Thirumagan - Rustic and real: Taking a break from his routine, actor-director S J Suryah plays the hero in a movie which is set in a remote village.

Noted ad-film maker Rathnakumar makes his debut as director with Thirumagan and Kalaipuli S Thanu, known for his big-budgeted movies, produces the movie.

Rathnakumar had served as an associate to veteran director Bharathiraja and S J Suryah himself. It's a case of the protege directing his mentor.

Suryah sports a new look for the movie with a long grown moustache and a new hairstyle. Suryah appears in dhoti all through the film.

The film's story is set in Tirunelveli. A major portion of Thirumagan was shot in and around Cumbum, Theni and a couple of song sequences at Mysore.

Former National award winning actress Meera Jasmine plays the heroine to Suryah for the first time. She has a major role to play in the movie, Rathnakumar said and added that the role was conceived keeping her in mind. Meera Jasmine dons the role of a girl, who hails from a poor family, who eke out their livelihood making clay-pots.

Besides Meera Jasmine, there are two other heroines in the movie - Krithika and Preethi Varma.

Says Rathnakumar, the movie would have no double entendre and would be a clean entertainer.

Suryah, whose image took a beating after movies like New, Ah Aah and Kalvanin Kadhali, is optimistic of reversal of fortunes with Thirumagan.

It is an earthy story and sequences are quite natural. Rathnakumar deserves a pat, he says Ranjith, Radha Ravi, Ilavarasu, Ganja Karuppu and Vadivukkarasi are also in the cast.

After Vaali and Kushi, Deva is back to compose music for a Suryah's film. Vairamuthu has penned all the songs in the movie. Kalaipuli S Thanu is producing the movie for his Kalaipuli International production house.

The movie would reflect the life in village without any compromise, and I hope audience would welcome it, winds up Rathnakumar.