15 years of Ajith’s Varalaru: Four interesting facts about the film

Thala Ajith’s Varalaru is an action drama written and directed by KS Ravikumar. The film had Ajith in a triple role along with Asin and Kanika playing the leading ladies. The star cast also included Ramesh Khanna, Suman Shetty, Sujatha and MS Bhaskar. The film was remade in Kannada as Godfather and in Odia as Tu Mo Dehara Chhai. Music for the film was by AR Rahman.

The film was initially called Godfather, but the title was eventually changed to Varalaru after the Tamil Nadu government gave an order to exempt entertainment tax on films that had Tamil titles. The film, which hit screens on the occasion of Diwali, set the cash registers ringing and emerged as a huge grosser at the box office.

This was the fourth time that KS Ravikumar and AR Rahman had come together for a film after Muthu (1995), Padyappa (1999) and Thenali (2000). The album had nine songs comprising the songs Ilamai, Innisai, Kamma Karaiyila, Kaatril Oar Vaarthai, Theeyil Vizhuntha and Thotta Puram. Lyrics were for the songs were by Vairamuthu. This was also the third time that Rahman had composed for Ajith after Pavithra and Kandukondein Kandukondein.

It is said that KS Ravikumar had narrated the script to a number of actors, but they were skeptical about playing an effeminate character. He eventually went on to sign Ajith, who had just opted out of Mirattal. Though the buzz was that Ajith was playing a transgender character in the film, it turned out to be that of an effeminate dancer. His performance in the film was well appreciated.

While Meena, Devayani and Simran were said to have been approached to play senior Ajith’s wife in the film, the role eventually went to Kanika. The role of the leading lady opposite the younger Ajith went to Asin, who also couldn’t allot dates due to being busy with Ghajini, Majaa and Sivakasi, but wrapped up her portions. The shoot went on for over a year and Ajith completed Paramsivan and Tirupathi in the interim.