‘Karuppu’ was initially planned as Vijay's final film; RJ Balaji reveals how ‘Kantara’ changed the climax of Suriya and Trisha starrer

Director and actor RJ Balaji opened up about the journey behind his blockbuster film 'Karuppu' and revealed how actor Thalapathy Vijay and the Kannada hit 'Kantara' played a major role in shaping the movie. In a recent interview, Balaji shared that 'Karuppu' was initially meant to be Vijay’s final film before entering politics. Though the project later moved to Suriya, Balaji said his discussions with Vijay helped improve the script significantly and gave the film a stronger emotional core.Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter India, RJ Balaji said, “I narrated 'Karuppu' to Vijay sir. This was supposed to be his last film before politics. But there were certain factors, including his political commitments and his decision about his final film. He asked me, ‘Can I call you in one week and confirm?’ Later, he called me and explained the reasons. I felt those reasons were completely fair, and I told him, ‘I fully respect your decision. Thank you so much.’” He further added, “I narrated two stories to him because he himself asked if I had scripts for him. That itself was a huge respect he gave to my work.” Balaji also revealed that Vijay’s detailed questions after the narration helped him rewrite and improve the screenplay.RJ Balaji also shared how 'Kantara' inspired the climax of 'Karuppu.' “After the Singam sequence, there was another scene planned. But I was not satisfied with the climax. It felt just okay. Then I watched the morning show of 'Kantara.' During the last 10 minutes, people in the theatre were literally going into a trance. That experience inspired me deeply,” he said. Since 'Karuppu' was based around the deity Karuppasamy, Balaji felt the film needed a stronger spiritual and emotional finish. “That was the moment the climax idea came to me,” he explained, adding that the energy and impact of 'Kantara' pushed him to rethink the final portions of the film.RJ Balaji said the project eventually reached Suriya after producers came to know that he had narrated the story to Vijay. “They asked me if I could narrate the same script to Suriya sir,” he recalled. The film later went on to become one of the biggest Tamil hits of the year. According to Balaji, both Vijay’s feedback and the emotional influence of 'Kantara' played an important role in making 'Karuppu' what it is today. What started as a possible farewell film for Vijay finally became a massive blockbuster for Suriya, with audiences praising its emotional depth, action, and powerful climax.About 'Karuppu'Directed by RJ Balaji, the movie, starring Suriya, Trisha, and the director himself playing the villain's role, combines elements of action, drama, and spirituality. It is being reported that 'Karuppu' earned more than Rs 250 crore, and the film will go into its third week with great strength.