National Award-winning music director G V Prakash Kumar has officially joined the team of director Thiagarajan Kumararaja's upcoming film 'Pocket Novel', featuring Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. Production house TDKF confirmed the development on Friday, 30 October 2025, ending weeks of speculation about the film's music director following the reported exit of veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja.

Official Confirmation After Weeks of Speculation

TDKF made the announcement across its social media timelines, writing: 'It's official!! @gvprakash is on board for #PocketNovelTheFilm.' The confirmation comes after rumours of Ilaiyaraaja's departure began circulating earlier this month. The speculation gained credibility when the legendary composer's name was conspicuously absent from the list of technicians featured in the makers' wrap-up announcement released on 9 October.

The makers had originally announced Ilaiyaraaja — widely referred to as 'Isaignani' (meaning 'knowledge of music') — as the film's composer. The reasons behind the reported change have not been officially disclosed.

G V Prakash: A Three-Time National Award Winner

G V Prakash Kumar, a three-time National Award winning music director, brings significant acclaim to the project. He is known for a diverse body of work in Tamil cinema and has previously collaborated with critically celebrated filmmakers. His association with 'Pocket Novel' adds considerable musical credibility to what is already one of Tamil cinema's most anticipated productions.

Shoot Wrapped, Film in Post-Production

The film completed its shoot approximately 20 days before Friday's announcement. The production team marked the occasion by releasing a video featuring behind-the-scenes clips from various days on set. With filming done and the music team now confirmed, 'Pocket Novel' is firmly in its post-production phase.

Actress Malavika Mohanan, who plays the female lead, had earlier this month penned a heartfelt note on Instagram reflecting on the experience. 'Some films become a little world of their own while you're making them, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of this one,' she wrote. She noted that she and Vijay Sethupathi, despite having appeared in 'Petta' and 'Master' previously, had never shared screen space — making 'Pocket Novel' a long-awaited on-screen pairing.

Cast and Creative Team

The film unites director Thiagarajan Kumararaja — celebrated for films such as 'Aaranya Kaandam' and 'Super Deluxe' — with Vijay Sethupathi and Malavika Mohanan. Mohanan, in her Instagram post, described Kumararaja as 'a beautiful combination of strong and kind' and called working with him 'the experience of a lifetime.' The film also features Ezhil Madhi in a key role, who received warm praise from Mohanan for 'holding the fort down for everyone with so much love.'

What to Watch For

With the music team now in place, the project is expected to move swiftly toward a release announcement. 'Pocket Novel' is among the most closely watched Tamil films in production, given the calibre of its director, lead actor, and now its music director. A release date is yet to be announced.