Blockbuster Tamil filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj is set to make a massive comeback to theatres this Diwali with his Jigarthanda DoubleX starting November 10. The period action drama starring Raghava Lawrence and S J Suryah in the lead roles featuring music composed by Santhosh Narayanan has been carrying tremendous buzz right from the get-go, with the recently released trailer skyrocketing the excitement among fans. With Jigarthanda DoubleX set for a big opening in cinemas everywhere, Karthik Subbaraj recently sat down with National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the Editor-in-Chief of Galatta Plus, to talk about the highly-anticipated film, while also sharing the story behind how he arrived at including elephants as a major plot element.
Speaking about Jigarthanda DoubleX, Karthik Subbaraj said, "During the script discussion, I wanted to add an important element since the story goes in that way. I was talking to my discussion team and this was during the initial stages before I even started writing the screenplay. When I was discussing with my team one day, I felt that this film should have more of a forest and tribal connection and I wanted to bring that elephant factor here. Each of them in my team had a different opinion and one said that the film would enter a different zone with all the VFX, while another person said it would be great."
Karthik Subbaraj continued, "When I was leaving for my home from my office, I was pondering over whether I have to keep the elephant factor as an element in the story. As I took a turn on the road, I saw an elephant right opposite me. I was stunned. Although the elephant was one that you usually see placed in front of shops, it was being carried on a truck and it took me a few seconds to realize that I was looking at a dummy. It was at that moment that I called my team members and told them my decision to add the elephant factor because I felt it was like a sign. And, I also have a strong feeling that the script put the elephant into this. It made me choose that."
Watch Karthik Subbaraj and Baradwaj Rangan discuss Jigarthanda DoubleX in the video below: