First Look: Vijay's Velayudham

It may have become fashionable to have audio launches of Tamil films in either Singapore or Malaysia but Vijay decided to have the audio launch of his Diwali release Velayudham in Madurai.

The event happened soon after Vijay, making a political statement, attended Anna Hazare's fast in Delhi and openly supported him. With all his fans assembled at the audio launch, it was more like a political meet than a film function, though several film personalities attended the function. With this, Vijay's political entry is expected any time soon.

With Vijay announcing Velayudham as a super hero film, the speculation about its inspiration is gaining momentum. Vijay plays Vel, a villager, Saranya Mohan plays his sister and Hansika plays Vaidehi, his love interest in the village. Genelia D'Souza is a journalist, Deepa.

The film is said to be heavily inspired by the Telugu film Azad, in which the late Soundarya played a journalist, Nagarjuna, the villager, and Shilpa Shetty, his love interest. It is the journalist who creates a fictitious super hero, Azad, to combat all the evils in society.

Director M Raja alias 'Jayam' Raja, however, claims Velayudham is neither a remake nor based on an any other film. We will know for sure during Diwali when Velayudham releases.