Manjanathi Wraps First Schedule, Kayadu Lohar Reflects
Kayadu Lohar confirms Mari Selvaraj's Manjanathi has completed its first shooting schedule, with Priyanka Mohan and Kathir in the lead and Ilaiyaraaja scoring.
Mari Selvaraj’s Manjanathi is moving forward. More than a month into production, the film has completed its first shooting schedule, and actor Kayadu Lohar gave fans a small, black-and-white glimpse of the world the director is building.
A first schedule and a cryptic note
Kayadu Lohar posted a behind-the-scenes photograph on Instagram in which she wears a saree and walks with Mari Selvaraj along an empty road. The post does not spell out the plot, but her words have already set off speculation.
“A different world. A different school. A different me. And a storyteller who made me see things a little differently. Schedule wrap for Manjanathi.”
The mention of a school could be a clue to the setting, though the makers have not confirmed anything about her character or the film’s story. In an earlier post, Kayadu said the project had pushed her to confront ideas about how people see, judge and control one another.
Who is part of Manjanathi
The film brings together a cast and crew that Tamil film fans will recognise quickly.
- Leads: Priyanka Mohan, Kathir and Kayadu Lohar, with Poornima Ravi, Vidhu and J Vignesh in supporting roles.
- Director: Mari Selvaraj, on his sixth feature, reuniting with Kathir after 2018’s Pariyerum Perumal.
- Music: Ilaiyaraaja, scoring for Mari Selvaraj for the first time.
- Technical crew: Cinematographer Ezhil Arasu K, editor Selva RK, art director Ramu Thangaraj and stunt choreographer Dhilip Subbarayan.
- Producers: Mari Selvaraj and Divya Mari Selvaraj under Navvi Studios, alongside Sushant Prasad for Skanda Pictures and the Fortune banner.
What this means for fans
Mari Selvaraj’s earlier films have often explored caste, social hierarchies and the experiences of marginalised communities. Manjanathi has kept its subject under wraps, but Kayadu’s description of a project that questions how people are judged suggests the director’s familiar concerns may return in a new shape.
The combination of Selvaraj and Ilaiyaraaja is also a first-time pairing worth watching: a filmmaker known for rooted storytelling and a composer whose music has shaped Tamil cinema for decades.
What comes next
With the first leg complete, Manjanathi now moves into its next production phase. The makers have not announced a release date, so more casting and schedule details are likely to arrive as the film progresses.
Source: Filmfare
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