Marutha: Vijay Kumar on Discipline, Presence & Purposeful Cinema

Vijay Kumar, who is currently directing City Lights in Kannada and recently completed the Tamil sequel Mookuthi Amman 2, is now gearing up for the release of his next project, Marutha. Backed by K Manju and Ramesh Yadav under the Eesha Productions banner, the film features Shreyas Manju and Brinda Acharya alongside Vijay. Marutha is set to hit theatres across Karnataka on November 21.

Vijay shares that the film offered him an unexpected creative rhythm. “Narayan sir doesn’t merely direct a scene—he creates a flow on set that everyone naturally falls into. I’ve worked with K Manju before, so the environment felt warm and familiar, yet the experience was completely fresh. Shreyas and Brinda brought such sincerity to their roles that it elevated my own. My character had layers I discovered only while shooting. At a time when distractions are everywhere, this film subtly reminds us about awareness, responsibility and being present. It’s fulfilling to be part of something that shares a meaningful message without sounding preachy,” he says.

Shreyas Manju adds that the process was both demanding and deeply enriching. “S Narayan sir shaped every scene with absolute precision. Working with experienced actors was like attending a daily masterclass. With the support of my father and Ramesh Yadav sir, I felt free to experiment and push my performance. That trust helped me give everything I had to this role,” he shares.