Tamil actor Kathir is set to return to Malayalam cinema with ‘I Am Game’, a project that came his way through an unexpected recommendation from filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj. The actor, who previously appeared in the Malayalam film ‘Meesha’, revealed that he had never met director Nahas Hidayath before Lokesh introduced them. Interestingly, Kathir is yet to watch the completed film. He revealed that the makers have not shown him the final cut, meaning he will experience the film alongside audiences when it releases in theatres.
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s phone call led Kathir to ‘I Am Game’
Kathir recalled that his association with *I Am Game* began when Lokesh Kanagaraj called him and asked whether he had watched *RDX*, Nahas Hidayath’s 2023 Malayalam action film.“One day, Lokesh anna called me and asked if I had watched ‘RDX.’ He told me that director Nahas wanted to meet me. Lokesh Kanagaraj anna said I did not even need to hear the story because he had already heard it and was giving me his guarantee,” Kathir recalled.Lokesh subsequently asked him to meet Nahas when the director and his team visited Chennai. Kathir said the meeting marked his first interaction with the filmmaker.The actor’s decision to take up the project was therefore significantly influenced by Lokesh’s trust in the story and its director.
Kathir on playing a cricketer in ‘I Am Game’
Kathir also spoke about his experience working with Nahas Hidayath. Having seen ‘RDX’, he initially expected the filmmaker to have a serious and intense personality. Instead, he found Nahas to be quite the opposite.“I thought Nahas would be very serious, but he is actually someone who does not even speak loudly. He is a wonderful human being,” Kathir said.The actor plays a cricketer in ‘I Am Game’, a role that presented its own challenge because Kathir admitted that he was not particularly skilled at the sport.“I had only played small games back home, but he told me not to worry and gave me the confidence to do it,” he said.The encouragement from Nahas helped Kathir approach the role with greater confidence, despite his limited experience with cricket.
Kathir praises Dulquer Salmaan ’s faith in ‘I Am Game’
Kathir also recalled his brief but memorable interactions with Dulquer Salmaan, who is associated with the project as an actor and producer. The actor said the two discussed ‘Lokah’ during one of their conversations and that he was struck by Dulquer’s willingness to invest in a project based on his faith in its creative team.“I got to spend only a little time with Dulquer, but one day we spoke about ‘Lokah.’ I asked him how he could invest such a huge amount based on his belief in the director, cinematographer and story. His confidence, the risk he takes, and his passion for cinema need to be appreciated,” Kathir said.For Kathir, the experience offered an opportunity to work within a Malayalam production backed by a filmmaker he trusted and an actor-producer known for supporting ambitious projects.
Kathir is yet to watch ‘I Am Game’
Despite being part of the film, Kathir revealed that he has not yet watched the finished version of ‘I Am Game’. According to the actor, director Nahas Hidayath and the producers have kept the final cut away from the cast, leaving him just as curious as audiences about the finished product. That anticipation adds another interesting layer to Kathir’s return to Malayalam cinema, particularly given that the project came to him through Lokesh’s strong recommendation.
‘I Am Game’ release date
‘I Am Game’ is scheduled to release worldwide on September 3. The film is positioned as one of Dulquer Salmaan’s major upcoming projects, with Kathir forming part of its ensemble cast. For Kathir, the journey from an unexpected phone call from Lokesh Kanagaraj to stepping into a Malayalam project with Nahas Hidayath has been an unusual one and he will finally get to see how it all came together when the film reaches theatres.
