Did Director Shanmugam Muthusamy Receive Death Threats from the Petrol Mafia While Making 'Diesel'?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shanmugam Muthusamy faced threats while exposing a scam.
- The public's budget is directly affected by petrol price hikes.
- 'Diesel' seeks to inform the audience about the mafia's operations.
- The film features a talented cast, including Harish Kalyan and Athulya Ravi.
- It's crucial to highlight societal issues through film.
Chennai, Oct 15 (NationPress) Director Shanmugam Muthusamy, known for his upcoming film 'Diesel', which exposes a petrol-diesel scam and the mafia behind it, revealed that he received death threats while investigating the operation of this illicit network.
At a pre-release event for the film, featuring actors Harish Kalyan and Athulya Ravi, Muthusamy shared that it took him a decade to gather information and craft a story worthy of the big screen. He stated, "The idea for 'Diesel' originated from a highway incident where I noticed teenagers stealing petrol and diesel from a parked tanker truck while I was having a meal at a roadside motel."
He continued, "This piqued my interest, prompting me to dig deeper. The more I uncovered, the more horrified I became. As I delved into the details, some individuals threatened me and even pursued me. During my research for the film, I received several death threats."
Explaining the importance of this narrative, he commented, "When petrol prices increase by just Rs 2 per litre, our monthly expenses can soar by Rs 5000 to 10000. The public is directly impacted by this scam and the mafia behind it. Hence, I felt compelled to share this story."
He asserted that the film addresses several critical queries, such as "Where do the proceeds from this illegal activity go? How does this issue affect me as an ordinary citizen?"
In addition to Harish Kalyan and Athulya Ravi, the film features Vinay Rai, Sachin Kedhekar, Sai Kumar, Ananya, Karunaas, Bose Venkat, Ramesh Tilak, Kaali Venkat, Vivek Prasanna, Zakir Husain, Thangadurai, Maaran, KPY Dheena, and Apoorva Singh among others.
Written and directed by Shanmugam Muthusamy, 'Diesel' is set to premiere on October 17 and is produced by Third Eye Entertainment, with music by Dhibu Ninan Thomas. The cinematography is handled by M.S. Prabhu and Richard M. Nathan, while editing is done by San Lokesh.