Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Parasakthi’ opens its 1960s sets to Chennai’s film buffs

Is it possible to time travel back to the mid-1960s to past Tamil Nadu, when the Dravidian uprising was at its peak? Cinema is the only medium that has the power to convey something close to the magic of a time machine. And such is the quality of artistry from the makers of the upcoming Tamil period action drama. parasakthi they took advantage of as they began their pre-release promotions. On Thursday (December 18), the makers of the Sivakarthikeyan starrer inaugurated a grand exhibition at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai, showcasing many period sets created for the film.

According to the producers, the team, led by art director Arvind Ashok Kumar, had recreated props and sets from the 1960s for the making of the film; some of these have now been recreated or re-scaled as installations in the exhibition. From a radio station to a vintage car, from a makeshift police station to a steam locomotive, the installations promise visitors the chance to relive life in a bygone era.

In a major highlight, the filmmakers also released a special behind-the-scenes video that explains how the lead characters’ looks and costumes were designed; This is a video that visitors can only watch in the traditional tentkotta-style movie theater set up in the exhibition.

The exhibition, which will be open to the public until December 21 (Sunday), was inaugurated with a grand event called ‘Parasakthi World’, which was attended by the film’s director Sudha Kongara; lead actors Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa and Sreeleela; music composer GV Prakash Kumar; producer Aakash Baskaran; art director Arvind Ashok Kumar; and costume designer Poornima Ramaswamy, as well as other members of the film crew.

Speaking at the event, director Sudha said that what she loves most about being a filmmaker is that this craft allows the director to live many lives, witness many lifestyles and explore many worlds. “Inside Irudhi SuttruI discovered the world of boxing; inside Soorarai Pottruwas related to the aviation industry; and now in parasakthi“I went back to the 1960s and looked at that world for the last five years.” Adding that the film gave him everything, the producer talked about what it means to return to a time when people were much simpler. “It was about 15 years after we got independence and people didn’t care about money and desire; What they all carried in their hearts was a fire, a passion. We were a young nation and all these people fought for every right. “I liked it and wanted to talk about it,” he said. “Whether it was the period props, the locations, the costumes, the jewelry, and even the faces of the background artists we chose to be appropriate to the period, we tried our best to make sure it was all authentic. “I hope this exhibition gives the public the same feeling that these sets evoke in us,” added the filmmaker.

‘Parasakthi’ team checks out a vintage car installed at the ‘World of Parasakthi’ exhibition at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai on December 18, 2025 | Photo Credit: Special Editing

Meanwhile, the film’s protagonist Sivakarthikeyan, in his speech, also praised Sudha for her hard work while preparing for the film. “The initial reason why I chose to do this film was not the story; it was Sudha Ma’am herself. But after I decided to make a film with her, I even listened to this story. She worked hard on this film for almost five years. So, I didn’t need to do any research; in a sense, she already had post-graduation on the subject.”

Madharaasi-star later thanked producer Aakash Baaskaran for his initiative in hosting the exhibition. “How we deliver a film to its audience is as important as how we make it. This event is an example of what you can do when you keep your finger on the pulse of your film. That’s why I thank the production team,” he said.

Ravi Mohan and Sreeleela share goli soda at the ‘World of Parasakthi’ exhibition at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai on December 18, 2025 | Photo Credit: Special Editing

parasakthiThe film, Sivakarthikeyan’s 25th film, is said to capture a historic student movement that changed the political fabric of Tamil Nadu forever. The script of the film, which takes its name from the iconic Sivaji Ganesan film written by M Karunanidhi, has been written by Sudha and Arjun Nadesan.

The film’s cinematography is by Ravi K Chandran and editing is by Sathis. Notably, the film marks GV Prakash’s 100th film as a composer. Produced by Dawn Pictures, parasakthi It will be released in theaters on January 14, 2026 during Pongal.

The World of Parasakthi exhibition will be open to the public on December 19, 20 and 21 between 14.00 and 22.00.

It was published – 19 December 2025 15:14 IST