In a significant turn of events, the Tovino Thomas-starrer film, initially titled ‘Nadikar Thilakam,’ has undergone a name change to ‘Nadikar’ in response to the concerns raised by fans of the legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganeshan. The renaming ceremony unfolded in Kochi on Tuesday (January 23), where actor Prabhu, the son of Sivaji Ganeshan, officially announced the new title.
The choice of the original title had stirred emotions among fans of Sivaji Ganeshan, as ‘Nadikar Thilakam’ was closely associated with the iconic actor. Expressing gratitude, Prabhu acknowledged the courtesy of the Malayalam movie’s makers, particularly director Jean Paul Lal, for their willingness to address the concerns and make the necessary change.
Prabhu shared the backstory, revealing that he became aware of the film’s title when fans of Sivaji Ganeshan reached out to inform him about a movie being shot in Kerala with that name. Upon discovering that Lal’s son was directing the film, Prabhu approached Lal with a humble request to consider changing the title. He emphasized that the decision to change the name was not imposed but rather a heartfelt response to the filmmakers’ willingness to accommodate the fans’ sentiments.
During the ceremony in Kochi, Prabhu expressed the deep affection that Kerala had for his father, recounting the love showered upon him both during his life and posthumously. He shared personal experiences from shooting in Kerala villages, where memories of Sivaji Ganeshan evoked tears of remembrance.
Actor Lal, a close friend of Sivaji Ganeshan’s son, acknowledged Prabhu’s presence at the ceremony in Kochi and appreciated his willingness to participate. The event also marked the release of the movie’s first-look poster.
‘Nadikar,’ produced with a substantial budget of approximately Rs40 crores, features Tovino Thomas in the role of Superstar David Padikkal. The film also stars Soubin Shahir and Bhavana in pivotal roles. The highly anticipated movie is set to hit theaters on May 3rd.
Earlier, the fan association Nadigarthilagam Sivaji Samooganala Perava had reached out to various film associations, including the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), urging a change in the film’s name.