Gautham Vasudev Menon's unrealized projects: Difference between revisions

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In October 2015, Menon began planning a multilingual production to be shot in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, which would feature four actors in leading roles. The film was reported to revolve around the lives of four friends from the four [[South India|Southern Indian states]], who meet at a wedding after many years, and then decide to take a roadtrip in the United States. Menon initially discussed making the project with [[Silambarasan]], [[Allu Arjun]], [[Fahadh Faasil]] and [[Puneeth Rajkumar]], with the latter also keen to produce the Kannada version of the film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/gautham-vasudev-menon-plans-multilingual/article7757890.ece|title=Gautham Vasudev Menon plans multilingual|newspaper=The Hindu |date=October 13, 2015|via=www.thehindu.com|access-date=November 27, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126172840/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/gautham-vasudev-menon-plans-multilingual/article7757890.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/gautham-menon-plans-multilingual-film-with-four-stars/|title=Gautham Menon plans multilingual film with four stars|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=November 27, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171338/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/gautham-menon-plans-multilingual-film-with-four-stars/|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the following months, [[Prithviraj Sukumaran|Prithviraj]] agreed to portray the Malayali character in the film ahead of Fahadh Faasil, and accepted the offer despite Menon's initial doubts about whether the actor would feature in a multi-starrer project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/I-can-only-ensure-the-quality-of-my-films-Prithviraj/articleshow/55292069.cms|title=I can only ensure the quality of my films: Prithviraj|newspaper=The Times of India |date=November 8, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2023|archive-date=November 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127014504/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/I-can-only-ensure-the-quality-of-my-films-Prithviraj/articleshow/55292069.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Likewise, [[Naga Chaitanya]] also was reported to have replaced Allu Arjun as the Telugu character in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chitramala.in/naga-chaitanya-replaces-allu-arjun-for-gautham-menon-film-207430.html|title=Naga Chaitanya replaces Allu Arjun for Gautham Menon Film|date=November 7, 2015|website=Chitramala|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171341/https://www.chitramala.in/naga-chaitanya-replaces-allu-arjun-for-gautham-menon-film-207430.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Menon continued to develop the script wilewhile finishing the productions of ''[[Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada]]'' (2016) and ''[[Enai Noki Paayum Thota]]'' (2019). By June 2016, Menon revealed that the film would be titled ''Ondraaga'' and that it would shot in the United States over a seventy-day schedule. He revealed that [[Sai Dharam Tej]] had joined the cast replacing Naga Chaitanya, while the Tamil character was yet to be finalised. He also suggested that actresses [[Anushka Shetty]] and [[Tamannaah]] would form a part of the cast, and that an advance payment was made to them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/090716/things-will-be-sorted-out-with-simbu-gautham-menon.html|title=Things will be sorted out with Simbu: Gautham Menon|date=July 9, 2016 |access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=August 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826232724/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/090716/things-will-be-sorted-out-with-simbu-gautham-menon.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/gautham-confirms-doing-a-multilingual-film-news-tamil-qhcneCbdgccee.html |title=Gautham confirms doing a multilingual film! |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=November 26, 2023 |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909034141/http://www.sify.com/movies/gautham-confirms-doing-a-multilingual-film-news-tamil-qhcneCbdgccee.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after, [[Jayam Ravi]] held discussions about playing the Tamil character, while actress [[Manjima Mohan]] was also considered for a role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gautham-vasudev-menons-next-a-multistarrer-with-jayam-ravi-prithviraj-puneeth-rajkumar-and-sai-dharam-teja.html|title=Gautham Vasudev Menon's next, a multistarrer with Jayam Ravi, Prithviraj, Puneeth Rajkumar and Sai Dharam Teja|date=June 30, 2016|website=Behindwoods|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171339/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gautham-vasudev-menons-next-a-multistarrer-with-jayam-ravi-prithviraj-puneeth-rajkumar-and-sai-dharam-teja.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/220916/two-time-lucky-manjima.html|title=Two-time lucky Manjima!|date=September 22, 2016 |access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171339/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/220916/two-time-lucky-manjima.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview in November 2016, Menon stated that the character of Karthik from ''[[Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa]]'' would be retained in ''Ondraaga'', with the plot taking off eight years after the release of the previous film. He stated Karthik's character had changed his concept of women and would appear as a [[playboy lifestyle|playboy]] in the new project, while the character of Jessie Thekekuttu would also feature in the film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/I-don%E2%80%99t-mind-being-called-elitist-Gautham-Menon/article16445251.ece|title=I don't mind being called elitist: Gautham Menon|newspaper=The Hindu |date=November 13, 2016|via=www.thehindu.com|access-date=November 27, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620140600/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/I-don%E2%80%99t-mind-being-called-elitist-Gautham-Menon/article16445251.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Menon revealed that [[A. R. Rahman]] would compose music for the project, and likened the mood of the film to the Hindi films, ''[[Dil Chahta Hai]]'' (2001) and ''[[Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara]]'' (2011). He also added that he was hopeful that Silambarasan would agree to work in the film and reprise the role of Karthik.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/821488/gautham-menon-made-achcham-yenbadhu-madamaiyada-for-audiences-that-whistle-and-clap|title=Gautham Menon made 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada' for 'audiences that whistle and clap'|first=Prathibha|last=Parameswaran|date=November 14, 2016|website=Scroll.in|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171336/https://scroll.in/reel/821488/gautham-menon-made-achcham-yenbadhu-madamaiyada-for-audiences-that-whistle-and-clap|url-status=live}}</ref>

Production on the film was postponed as the makers were unable to finalise the actors to play the Tamil and Telugu characters, while Menon also began work on ''[[Dhruva Natchathiram]]'' (2023) with [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]. In March 2017, Prithviraj called the film a "very modern take on friendship and self-discovery", while revealing that the script was complete and production would possibly begin by the end of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/prithviraj-reveals-exclusive-details-about-heroes-heroines-music-director-and-plot-of-gautham-menon-multi-starrer-tamil-news-180407|title=Leading hero reveals exclusive details about Gautham Menon's multi-starrer - Tamil News|date=March 2, 2017|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171336/https://www.indiaglitz.com/prithviraj-reveals-exclusive-details-about-heroes-heroines-music-director-and-plot-of-gautham-menon-multi-starrer-tamil-news-180407|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2018, following a brief period where Menon prioritised his other productions, he signed on [[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]] to portray the Tamil character of Karthik after Silambarasan had turned down the offer citing his reluctance to work with other lead actors. [[Tovino Thomas]] was also signed to replace Prithviraj as the Malayalam character.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/madhavan-gautham-menon-trilingual-1147518-2018-01-17|title=Madhavan in talks with Gautham Menon for a trilingual|website=India Today|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171338/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/madhavan-gautham-menon-trilingual-1147518-2018-01-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/feb/21/gautham-vasudev-menon-madhavan-to-collaborate-on-vinnaithaandi-varuvaayaa-sequel-1776382.html|title=Gautham Vasudev Menon, Madhavan to collaborate on Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa sequel|website=The New Indian Express|date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=November 27, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171338/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/feb/21/gautham-vasudev-menon-madhavan-to-collaborate-on-vinnaithaandi-varuvaayaa-sequel-1776382.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8100Ii8Q4|title="Those who know me refer to me as Jessie." &#124; Deep Focus &#124; Gautham Menon &#124; Simbu &#124; Trisha|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=October 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006221929/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8100Ii8Q4|url-status=live}}</ref> The film failed to develop, with Menon later stating that the film would not proceed without Silambarasan.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/gautham-menon-reveals-he-s-ready-to-make-vinnaithaandi-varuvaaya-2-if-simbu-is-ready/story-FSo6lJBLIwvUS8X0fSd1WM.html|title=Gautham Menon reveals he's ready to make VTV 2 if Simbu is ready|date=February 27, 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=November 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126212622/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/gautham-menon-reveals-he-s-ready-to-make-vinnaithaandi-varuvaaya-2-if-simbu-is-ready/story-FSo6lJBLIwvUS8X0fSd1WM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>