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Behind-the-Scenes Facts about Thuppakki

1. Casting and Initial Choices
Thuppakki saw a lot of casting changes before finalizing its iconic lineup. Originally, director A.R. Murugadoss had pitched the lead role to Akshay Kumar, and Kingfisher model Angela Jonsson was chosen as the heroine. However, due to scheduling and other reasons, Vijay took the lead, and Kajal Aggarwal replaced Angela after initial photoshoots. Even the production team saw changes, as Vijay’s father, S.A. Chandrasekhar, was initially set to produce the film, but S. Thanu ultimately took over through V Creations.

2. Technical Team and Cinematic Choices
Murugadoss also deviated from his usual team, bringing in Sreekar Prasad as the editor and Thota Tharani for art direction. The legendary Santosh Sivan was signed as the cinematographer, using an Arri Alexa digital camera instead of the traditional 35 mm film, creating a unique visual experience. Sivan also involved Vijay in a guerrilla-style shoot on Mumbai’s Linking Road, where Vijay personally operated the camera for a scene that was impressively retained in the final cut.

3. Music and Song Highlights
Harris Jayaraj’s music became one of Thuppakki‘s standout elements. This film marked Jayaraj’s second collaboration with Vijay after Nanban and his third with Murugadoss. Notably, Vijay lent his voice to the hit song “Google Google,” marking his return to playback singing after seven years. The song, along with the “Antarctica” sequence, was shot in exotic locations, including Bangkok and Switzerland, with intricate choreography by Shobi and Natty Subramaniam.

4. Action Sequences and Filming Challenges
Thuppakki was packed with intense action scenes, some of which posed risks for the actors. Vijay sustained a knee injury during a stunt sequence, temporarily halting the shoot. In another scene, the climax fight, multiple cameras were used, involving 60 fighters to capture the drama. A standout feature was that the film’s “ticking bomb” climax sequence realistically matched the on-screen timer to actual 15 minutes, creating high tension for viewers.

5. Controversies and Reactions
Upon its release, Thuppakki faced backlash from certain groups. The portrayal of Muslims in the film led to protests, with Murugadoss and Thanu eventually agreeing to make edits and issuing an apology. Additionally, a promotional poster featuring Vijay with a cigar sparked further controversy. ARM later promised that the film wouldn’t include smoking scenes and agreed to alter the promotion material. Another poster, showing Vijay holding Aggarwal, was noted to resemble the Hollywood classic An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), which Murugadoss admitted was an intentional homage.