted me. They guided me and believed in me.

Sometimes I wondered why they were so loving and supportive.

Ashok Selvan is an amazing person. Working with him in this film has been a wonderful journey. He has reached a new level in his acting through this film. More importantly, he gave me space to perform and helped me reach that level as an actress too.

College friends talk, argue, do silly things and discuss everything under the sun. Ashok Selvan was that kind of friend to me during this film.

Director Karthikeyan brought out a more mature performance from me and gave me the opportunity to explore that side of myself. While dubbing emotional scenes, there were moments when I could not even hear my own voice because of the emotions. He never gave up on me. He taught me and guided me throughout.

Their faith in me gave me strength and confidence. After this experience, I developed a desire to work with good writers and good directors.

Thank you for giving me such a powerful role and the opportunity to perform it.

Cinematographer Gautham is around my age and is the youngest member of this team. We shared our thoughts and emotions with each other. He gave me feedback on every scene and helped me like a friend.

I am very interested in colours, and he presented me beautifully in the colours I love. Thank you for that.

Sethu also supported me greatly, and I definitely have to thank him.
It was an honour for me to act under Peter Hein master’s direction. It felt like a great recognition. He guided me in many ways, and I will always be grateful to him.

I am a huge fan of Govind Vasantha. I have loved his songs since 96, and the songs in this film are also wonderful.

I was amazed by the performances of Kathir, Maha and Sabumon. I wondered how they could perform those characters so convincingly.

I thank all the assistant directors for making me feel like I was part of a family.

Speaking at the event, the film’s lead actor Ashok Selvan said:

This is a very happy occasion. I did not prepare anything specifically to speak here because I was busy with the film’s censor process and other work right up until the event.

It has been two and a half years since my last film was released. In cinema, two and a half years can feel like five years.

A film is not something you simply make and leave behind. I believe cinema should create an impact. I want to act only in films that have that kind of purpose. We should choose good stories and good characters. We have carefully chosen and worked on everything in this film.

I made many friends and gained many experiences through this film.

Everyone I invited to this event has come here, and that makes me very happy.

I always feel that I should make an effort and give the audience something meaningful. If my name is on a film poster, I believe my 100 percent effort should be present in that film. I believe in reinventing and rediscovering myself for every project.

First, I would like to thank my sister for giving me this important film. She has been with me for three or four years and has gone through many difficult situations with me. She is the reason I was able to overcome many challenges. She has been both a sister and a brother-like source of strength to me.

At one point, many people may change, but my sister has remained the same.

I thank my parents. When the budget of the film went beyond what we had planned and we needed documents to mortgage our house, they did not hesitate to give them to me. They supported their son’s dream and believed that he was doing something meaningful.

The director and I have been friends for ten years. I am happy when I see people who made their debut through my films now directing big projects.

It makes me happy to see Vignesh Raja working on a Dhanush film and Ashwath working on a Rajinikanth sir film. I wish both of them continued growth.

Gautham Karthik, who is here today, is my younger brother. There is nothing more I need to say about him.

Editor Selva and I have been friends since college, and he has made a great contribution to this film.

Thank you, Peter Hein master. He is the person who made this film bigger. He continuously works on major films, so I was initially doubtful whether he would work on a smaller film like this. But he has created the action sequences in the best possible manner.

Cinematographer Gautham has given us some wonderful visuals.

When Preethi Mukundan acted in our film, only one of her films had been released. I used to call her my ‘Bitcoin’ that I had invested in. Now, wherever I go to college events, students shout out her name and ask about her. She may even be part of the second part of this film.

Sabumon chettan supplied bread for us during the shoot. He even set up a small stall and gave bread to everyone.

I must have attended around 100 or 200 auditions in my career. We also conducted auditions for this film before selecting the actors. We found talented people like Maha and Kathir through that process. They will go a long way.

This film has been made by carefully choosing a good story, and I believe it will provide an unforgettable theatrical experience.

I will not say that this is the best film in the world. But I can say that it will provide a good theatrical experience.

When Ayngaran International joined this project, Karunamoorthy sir told us one thing: he only wanted to hear the story, and after that, we could do whatever was necessary. I thank him for the support he gave us.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife Keerthi.

The event concluded with Happy High Pictures producer Abhinaya thanking everyone who had gathered to support the film.