Actor-director Parthiban’s upcoming film Oththa Serupu Size 7 will premiere at the Singapore Asian International Film Festival taking place between August 30 and September 7.
The film stars Parthiban as a solo actor, and is written directed and produced by him. This is the 13th film in the world to feature a single cast member. Previously, actors such as Tom Hardy and Robert Redford have acted solo in films.
Parthiban said that the idea for Oththa Serupu has been in his mind for 15 years, and it was ready to be made into a film now. In a report by The Hindu recently, he said there was a misconception that experimental films cannot be box-office successes. “My debut directorial Pudhiya Paadhai is a classic example. I won the National Award for the film and the same time it was commercially viable. There is a perception that award-winning films are experimental and will have only 20 to 30 people in the theatre on the day of release. Oththa Serupu will prove them wrong.”
He told Silverscreen that the film is a murder mystery set in an investigation room, as seen in the trailer. “The experimental aspect is there is a single character, but it is a commercial film with action, love, romance and is also packed with humour. We make content for the audience, and initially I was unsure if this is the right time for such a movie. But I know there is a shift in interests with films such as Aruvi and Pariyerum Perumal doing well. I’m confident about OS7. Everyone who watched it said I have kept the audience engaged with a single actor, and it is a wholesome story.”
#OS7 pic.twitter.com/Xso5FOb0bx
— R.Parthiban (@rparthiepan) August 6, 2019
The film has cinematographer Ramji, composer Santhosh Narayanan, sound designer Resul Pookutty, lyricist Vivek, art director Amaran and others in the team
Kamal Haasan and director Shankar attended the audio launch, and actor Rajinikanth had also shared a video expressing his eagerness for the film. Recently, Hindi actor Aamir Khan said the film seems to have an unusual theme and he is excited to watch it.
#OS7
நடிகரை மீறி நான் நேசிக்கும் சமூக பொறுப்பணர்வு உள்ள ஒரு கலைஞன் வாழ்த்தும்… pic.twitter.com/JKYDrRtNr8— R.Parthiban (@rparthiepan) May 20, 2019
Parthiban will be travelling to Singapore for the premiere, where the film will showcased along with 45 feature films, documentaries and shorts form Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh. He has also submitted Oththa Serupu to other festivals and is expecting to hear back soon.
Parthiban’s last directorial was Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam in 2014, and he was seen as an actor in Kuppathu Raja and Ayogya recently. He also has a biopic on actor Chandrababu and a sequel to his film Ulle Veliye in the pipeline.
