Introduction
Raayan (2024), Dhanush is the director and main actor of the 2024 Tamil action drama. The Sun Pictures-produced movie, which stars S. J. Suryah, Selvaraghavan, and Aparna Balamurali among others, centers on a North Chennai fast-food hotel owner who protects his family from competing gangs. It was released on July 26, 2024, and was first announced in January 2023 as Dhanush's 50th film. It was a commercial success despite receiving mixed reviews; it made over ₹158 crore, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2024.
Plot
Keeping his siblings safe from gangsters Sethu and Durai is Raayan, the owner of a fast-food restaurant in North Chennai. The family of Raayan becomes involved in the feud after Muthu murders the kid of a gangster. Defying his brothers' betrayal, Raayan fights back to vanquish Sethu and save his sister Durga. After Sargunam's duplicity is exposed, Raayan agrees to leave Chennai with Durga in order to start again and declines the offer of new identities.
Cast
1. Dhanush as Kathavaraayan “Raayan”
2. Rakul Preet Singh as young Raayan
3. S. J. Suryah as Sethuraman “Sethu”
4. Selvaraghavan as Sekhar, Raayan's father figure
5. Prakash Raj as Commissioner R. Sargunam
6. Sundeep Kishan as Muthuvelraayan “Muthu”, Raayan's younger brother
7. Avanish as young Muthu
8. Kalidas Jayaram as Manickavelraayan “Manickam”, Raayan's younger brother
9. Dhanush Karthik as young Manickam
10. Dushara Vijayan as Durga, Raayan's younger sister
11. Dharsikha as young Durga
12. Aparna Balamurali as Meghalai, Muthu's wife
13. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar as Sethu's first wife
14. Saravanan as Durai
15. Dileepan as mentor, Sethu's henchman
16. Ilavarasu as Meghalai's father
17. Divya Pillai as Annam Sethuraman, Sethu's second wife
18. Singampuli as Thambidurai
19. Dr. Karthik Anjaneyan as Anjaneyan
20. Devadarshini as Nurse
21. Ravi Mariya as Ponram
22. Namo Narayana as Jagannathan
23. Munishkanth as Duraisingam
24. Cell Murugan as Bartender
23. Sha Ra as Kothandam
24. Geetha Kailasam as Durai's wife
25. Naveen Krubhakar as Manickam's rival in college
26. Anbu Mayilsamy as Sethu's henchman
27. Ravi Prakash as Chelladurai
28. Anikha Surendran as Savitha
29. Aranthangi Nisha as Police officer
30. Kiccha Ravi as Raayan's father
31. M. Soundarya Saravanan as Raayan's mother
Production
Development
In collaboration with Thenandal Studio Limited, Dhanush announced his second directing project on December 29, 2017. September 2018 saw the start of principal photography for the bilingual Tamil-Telugu movie, originally dubbed DD2. It was only paused, in contrast to initial claims that it had been shelved because of scheduling issues. Selvaraghavan was seen as directing portions of it by June 2020. But ultimately, the project was shelved and placed on hold. After Dhanush made the decision in 2023 to write a new story with funding from Sun Pictures, the project was formally unveiled as D50 on January 18, 2024, and renamed Raayan on February 19, 2024.
Casting
For the part, Dhanush will have a handlebar mustache, stubble, and a tonsured head. Key characters are portrayed by Sundeep Kishan, Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, and S. J. Suryah; Jayaram takes Vishnu Vishal's place. Confirmed in late February 2024, Selvaraghavan, Prakash Raj, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Aparna Balamurali, and Saravanan will also play significant roles. At first, Dhanush had suggested musician Deva for the antagonist part, but Deva turned him down.
Filming
On July 5, 2023, a puja ceremony was held at East Coast Road in Chennai to mark the start of principal photography for the movie. After spending most of the production at Adithya Ram Studios, the filming was shifted to Karaikudi for a week beginning in mid-November. The Royapuram set cost the team ₹30 crore. Dhanush declared on December 14, 2023, that the filming was over.
Post-production
Digital Bricks Entertainment Pvt Ltd's visual effects supervisors are Sumesh Gopal and Anish Dayanandan. In 2024, dubbing began in late February and ended in early March. Dhanush verified on social media that the re-recording was finished by A. R. Rahman on May 28.
Music
For the film, A. R. Rahman wrote the soundtrack and score, working with Dhanush for the fourth time. The audio rights were obtained by Sun Pictures. On May 9, May 24, and July 5, 2024, respectively, the singles “Adangaatha Asuran,” “Water Packet,” and “Raayan Rumble” were released. On July 6, 2024, Sriram Engineering College in Chennai hosted the album's debut.
Marketing
On February 19, 2024, the movie's title and first look poster were made public. From February 21 to February 27, character posters for Suryah, Selvaraghavan, Prakash Raj, Dushara, Aparna, Varalaxmi, and Saravanan were released. The trailer had its debut on July 16.