Kanguva

Kanguva ( ) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language fantasy action film directed by Siva and produced by Studio Green, together with UV Creations. The film stars Suriya in dual roles, alongside Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Natty Subramaniam, K. S. Ravikumar, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley, Kovai Sarala, Ravi Raghavendra and Karunas. It is the Tamil debut of Deol and Patani. The film follows Francis Theodore, a bounty hunter in 2024, whose connection with a child is mysteriously connected to a fierce tribal warrior's promise to a child in the year 1070.

The film was officially announced in April 2019 under the tentative title Suriya 39, as it was to be the actor's 39th film as a leading actor; however, it was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic and work conflicts. The project restarted in August 2022, under the tentative title Suriya 42. Principal photography commenced the same month and lasted for seventeen months before wrapping up in January 2024. The title Kanguva was announced in April 2023. Filming locations included Chennai, Goa, Kerala, Kodaikanal and Rajahmundry. The film has music composed by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography handled by Vetrivel Palanisamy and editing by Nishadh Yusuf. Produced on a budget of around crore, it is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.

Kanguva was released worldwide on 14 November 2024 in standard, 3D and IMAX formats to negative reviews from critics, though Suriya's performance was praised. The film grossed 106 crore, making it a box-office failure.

Plot In 2024, Zeta, a young test subject for brain enhancement and superpower experiments, escapes from a Russian biomedical facility near the Indian border. The facility's commander deploys troops to recapture him. Meanwhile, in Goa, bounty hunter Francis Theodore works with his friend, Colt 95, under the Goa Police, apprehending criminals. Complicating matters, Francis's ex-girlfriend, Angela, and her partner, Accelerator, are rival bounty hunters.

Zeta, now in Goa, encounters Francis and starts following him. After witnessing Colt kill a bounty target, Zeta seeks refuge with Angela but is quickly retrieved by Francis. While travelling with Francis, Zeta suffers a seizure. Francis takes Zeta to the hospital. He allows the child to stay with Colt and himself. At Francis's home, he begins drawing tribal patterns on the walls, triggering mysterious flashbacks from Francis's past life. The troops tracking Zeta eventually locate him, launching an attack on Francis and his team. Zeta is captured, prompting Francis to pursue them. As the chase unfolds, fragments of Francis's past are revealed.

In 1070, Roman soldiers attempted to conquer Perumaachi, one of the five islands near the southern Indian subcontinent. With the help of Koduvan, a local inhabitant, they kill 100 warriors defending the island. However, one survivor, Selumaara, escapes and alerts the chieftain, Senthee. In retaliation, Senthee's son, Kanguva "Kanga", executes Koduvan in front of the tribe. Overcome with grief, Aeral, Koduvan's wife entrusts their son, Poruva, to Kanga before committing suicide by running into a fire. Kanga raises Poruva as his protégé and trains him to become a warrior.

Failing to capture Perumaachi, the Romans allied with Udhiran, the chieftain of the neighbouring island, Arathi, adding to the existing feud between the two islands. Udhiran's two sons, Angasan and Atangkali lead an assault on Kanga and his tribe. During the conflict, Poruva stabs Kanga; despite this, Kanga overcomes his injuries, defeats Udhiran's sons, and later finds Poruva. He takes him back to Perumaachi, but the tribe banishes both to the uninhabited Dark Island. Kanga and Poruva grow closer, forming a strong bond at the Dark Island. Meanwhile, Udhiran kills the Romans who blame him for the failure.

The women of Perumaachi eventually kill Udhiran's third son, Thumpan, prompting Udhiran to kill Perumaachi people including Senthee who delivered the items before dying to Kanga who was heartbroken about his death after learning about the incident and launch a final attack on the Dark Island. Kanga defeats Udhiran's forces but Poruva is captured by one of Udhiran's allies while battling them and taken to his ship. Kanga goes to rescue Poruva and confronts Udhiran aboard his ship. In a selfless act, Poruva sacrifices himself to ensure Kanga's victory. Devastated, Kanga kills Udhiran and vows to dedicate his future life to honouring Poruva's sacrifice. With Udhiran's lineage seemingly eradicated, his illegitimate son, Rathaangasan, born to a concubine, vows revenge.

In 2024, Francis is revealed to be the reincarnation of Kanguva, while Zeta is the reincarnation of Poruva. Francis tracks them down and attacks the plane Zeta is in. He retrieves Zeta and has a brief moment in which Kanga takes over. Francis is still confused by his connection to Zeta and takes him in, unsure why he feels differently towards him. Meanwhile, the facility commander, Ryan, is revealed to be the reincarnation of Rathaangasan. Fully aware of his past life, the commander chooses to capture Zeta and Francis.

Cast

Production Development In March 2019, two months after the release of director Siva's Viswasam, reports claimed that actor Suriya would collaborate with Siva for a film to be produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green. The project was in talks for quite a few months and Siva had committed to do a film with Studio Green for more than a year. On 22 April 2019, the film was announced under the tentative title Suriya 39, being the 39th film of Suriya in a leading role. The project was confirmed to be bankrolled by Gnanavel Raja under Studio Green and was supposed to start filming after Suriya had completed work on Soorarai Pottru (2020). During May, Nayanthara was reportedly in talks to be the lead actress. According to sources, the film would be a family drama set in a village, similar to Viswasam. However, before filming could begin, Siva decided to direct a film starring Rajinikanth (later titled Annaatthe) which he had signed up even before the Suriya project. Suriya agreed to Rajinikanth's request to spare Siva for four months. The start of filming was later pushed to November 2021 which did not pan out. Suriya 39 would later become Jai Bhim (2021), a separate project.

Pre-production Siva began pre-production works on his film with Suriya in January 2021 when filming of Annaatthe was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that September, sets were erected in EVP Film City in Chennai. In January 2022, Suriya affirmed that his film with Siva was still underway. That March, either Anirudh Ravichander or Ravi Basrur were reported to be replacing D. Imman, who was initially announced as the music composer. However, the makers chose Devi Sri Prasad.

The film was launched on 21 August in Agaram Foundation, Chennai with a customary pooja ceremony and was tentatively titled Suriya 42, as it became Suriya's 42nd film in a leading role. On 24 August, Studio Green and UV Creations announced that they would jointly produce the film. Vetri and Richard Kevin were recruited to handle the cinematography and editing, respectively. Supreme Sundar was reported to have been chosen as the stunt choreographer. The film's motion poster was released on 9 September and revealed that it was a period action film, which would be released in 3D. Nishadh Yusuf, of Thallumaala (2022) fame, replaced Kevin as the editor.

On 16 April 2023, the title was announced as Kanguva through a title announcement teaser. In an interview with Kumudam in late April, G. Dhananjayan, who was in constant communication with the film's producers, said that the film could have a sequel. He said that the film's story was extensive, and the producers were unwilling to shorten it. Both Siva and Gnanavel Raja had been planning to create a sequel and Suriya had already agreed to it. Dhananjayan added that the decision to make a sequel would be made after filming ended.

Casting Suriya would reportedly be seen in 13 different looks in the film, breaking the record set by his earlier film Ayan (2009), he was seen in ten different looks. The makeup artist Ranjith Ambady and his team took references from Apocalypto (2006) for designing one of Suriya's looks for the periodic portions. For his role, Suriya shed a further 5 kilograms.

In August 2022, Hindi actress Disha Patani was reportedly paired opposite Suriya, marking her Tamil debut. Patani's inclusion was confirmed on 9 September. Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley, Kovai Sarala and Anandaraj were reportedly cast in late-August to play supporting roles. That September, Ravi Raghavendra revealed his participation in the film, while K. S. Ravikumar was reported to be part of the cast in October, after he had shot for his portions in the second schedule of the film. Kannada actor B. S. Avinash was cast in late April 2023. It was only by late June that he announced his participation.

Towards the end of July 2023, Hindi actor Bobby Deol was brought on board as the main antagonist, making his Tamil debut. Deol signed the film long before the release of his comeback breakthrough Animal (2023), and described his role to be "out of his comfort zone" as he had to be fluent in Tamil and learning it within two months was difficult which made the role even more challenging. During the same period, Natty Subramaniam was signed on to play another antagonistic role. Deol, in an interview to Bollywood Hungama, said his role required significant physical preparation, where he had to wear a hairpiece, apply scars and use custom-made contact lenses.

Filming

Filming was intended to begin in November 2021 after Siva's commitments in Annaatthe. Later, it was pushed to July 2022 after Suriya had completed the shooting schedule of Bala's Vanangaan in June and test shoot of Vetrimaaran's Vaadivaasal in July. The film's principal photography ultimately began with the first schedule on 24 August 2022 in Chennai with a customary pooja ceremony. The first schedule was concluded in five days there.

The second schedule commenced in Goa on 20 September. Patani joined the sets the very next day. A massive set was erected in the outskirts where most portions had been shot. A stunt sequence involving more than 250 extras was also shot there. During this schedule, pictures and footage from the sets were leaked and went viral, causing the studio, Studio Green, to warn of legal action against the ones responsible. The second schedule was completed on 11 October and the team took a break for a couple of weeks on account of Diwali. The next and third schedule was reported to commence again in Chennai and also in Pondicherry post-Diwali, while the subsequent schedule was set to be held in Sri Lanka for 60 days. Since the film is set in two timelines and has a 1000-year old backstory, most parts filmed during the second schedule in Goa makes up the present-day portions while the ones in the Sri Lanka schedule would make up the period ones. However, the film was eventually not shot in Sri Lanka.

For the next schedule, Suriya trained hard to sport a six pack look. The third schedule began on 16 December in Ennore, Chennai as reported, with Patani and Yogi Babu being included in this schedule. A few days later, the team started shooting action sequences at a grand set erected at Ennore Port, which were choreographed by Supreme Sundar, who was hired during this schedule. It was a short schedule which was completed by late-December. By January 2023, 60% of shooting was completed. Filming resumed on 4 January 2023 at EVP Film City in Chennai. It was completed by January end. In early February, the makers erected a set resembling an aeroplane for shooting action sequences. A few days before that, an action sequence with around 50 extras clashing with Suriya was filmed in a gym.