Soundarya Rajinikanth reflects on Kochadaiyan journey as AI-remastered teaser debuts
The filmmaker revisits her experience directing Kochadaiyan, calling it a bold leap that tested her creatively and personally, as an AI-remastered teaser is released.
Filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth has shared an emotional reflection on her pioneering film Kochadaiyan as the teaser for its AI-remastered version was unveiled yesterday. The updated glimpse into the film’s world marks a significant moment for the director, who described the experience as both challenging and transformative.
Originally released in 2014, Kochadaiyan was promoted as India’s first photorealistic performance motion capture feature, starring Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone in her Tamil debut. While the project broke new ground technologically, it met with mixed reviews upon release. In a heartfelt social media post accompanying the teaser, Soundarya called the film her “first baby” and “first leap of faith,” acknowledging how the venture pushed her creatively and personally.
“More than a decade ago, we dared to attempt something India had never done before … a photorealistic performance motion capture feature film,” she wrote, adding that the journey had deeply impacted her. “It challenged me … It changed me.” Soundarya’s note highlights her pride in the team’s bold effort, even as technology has since evolved.
The original Kochadaiyan, written by KS Ravikumar, follows the story of a warrior seeking justice after his father suffers a grave injustice. The ensemble cast also featured Sarathkumar, Aadhi Pinisetty, Nassar, Shobana, and Rukmini Vijayakumar, with music composed by AR Rahman.
The teaser for the AI-remastered version is part of an effort to bring the film into the modern cinematic landscape using advanced AI technology. A formal release date for the updated version has not yet been announced.
