Prabhu begins shooting for Franklin Jacob's dark-comedy thriller
Synopsis
Veteran Tamil star Prabhu — son of the legendary Sivaji Ganesan — has kicked off a dark-humour thriller-comedy directed by Franklin Jacob, the dialogue writer behind 'DC'. With Vijay Varma co-leading, Yuvan Shankar Raja on music, and Romeo Pictures producing, this is one of the more intriguing Kollywood packages to go on floors this year.
Key Takeaways
Prabhu began shooting for his new film on 31 August in Chennai , directed by Franklin Jacob .
The film is a dark-humour thriller-comedy , jointly produced by Romeo Pictures and Aviate Pictures .
Vijay Varma co-leads; Shivathmika Rajashekar plays the female lead; producer Raahul appears in a pivotal role.
Music is by Yuvan Shankar Raja ; cinematography by Pradeep Kaliraja ; editing by G K Prasanna .
Actor Vikram Prabhu and director Adhik Ravichandran attended the launch event to wish the team.
Veteran Tamil actor Prabhu on Monday, 31 August commenced shooting for his upcoming film in Chennai, directed by Franklin Jacob — best known for penning the dialogues of Lokesh Kanakaraj's 'DC'. The project, bankrolled jointly by Romeo Pictures (producer Raahul) and Aviate Pictures (producer Gokul Srinivasan), marks a fresh pairing of a screen legend with a new-generation filmmaker.
Cast and Key Roles
According to sources close to the production, actor Vijay Varma will share the lead with Prabhu, while actress Shivathmika Rajashekar has been signed on as the female lead. Producer Raahul himself will appear in a pivotal role. The ensemble reportedly also includes Muthukumar, Ramesh Thilak, Dileep Subbarayan, Dheena, Arun Matheswaran, Kavitha Bharathi, and Avinash Ragudevan in significant parts.
Genre and Storyline
Sources describe the film as a dark-humour thriller-comedy with a distinctive storyline — a genre combination that remains relatively rare in mainstream Tamil cinema. The project is listed as Romeo Pictures' 11th production, and producer Raahul announced the shoot commencement on X, writing: 'Lights, camera, and lots of action. #RomeoPictures11 shoot commences today #IlayaThilagamPrabhu.'
Technical Crew
On the technical front, music will be composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with cinematography by Pradeep Kaliraja. Editing is assigned to G K Prasanna, while stunt choreography will be handled by PC Stunts. Yugabharathi will pen the lyrics, Naushad Ahmed takes charge of costume design, and art direction is by Sakthi Venkatraj.
Launch Event and Family Connections
The film's launch event was attended by actor Vikram Prabhu — son of the lead actor Prabhu, who is himself the son of legendary Tamil star Sivaji Ganesan — and director Adhik Ravichandran, both of whom conveyed their wishes to the cast and crew. The multi-generational connect adds an emotional dimension to what is already a keenly watched project in Kollywood circles.
With a seasoned star, a promising debutant director, and a technically strong crew in place, the film is expected to carve out a distinctive space in Tamil cinema's crowded release calendar.
Point of View
But one that tends to widen audience reach when the script holds. Franklin Jacob's transition from dialogue writer on 'DC' to director is the real variable to watch: Kollywood has a patchy record with writer-turned-directors in the thriller-comedy space. Yuvan Shankar Raja's attachment is a strong commercial signal, but the dark-humour genre demands tight editing and tonal consistency that no star cast can substitute for. The proof will be in the cut.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is directing Prabhu's new Tamil film?
The film is directed by Franklin Jacob, who is best known for writing the dialogues of Lokesh Kanakaraj's 'DC'. This is reportedly his directorial debut.
Who are the other lead actors in the film?
Actor Vijay Varma will co-lead alongside Prabhu, while Shivathmika Rajashekar plays the female lead. Producer Raahul also appears in a pivotal role, with several other well-known actors in supporting parts.
What genre is the Prabhu-Franklin Jacob film?
Sources describe the film as a dark-humour thriller-comedy with a unique storyline — a relatively uncommon genre blend in mainstream Tamil cinema.
Who is composing the music for the film?
Music for the film will be composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Pradeep Kaliraja handles cinematography and G K Prasanna is the editor.
Who are the producers of this film?
The film is jointly produced by Raahul of Romeo Pictures and Gokul Srinivasan of Aviate Pictures. It is listed as Romeo Pictures' 11th production.
