Vignesh Raja Opens Up About His New Suspense Thriller 'Kara'
In his first interview about the follow-up to his 2023 hit Por Thozhil, director Vignesh Raja shares exciting details about his upcoming film Kara. He talks openly about the morally complex, 1990s-set suspense thriller. Raja also discusses working with superstar Dhanush through chaotic schedules, casting actors against their usual types, and handling the creative pressure that followed his successful debut.
Dealing With High Expectations After 'Por Thozhil'
Vignesh Raja admits that expectations definitely affected him. "For four or five months after Por Thozhil released, people kept asking me how I would make something better," he reveals. "That really weighed on me and slowed down my writing process."
He describes this as a difficult phase. Eventually, Raja reminded himself why his first film worked so well. "I stuck to the process without worrying about the result," he explains. Once he found that clarity again, he decided to silence the noise and focus on getting each day of work right. That approach became the foundation for making Kara.
Dhanush's Supportive Collaboration
Raja expresses deep appreciation for Dhanush's collaborative spirit. "Dhanush sir has been very supportive," he says. "He often gives suggestions, but he also tells me, 'You don't have to take every suggestion. Make the film you want.'" This kind of creative freedom made the entire filmmaking process very smooth for the director.
The Intense World of 'Kara'
The teaser of Kara gives viewers an intense vibe, and Raja explains why. "It's an emotionally rooted suspense thriller," he states. The story unfolds in early 1990s Ramanathapuram. The film takes its title from the protagonist, Karasami.
"The protagonist's character exists in a grey space," Raja elaborates. "People in the film keep calling him 'Kara.' At its core, it's the journey of this man—a story about guilt, redemption and the many ways to interpret what the word 'Kara' stands for."
The word can mean many things—stain, shore, or even a deity. By the end of the film, that meaning becomes completely clear to audiences.
Exploring Moral Ambiguity
Questions of morality permeate the narrative, affecting not just the protagonist but several characters. Sooraj Venjaramoodu, Jayaram, Karunaas, KS Ravikumar and Mamita Baiju all play important roles in this exploration.
"Most of them exist in that morally ambiguous space," Raja notes. In that sense, the film functions as a psychological study wrapped within the suspense thriller genre.
The Spark of Inspiration
Raja reveals that the film's idea came from two unrelated newspaper articles he read six months apart. "The first struck me as a funny story," he recalls. "When I read the second a few months later, my perspective changed completely."
He began wondering what would happen if these two ideas combined. That question planted the seed for the film. While not based directly on true events, some occurrences in the film have real-life parallels.
Creating the Role for Dhanush
After Por Thozhil released, Dhanush called Raja expressing interest in working together. At that point, the director only had a basic idea. He wanted to develop it organically and present it as a full script rather than a simple one-liner.
Even during development, Raja felt Dhanush would be perfect for the challenging role. "A lot is happening internally with this character," he explains. "He has to convey that without making the character too grey or unlikeable."
They had many discussions about striking that delicate balance to ensure audiences would still root for the protagonist. Exploring this complexity with an actor of Dhanush's caliber proved to be a great experience for the director.
Chaotic Shooting Schedules
Dhanush was directing and acting in other projects simultaneously while shooting for Kara. Raja describes the experience as quite crazy. "There was a day when Idli Kadai and Kara were both being shot in the same village in Ramanathapuram," he remembers.
Dhanush would direct a shot there and then come to Raja's set to act in one of their scenes. He even maintained an editing setup in his caravan. Between takes, he had to dub for Tere Ishk Mein, and two of his films released during their shoot period, requiring promotional travel.
"In the morning he'd be in Bombay, and that same night, he'd be shooting in Ramanathapuram," Raja marvels. The team raced against time because they wanted to finish before the monsoon season arrived.
Casting Against Type
Mamita Baiju, known for her bubbly screen image, appears in a completely different light in Kara. "We've cast her against type," Raja confirms. "Full credit to her for being bold enough to break that mould and take on something like this."
He praises her fantastic performance and predicts she will go far as an actress. Not just Mamita—most primary characters have been cast against their established types. The team worked extensively on makeup and subtle prosthetics, which explains why they haven't revealed much about the characters yet.
"We plan to introduce each character gradually," Raja concludes. "Giving each their proper due in the storytelling process."
