With ‘Mookuthi Amman 2’ gearing up for its November 6 theatrical release, director Sundar C has responded to criticism surrounding the film’s visual effects, particularly claims that portions of the graphics were created using artificial intelligence.
The sequel, starring Nayanthara, is directed by Sundar C, who stepped in after RJ Balaji helmed the original film released in 2020.
At a promotional event held on Wednesday, the filmmaker addressed online reactions to the trailer and defended the extensive work put into the film’s computer-generated imagery.
Sundar C said he was disappointed that some viewers had labelled the visuals as AI-generated without knowing the production process. He acknowledged that artificial intelligence would play an increasingly significant role in filmmaking but maintained that the sequel’s graphics involved substantial human effort.
According to the director, nearly 400 technicians from the Tamil film industry worked on the CGI for approximately 18 months.
He also disclosed that the film features close to 3,000 graphics-heavy shots, with AI reportedly being used in only around 15 sequences.
The filmmaker urged audiences to watch the complete film before judging its visual effects, asking viewers to appreciate the work if it meets their expectations and offer constructive criticism otherwise.
Sundar C further highlighted the contribution of the technical team, describing the technicians as the real heroes behind the film’s visual presentation.
‘Mookuthi Amman 2’ features Nayanthara and Regena Cassandra in lead roles, alongside Duniya Vijay, Urvashi, Yogi Babu, Myna Nandini, Garuda Ram, Abhinaya, Shruthy S, Singapuli Annavi, VR Swaminathan, Sivakumar S, Sunil Varma Indukuri, Varshini Venkat, Pala Karuppiah, Nitin Sathyaa and Deblina Chaki.
Hiphop Tamizha has composed the music for the sequel. The film is scheduled to release on November 6, placing it in a competitive Deepavali theatrical window alongside Suriya’s ‘Scene’ and Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’.