Vijay Sethupathi’s ‘Baththa’ Celebrates Success; Atlee Praises the Team’s Dedication

The team of Baththa, starring Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role, celebrated the film’s success by meeting the press and sharing their experiences of making the film. Directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan, the film was released in theatres on October 1 and features an ensemble cast including Lijomol Jose, Harikrishnan, Shanthi Balachandran, Arjun Chidambaram, Sai Prithvi Raj, Sahasra, Ajay Ghosh and Deepa Venkat.

Featuring music by Sai Abhyankkar, cinematography by Selvakumar S.K. and editing by R. Kalaivanan, Baththa was produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, Alok Jain and Ajit Andhare under the banners of Star Studio18, A for Apple Studios and Cine 1 Studios Production, with Atlee presenting the film.

Initially appearing to be an action drama, Baththa gradually unfolds into an emotionally driven story exploring human relationships and sensitivities. The film has received appreciation from the media for its storytelling and performances. According to the team, the positive response has also contributed to an increase in the number of theatrical screens. The success meet brought together the film's cast and crew, who expressed their gratitude to the audience, media and everyone involved in the project.

Speaking at the event, Vijay Sethupathi expressed his gratitude to journalists, media organisations and audiences for supporting the film. He compared the nervousness of waiting for a film's reception to the anxiety experienced outside a maternity ward while awaiting the birth of a child. He said the appreciation and encouragement he received from the press had brought immense happiness to the entire team.

The actor also thanked audiences and fans for embracing Baththa as their own film and actively promoting it across social media platforms. He praised director Balaji Tharaneetharan, recalling their association through films such as Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom and Seethakathi. Vijay Sethupathi described the director's work as distinctive and appreciated his ability to bring emotionally meaningful stories to the screen.

Speaking about the performances, Vijay Sethupathi praised young actor Sai Prithvi Raj, who plays Sabari, and said the youngster had delivered an impressive performance. He also appreciated Lijomol Jose's contribution to the film and thanked his fellow artistes and technicians for understanding the story and giving their best to the project.

Director Balaji Tharaneetharan thanked all three production partners for believing in the film. He revealed that Vijay Sethupathi had heard the story first and subsequently introduced it to Atlee because he liked the script. The director said Vijay Sethupathi had once again demonstrated his ability to adapt to a filmmaker's vision.

Balaji Tharaneetharan also praised Lijomol Jose for her committed performance, noting that she joined the production just three days before filming began. He appreciated the natural performances of Sai Prithvi Raj and young actress Sahasra, who had previously attracted attention for her work in Chithha. The director credited the entire technical team for understanding his vision and translating it effectively onto the screen.

He particularly acknowledged production designer Muthuraj for recreating the atmosphere of the 1980s. Cinematographer Selvakumar S.K., editor R. Kalaivanan, costume designer Sruthi Manjari and poster designer Gopi Prasanna were also appreciated for their contributions. The director admitted that he initially had some apprehensions about Sai Abhyankkar composing the background score, but said the musician eventually won his confidence and elevated the film through his work.

Producer Atlee, who presented the film, spoke about the importance of maintaining confidence and integrity despite criticism. He reflected on his journey in cinema, explaining that people had once doubted his ambitions of directing films with leading stars. He said he continued to pursue his goals without allowing criticism to distract him.

Atlee described Baththa as a film shaped by difficult experiences and the belief that setbacks can lead to new opportunities. He thanked producer Murad Khetani for joining the project and expressed his admiration for Vijay Sethupathi, describing him as a good human being as well as an exceptional actor.

Atlee also expressed his desire to see Vijay Sethupathi reach even greater heights nationally. He shared his wish to revive the project Marudhanayagam with Kamal Haasan and Vijay Sethupathi if an opportunity arose.

Praising Sai Abhyankkar, Atlee revealed that approximately 200 musicians who had worked on Hollywood films had performed his musical compositions during a visit to London. He expressed confidence that the young composer would grow into a prominent representative of Tamil Nadu's musical talent.

Lijomol Jose, who plays Kannima in Baththa, thanked audiences for accepting her character. She said director Balaji Tharaneetharan patiently guided her throughout filming and dubbing. She also praised Vijay Sethupathi for the freedom he gave fellow performers and described working alongside him as a memorable experience. She urged audiences to continue recommending the film to others and help it reach a wider audience.

Sai Prithvi Raj, making his acting debut as Sabari, recalled feeling both nervous and excited during the 60-day shoot. He thanked the director and the entire team for taking care of him and said Vijay Sethupathi had been friendly and encouraging despite the youngster initially feeling intimidated by him.

Music composer Sai Abhyankkar said he was initially surprised when he was offered the project. He explained that he gradually earned the director's confidence through his songs before being entrusted with the background score. He praised the performances of Vijay Sethupathi and Lijomol Jose and thanked Atlee for believing in him even when he lacked confidence in his own abilities.

Other members of the team, including production designer Muthuraj, cinematographer Selvakumar S.K., poster designer Gopi Prasanna, lyricists K.K. Nagar Gaana Jeeva and Karthik Netha, writer Karan Karki, actors Harikrishnan, Balamurugan, Arjun Chidambaram and Vishnu, and representatives of Think Music, also shared their experiences and thanked the team for the opportunity.

Karan Karki spoke about his long-standing interest in cinema and his efforts to ensure that the film's Chennai dialect reflected the linguistic differences between neighbourhoods. Lyricist Karthik Netha described Baththa as a film that brings artistic expression into commercial cinema and spoke about its personal significance to him.

The success meet concluded with the team expressing gratitude to the audience and media for supporting the film. With its emphasis on human emotions, performances and the creative contributions of its cast and crew, Baththa continues its theatrical journey with the makers encouraging more people to experience the film on the big screen.