Jio Hotstar Special “Lingam” Press Meet!
Featuring Kathir in the titular role alongside Divya Bharathi, Poornima Ravi, Sathya, Bose Venkat, Nikhila Sankarand others, Lingam is a gritty gangster drama inspired by a real-life incident from Kanyakumari in the 1990s. The event witnessed the cast and crew interacting with the press and media, sharing their experiences of bringing the ambitious web series to life ahead of its worldwide premiere on June 26.
Mrs. Radha, Vikatan Televistas ”Vikatan Productions previously collaborated with Jio Hotstar on November Story, a partnership that resulted in a highly successful series. We are delighted to be joining hands once again for Lingam. Our Managing Director, Mr. Sreenivasan, is currently on an overseas trip due to unavoidable commitments and could not be present today. On behalf of the entire Vikatan family, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Kutty Sir, Pradeep Sir, and Bala Sir from Jio Hotstar for their continued trust and support. Lingam is inspired by a real-life incident that took place in Kanyakumari during the 1990, an event that left a lasting impact on the region. The story was first published as a serialized feature in Junior Vikatan, later expanded into a full-fledged narrative, and has now been adapted into a web series. Bringing such a widely read and deeply rooted story to the screen was a significant creative challenge. I would like to thank writer Lakshmi Saravanakumar, director of the series, and Prashanth Pandiraj, who served as the showrunner, for their dedication and commitment throughout the journey. My sincere appreciation also goes to our Creative Producer Selva, whose support has been invaluable at every stage of the production. This series is the result of immense hard work, passion, and collective effort from a committed team. I thank every member of the cast and crew who stood as a pillar of strength in bringing this vision to life. I also extend my gratitude to Nila for standing by us throughout this journey and being an integral part of the process. Finally, I request our friends from the press and media to extend their support and help take Lingam to audiences far and wide. We sincerely hope the series receives the love and appreciation it deserves.”
Music Director Tony Britto: “Lingam features seven songs, which is quite rare for a web series. Usually, there is limited scope for songs in this format, but this project gave me ample creative space as a composer. I am also happy that Santhosh Narayanan has sung one of the tracks. Composing for a web series comes with its own challenges after working in films. What makes Lingam special is that it offers audiences a cinematic experience with distinct first and second-half emotions and impact. I thank the lyricists, musicians and technicians who contributed to the music. My gratitude to the director for his strong musical understanding, and to Jio Hotstar and Prashanth Pandiraj for their constant support.”
Actress Poornima Ravi: “Following Bigg Boss, I was offered this role by Pradeep sir, and I am grateful to him for trusting me with such a challenging character. I sincerely thank him for this opportunity. Prashanth Pandiraj sir took great care of the entire team throughout the shoot. Since the filming took place in Trichy, his hometown, he often ensured that we enjoyed delicious home-cooked food, making us feel completely at home. Director Lakshmi Saravanakumar is an immensely talented filmmaker with great potential. We shared many meaningful conversations, both about cinema and beyond. Working with Kathir was a wonderful experience. After watching the preview, I was amazed by his performance. People often describe him as an underrated actor, but I believe his talent speaks for itself. I also thank the producers for giving me this opportunity. Divya Bharathi is a fantastic performer, and we share a great friendship off-screen as well. Technically too, the series has come together beautifully, with strong contributions from the music, lyrics, cinematography, editing and every department involved.”
Actress Divya Bharathi said: ”I thank the press and media fraternity for being here today. My gratitude to Vikatan Productions and Jio Hotstar for giving me this opportunity. The character I play in Lingam is completely different from my role in Bachelor, which made it an exciting experience for me as an actor. I thank Lakshmi Saravanakumar, Vikatan Productions and Prashanth Pandiraj for trusting me with this role. Prashanth sir has delivered acclaimed series like Vilangu and Warrant, and it was wonderful to have him as the showrunner for Lingam. Director Lakshmi has done a fantastic job and has ensured that every character in the series has significance. My character is someone who loves a person deeply and chooses to accept him despite his flaws and shortcomings. Kathir is an incredibly talented and natural performer. Poornima has become one of my favourite people, and I am confident that audiences will appreciate her performance in Lingam. After watching the series, I personally felt like congratulating music director Tony Britto for his excellent background score. I also thank Executive Producer Nila and the entire team for making this such a memorable experience. I believe Lingam Will open bigger avenues for director Lakshmi Saravanakumar. Finally, my sincere thanks to Pradeep sir and Radha ma’am for this opportunity. Thank you.”
Director Lakshmi Saravanakumar: “I am primarily a writer and have authored over 25 books. I have also been honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award. The journey of Lingam began in 2021, and it has been a truly memorable experience.
Having written several stories for Vikatan over the years, it feels special to collaborate with them once again on a larger canvas. I thank Pradeep sir, Srinivasan sir, and the entire Vikatan team for their trust and support.
The technical team has been exceptional throughout the process. Music director Tony Britto has done a wonderful job, and the song sung by Santhosh Narayanan is especially emotional and close to my heart.
I am grateful to the entire cast and crew for bringing these characters to life so authentically. Kathir, Divya Bharathi, Poornima Ravi and everyone involved have delivered performances that feel incredibly real. My sincere thanks to Prashanth Pandiraj for his guidance and support throughout this journey.I hope audiences connect with Lingam and extend their love and support to the series.”
Showrunner Prashanth Pandiraj: “When Pradeep sir first approached me to be the showrunner for Lingam, I happily accepted, without realising the responsibility that came with it. It was like being lured with a chocolate before receiving an injection,” he said humorously. “Getting the opportunity to work with Vikatan, an institution with over a century of legacy, was a privilege. The journey of creating Lingam has given me immense love, learning and respect.
There have been rumours that I directed this series, but I would like to clarify that they are completely false. Lakshmi Saravanakumar is the captain of this ship, and the credit belongs entirely to him. Kathir has delivered remarkable performances throughout the series and will surely surprise audiences. Divya Bharathi looks stunning on screen and also impresses in a completely different traditional avatar. Poornima Ravi has also delivered a wonderful performance.
The entire team has worked tirelessly to bring this series to life, and I sincerely hope audiences enjoy it. Finally, I thank the press and media fraternity for their unwavering support and encouragement, which have been a constant source of strength in my journey.”
Actor Kathir said: ”After Suzhal Seasons 1 and 2, many started referring to me as an ‘OTT Hero’. While that had its advantages, I also didn’t want to be confined to a particular image. Lingam has been another memorable experience in my OTT journey. The character demanded a great deal of clarity and preparation, as it required balancing both the good and darker shades of the protagonist while ensuring audiences empathise with him. Lakshmi Saravanakumar has written and directed the character with remarkable conviction and precision.
I thank Pradeep sir, Vikatan Productions and Jio Hotstar for their unwavering support. Working with Prashanth Pandiraj has been a wonderful experience, and I truly admire his dedication and hard work. Our technical team has put in tremendous effort to give the series a cinematic quality. Divya Bharathi has taken up a challenging role and delivered a fantastic performance. Watching Poornima Ravi’s performance also left me thoroughly impressed. I believe Lingam will offer audiences a unique and engaging experience, and I request everyone to watch the series and extend their support.”
