Filmmaker A. L. Vijay recently spoke about the controversy surrounding the tagline ‘Time To Lead’ from the film ‘Thalaivaa,’ which starred Vijay in the lead role. The film was released in 2013 and featured Amala Paul as the female lead. The cast also included Sathyaraj, Santhanam, Nassar, and Ponvannan in key roles. Music for the film was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. At the time of its release, the tagline created a huge debate and led to issues around the film’s theatrical release.
Director clarifies who added the tagline
While promoting his latest film, ‘Kadhal Reset Repeat,’ the director addressed the long-discussed topic. As per News 18, director Vijay clarified that the tagline ‘Time To Lead’ was not his idea. According to him, the title he chose for the film was simply ‘Thalaivaa.’ He revealed that the film’s producer, Chandraprakash Jain, added the tagline. Vijay explained that the producer felt the phrase would suit the film and therefore included it in the promotions. The director said he had no role in deciding that particular line, even though it later became a major talking point during the film’s release period.
‘Thalaivaa’ was never meant to be a political film
A. L. Vijay also clarified that ‘Thalaivaa’ was not designed as a political film. He explained that the story was mainly about leadership within a community rather than politics. In the film, Sathyaraj’s character is shown leading a group of people, and Vijay’s character later steps into that role. The story revolves around how the character becomes a leader for the people around him. According to the director, the film was more about relationships, duty, and leadership than statements.
‘Thalaivaa’ – Mixed response but solid box office
Despite being mired in controversies and release problems, ‘Thalaivaa’ finally hit theatres and garnered mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike. The film was made on a budget of Rs 60 crore (approx) and grossed around Rs 80 crore. Vijay is now waiting for the release of his new film ‘Kadhal Reset Repeat,’ with music by Harris Jayaraj. The film was released today, March 6, and the director is occupied with its promotion while sharing some throwback moments about his older films.
