In his latest interview, director Vivek Athreya revealed that the custodial death of P Jayaraj and Bennicks in Tamil Nadu in the year 2020, inspired him to design SJ Suryah's Dayanand as a brutal cop in 'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram'.
The Tamil Nadu incident shook the conscience of many. Jayaraj and Bennicks were a father-son duo who were tortured to death by a few cops in Thoothukudi district's Sathankulam for keeping their pharmacy shop open during the lockdown. The victims were also sexually molested during their custody. "That incident was really shocking. I wrote SJ Suryah's character based on that particular incident of police brutality," Athreya says in his interview with Galatta Plus.
Why 'Sanivaaram'? Athreya says, "My father used to regard Saturday as very auspicious. Incidentally, he died on a Saturday. That's why I chose that day and linked it to an emotional incident in the life of Nani's character."
The film, produced by DVV Danayya, also stars Priyanka Mohan and Sai Kumar. Its music is by Jakes Bejoy.
