Jason Sanjay has shared detailed insights into his filmmaking journey, revealing how the unwavering support of his family, including Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and Sangeetha, gave him the confidence to step behind the camera for his directorial debut, Sigma.
In a recent interview with Vikatan, Jason said he discussed his decision to enter cinema with his parents, sister, and close friends before taking the plunge. “They were all extremely positive and gave me a lot of energy. That was when I realised how much faith they had in me,” he said. He also revealed that Vijay Sethupathi and Soori wished him well when Sigma went on floors.
Having grown up in a film family, Jason said cinema has been a part of his life since childhood. Frequent visits to shooting locations and watching premiere shows helped him develop a deep interest in storytelling. He explained that he enjoys observing how films are structured and narrated, often retelling stories to his friends after every movie. According to him, that passion eventually inspired him to become a filmmaker.
Jason also addressed the possibility of acting. He said he is currently focused only on directing and will think about acting after completing Sigma. He recalled that director Alphonse Puthren had once approached him for a lead role. However, he declined the offer because he had not yet decided to pursue cinema as a career. He added that he was honoured to be considered for the role.
Speaking about Sigma, Jason revealed that many expected him to direct a romantic film because of his age. Instead, he chose to make an adventurous heist entertainer centred on a gang. The film is being made as a Tamil-Telugu bilingual. Sundeep Kishan came on board after liking the story and screenplay, while Faria Abdullah plays the female lead in her Tamil debut. Jason described her as humble, hardworking, and perfect for the emotionally intense role. He also expressed his excitement about directing Raju Sundaram, saying it was a memorable experience to work with someone he had admired since childhood.
The young director also spoke about his learning process. While studying filmmaking in Canada, he wrote a 120-page screenplay. Since he could not make it into a feature film at that stage, he adapted it into a 20-minute short film, which helped him understand his strengths and areas for improvement. After returning to India, he developed new ideas and refined one of them based on feedback from friends and industry professionals. Through his uncle Sanjeev, he met producer Tamilkumaran, who appreciated the script. The story later reached producer Subaskaran, eventually becoming Sigma.
Jason highlighted one of the film’s biggest challenges: a large-scale interval sequence set inside the parking area of a massive textile store. While it was easy to imagine on paper, he admitted it was extremely demanding to execute on screen. He believes the sequence will stand out as one of the visual highlights of the film.
On his future as an actor, Jason said he admires filmmakers like Pradeep Ranganathan and Abishan Ravichandran, who have successfully balanced directing and acting. He expressed confidence that he too hopes to follow a similar path in the future while encouraging more youngsters to explore both creative avenues.
Sigma was officially announced for a July 31 theatrical release. However, with Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s final film, now confirmed for a July 23 worldwide release, trade circles expect Jason Sanjay’s directorial debut to be postponed by a week or two to avoid a clash with the highly anticipated release. An official update on the revised release date is awaited from the makers.