At a press meet conducted for the film Owdatham at Prasad Labs yesterday, producer Nethaji Prabhu, who is bankrolling the project, ranted against some miscreants who pose as members of one of the cinema councils and cheat first-time producers. “A debutant producer or filmmaker would somehow make the film overcoming all difficulties, but releasing it will remain a great challenge. There is a group of people out there to hoodwink us. They show us proof of identity – as belonging to the Producers’ Council or Guild, or the Film Chamber, and promise to help us release the film in return for money,” Prabhu said, adding, “They sign a bond with us, but ultimately, don’t help us in any way. I have been cheated by them, and I have proof. Such people need to be driven out of the industry.”
Having worked in a corporate company earlier, Prabhu entered cinema to pursue his passion for films. Talking about Owdatham, which is being marketed as a medical thriller, he said: “In 2013, I read an article about a particular medicine that was banned because it contained harmful drugs. Later though, I got to know that the ban was lifted and the medicine was back in the market. This had me thinking.”
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Some portions of the film were shot in a drug manufacturing company, Prabhu revealed. Owdatham will have five fight sequences and a couple of songs. Directed by Ramani and produced by Nethaji Prabhu, it revolves around a diabetes-specialist found to be involved in criminal activities. As part of the film’s promotion activities, 3 lakh pens with the film’s title embossed on them will be distributed in theaters. This promotional act is also intended as a campaign to encourage people to sign their names in Tamil.
The film stars Nethaji Prabhu and Samaira in the lead; Vinayaka Raj plays the antagonist. Owdatham is produced under the Red Chilli Black Pepper Cinemas banner.