Sowcarpettai, one of the most eagerly awaited Tamil film last year, will be released on February 26. Although the horror film was finished in record time and the industry was abuzz with reports on how the film was likely to emerge a winner at the box office, it never hit screens as expected in November.
Telling City Express why the release was delayed, actor Srikanth says, “It was primarily due to the rains that hit Chennai and the state last year. We initially planned to release the film on November 27. However, we were later advised against it because of the rains. Soon, the floods happened and nobody was in the frame of mind to watch films, so we decided to postpone it. Then, there were other movies being released for Christmas and Pongal, so we had to push it to a later date.”
He adds that Thenandal films, which bought the rights to Sowcarpettai, had another release in Aranmanai 2 on January 29, so they had to give it at least three weeks before coming out with the release. “Then, there was also the question of having a simultaneous release for both the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film and so, now, after taking other factors into consideration, it has been decided to release the film on February 26. I am waiting for the Sowcarpettai release as I intend to release my other film Nambiar after it,” explains the actor.
It is evident that Srikanth has big plans this year and is looking to make up for the limited releases he had last year. “I think 2016 will be a big year for me as I will have several releases. I intend to release three to four Tamil films and one or two Telugu films every year from now on,” he says.
Getting back to talking about Sowcarpettai, the actor says the film, the Telugu version of which is called Shivaganga and which sources said had pleased the producers so much that they even gifted the film’s director Vadivudaiyaan a car, is a proper horror film with lots of action, drama and thrills.
Srikanth says, “For the first time, I play a dual role in this film, which features Raai Laxmi as the heroine. It is about black magic and I’m more kicked about the antagonist’s role than about the protagonist’s.”
Does that mean we will see him in negative roles more often? “Why not? I don’t mind doing a role if it provides the scope to exhibit my talents,” says the actor, as the conversation veers towards the topic of black magic.
So, does he believe in black magic? Pat comes the reply: “By God’s grace, I have not been a victim of black magic; but sadly, I have heard of people resorting to it even in this day and age. In fact, many families have been affected by it. When we were working on this film, I was curious about how people do it and so I visited places where such things are done. Some of these places are in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. But I think I would rather stay away from it.”
Yes, we think so too!