Team Bison Kaalamaadan gears up for release with a heartfelt pre-release event in Chennai

With just four days left for its grand release, the team of Bison Kaalamaadan came together in Chennai for an emotional and memorable pre release event. The cast and crew shared heartfelt stories, behind the scenes moments, and their deep admiration for director Mari Selvaraj – all of which reflect the soul of the film they’ve created together.

Veteran actor Lal, who plays Kandasamy in the film, shared an amusing incident at Hyderabad airport where an elderly woman mistook him for someone’s husband – only for him to realize she was referring to his character from Karnan. He praised Mari Selvaraj for being the first director to bring out a new dimension in his performance, adding that with Mari’s films, “the story and the characters come home with you.”

Pasupathy, who has worked closely with Dhruv Vikram during the film, recalled a light hearted moment when Chiyaan Vikram called him during the shoot and asked, “Is there someone like me there?” Pasupathy responded, “Yes. Your son. He walks like you, looks like you… even if he quits acting, he could play kabaddi at the national level.” His praise for Dhruv’s athleticism and intensity underscored the young actor’s transformation for the role.

Ameer Sultan, who plays Pandiyaraja, spoke about how he chooses to act only when the subject is close to his heart and Mari’s vision was one that resonated deeply with him. Though he didn’t remember every instruction Mari gave, he delivered what was needed by absorbing the director’s intent. He credited Mari entirely for his performance and drew comparisons between Dhruv and Chiyaan Vikram, saying he saw the same fire and commitment in both.

Rajisha Vijayan, who plays Raji, grew emotional on stage. She recalled how Mari hesitated to offer her a sister’s role, thinking she might not accept it. But her response was simple: “Be it any role, I just want to work with you.” Having done 30 films, she spoke about the blind trust she has in Mari, unlike with anyone else. She shared a harrowing incident during filming, where she jumped into the water for a scene but forgot she had lost her swimming skills. In that moment of panic, it was Mari who jumped in to save her. She also praised co-stars Anupama Parameswaran and Dhruv Vikram, calling Dhruv a star with immense hard work behind him.

Anupama, who plays Rani, said the experience felt surreal. She had missed working on Pariyerum Perumal due to scheduling issues and never thought Mari would call her again. So when he did, it felt like reliving the magic of her early days. She said, “The Anupama after Bison will be very different from the one before it.” She thanked Mari for his patience, praised Pasupathy, and expressed her gratitude for the bond she developed with Rajisha, which was born out of the director’s vision. She also acknowledged the villagers who taught them skills like brick-making and farming, which enriched their performances.

Mari Selvaraj, true to his grounded nature, said he was less interested in box office numbers and more eager to see how Tamil society responds to the issues explored in the film. He revealed that this Diwali would be his first ever celebration of the festival; a personal milestone marking the release of a film close to his heart.

Dhruv Vikram, the lead, was deeply reflective as he took the mic. Mari had told him he only saw Dhruv’s face while writing the character of Kittan, which was both an honour and a responsibility. Dhruv thanked the coaches and kabaddi players who trained with him, naming each one and recalling their contributions. Pro Kabaddi player Prabhanjan, in particular, became like a brother to him. He thanked his co-stars and shared that Rajisha had truly become like a sister to him through the process. Most movingly, he spoke about his motivation on set – to make his mother proud, and to honor his father Chiyaan Vikram, whose legacy pushes him to dig deeper and work harder. He ended by saying that Bison Kaalamaadan deserves success for the effort and heart that Mari Selvaraj has poured into it.

With the run time of 2 hours 48 minutes, Bison Kaalamaadan releases worldwide on October 17th, as a Diwali weekend special – promising not just a film, but an experience that audiences will take home with them.