Director Shankar Moved to Tears by Dragon's Final Moments

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shankar praised 'Dragon' for its emotional depth.
- The film features a strong performance by Pradeep Ranganathan.
- Its last 20 minutes delivered a crucial message.
- Produced on a budget of Rs 37 crores, Dragon is already profitable.
- All characters had well-developed arcs throughout the film.
Chennai, Feb 24 (NationPress) Esteemed filmmaker Shankar has lauded director Ashwath Marimuthu's recently launched blockbuster film 'Dragon', starring Pradeep Ranganathan in the principal role, stating that the concluding 20 minutes of the movie brought him to tears.
In a heartfelt tribute on X, he expressed his admiration for the film, its director, and the entire team, saying, “#DRAGON A magnificent movie. Outstanding writing – hats off to @Dir_Ashwath. Every character has a beautiful and complete journey. @pradeeponelife has once again demonstrated that he is a remarkable entertainer and a powerful, soulful performer. @DirectorMysskin, @anupamahere, and George Maryan delivered performances that leave a lasting impression.”
He noted that the 'Gen-Z/millennial' characters excelled in their roles, admitting, “The last twenty minutes brought me to tears. In a world where dishonesty is rampant, it conveys a vital message! Congratulations to @Ags_production and the entire team!”
Both Ashwath Marimuthu and Pradeep Ranganathan responded to his post.
Pradeep Ranganathan replied, “Sir, I never imagined receiving such commendations. As a boy who grew up admiring your films, having you, my favorite director, speak about me is like an incredible dream. I’m at a loss for words. Thank you so much, sir. I love you.”
Ashwath Marimuthu expressed, “This is my dragon moment, sir! Thank you; I’m tearing up as I type this! You have inspired every soul to dream big! My heart is full as I remember how often I watched your films and analyzed them! I dreamed of this moment, and it has come true like a miracle. I hope to meet you someday, sir, and I believe it will happen!”
'Dragon', which received positive feedback, was a guaranteed success even before its release, having already recouped its investment through non-theatrical earnings.
Indeed, director Ashwath Marimuthu stated in an exclusive interview with IANS, “We produced this film on a budget of Rs 37 crores. We have already recovered that amount from satellite, OTT rights, and other sales. We’ve covered all bases.”
Producer Archana Kalpathi of AGS Entertainment confirmed this in another interview, saying, “Dragon is a guaranteed profit for us due to completed OTT and satellite deals. Whatever we earn from theatrical releases will be profitable. The exact scale of profit is uncertain, but we are pleased with whatever we make.”
Produced by Kalpathi S Aghoram, Kalpathi S Ganesh, and Kalpathi S Suresh, the film boasts music by Leon James and cinematography by Niketh Bommi.
Editing was handled by Pradeep E Ragav, with stunts choreographed by Vicky and Dilip Subbarayan. The story was co-created by Ashwath Marimuthu and Pradeep Ranganathan, while the dialogues and screenplay were authored by Ashwath Marimuthu.
The film was co-directed by Ramesh Narayanan, with costume design by Dinesh Manoharan and Praveen Raja.