In a recent interview, veteran producer PT Selvakumar delivered a passionate and highly charged account of the events leading up to the release of the 2015 film, Puli, starring actor Vijay. Selvakumar, who has been a long-time associate of the actor, asserted that the unprecedented Income Tax (IT) raid on the team’s offices and residences a day before the film’s scheduled release was not a random action, but a deliberate act of sabotage orchestrated by individuals within Vijay’s own inner circle.
The film at the center of the controversy, Puli, was a massive fantasy-adventure project directed by Chimbu Deven and released on October 1, 2015. It featured an ensemble cast led by Vijay, who appeared in a dual role, alongside industry heavyweights Sudeep, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani, and the legendary Sridevi in her final Tamil film. Mounted on a substantial budget, Puli was an ambitious undertaking that received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, though its visual effects and cast performances were often praised. Despite underperforming at the domestic box office, it was billed by the team, including Selvakumar, as a major pan-India release, signifying a significant step forward in their production careers.
An Unprecedented Act of Disruption
Selvakumar, who also spoke about his social work initiatives, including campaigns to eliminate drug use and prevent young widows, quickly pivoted to the painful memory of the raid. He described the situation as historically rare, stating, “In the history of the world, a raid does not happen a day before a film’s release. No other film has faced this.” He detailed the logistical nightmare, lamenting, “The house was under arrest… how can a normal PRO release a movie on the next day?” He questioned the motives, highlighting the immense stress it placed on the team and distributors.
The producer maintained his ethical standing, stating he had worked with Vijay for 27 years and was still on good terms with his father, S.A. Chandrasekhar. “I am still in his good book,” he claimed. He emotionally recalled the moment during the raid when an IT official revealed the source of the complaint: “The officer said the complaint came from those who work with you, the ones who are close to Vijay.”
The Motive: Jealousy and Calculated Friction
The true motive, according to Selvakumar, was a toxic mix of jealousy and ambition. The producer alleged that the “scoundrels” close to Vijay couldn’t tolerate his growing success, particularly his role in the pan-India release of Puli.
“They wanted to create a misunderstanding and drive a wedge between me and him,” he revealed. “I was in a good book with Vijay. I had produced a pan-India film… they did not want me to grow further.”
Selvakumar made it unequivocally clear that the people responsible for the IT raid and the subsequent distance in his relationship with the actor were traitors who surrounded Vijay. He swore on his mother that he was speaking the truth, stating, “The reason for the raid was those ‘kalla payalugal’ (scoundrels) who were with me.”
A Crucial Warning to Thalapathy Vijay
Ending his powerful statement, Selvakumar delivered a strong warning to Vijay, urging him to exercise caution regarding his closest aides, a sentiment that resonates deeply with the actor’s current foray into politics with the nascent TVK (Thalapathy Vijay Kazhagam).
Selvakumar passionately declared, “Vijay has reached great heights. I love him as an actor. But he must find the fake people who are with him.” He drew powerful parallels from epic literature, comparing the treacherous individuals to “Shakuni,” the instigator of the Mahabharata war, and “Kooni,” the instigator of the Ramayana’s troubles.
He concluded with an appeal to the actor: “You must keep only the good, the capable, and the honest people around you… this is an opportunity for you to become wise,” emphasizing that his revelation was for Vijay’s own good, allowing the actor to “uproot the weeds” that remain in his circle.