Kamal Haasan, has enjoyed a prolific career spanning nearly six decades, marked by numerous successes. However, amidst his successes, he has also encountered setbacks, notably with the commercial disappointment of the 2015 film Uttama Villain.
Despite its delayed release, Uttama Villain failed to make a significant impact at the box office, resulting in substantial losses for its producers, N Lingusamy and Thirrupathi Brothers Company. In response, Kamal Haasan pledged to compensate for the losses by starring in a film of their choosing. However, recent developments have revealed that this promise remains unfulfilled.
Marking the same, Lingusamy and Thirrupathi Brothers Company has taken legal action, filing a petition against the acclaimed actor at the Tamil Nadu Producers Council. Alleging that Kamal Haasan has not acted in a film for the past nine years, the producers seek intervention to enforce the agreement made following Uttama Villain’s underwhelming performance.
In their complaint, the producers highlighted Kamal Haasan’s commitment to collaborate on a project to mitigate their financial burdens. They expressed concerns about mounting pressure from lenders who financed Uttama Villain, exacerbating their predicament.
Uttama Villain, a 2015 comedy drama directed by Ramesh Aravind, boasted an ensemble cast including Urvashi, K Balachander, Andrea Jeremiah, and others. Notably, it marked the final on-screen appearance of veteran filmmaker K Balachander alongside his protege Kamal Haasan.
The film follows the journey of Manoranjan, a star grappling with a terminal illness, who seeks redemption by reconciling with his mentor and addressing personal conflicts while crafting his farewell project. Despite its lackluster commercial performance, Uttama Villain earned critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling approach.
With music by Ghibran and cinematography by Shamdat Sainudeen, Uttama Villain showcased a blend of talent both on and off-screen. Vijay Shankar’s editing contributed to the film’s narrative cohesion, despite its box office fate.
