Madharaasi director AR Murugadoss tonsures head in Palani, says 'feels like my first film again'

AR Murugadoss

Noted filmmaker AR Murugadoss, who made a comeback to Tamil cinema with Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, conducted a ritual at the temple of Murugan in Palani, Tamil Nadu. In a gesture of appreciation and rejuvenation, the director tonsured his head a few days after the movie's September 5 release.

Murugadoss explained the ritual's meaning in an interview with Post-cut Clarity, comparing Madharaasi to his directorial debut Dheena from 2001.

Following Madharaasi's release, I visited the Palani Murugan temple. After Dheena and sometimes after that, I recall doing the same. I felt compelled to express my gratitude because this movie is like my first movie all over again.  I prayed to God that this film would be a success, I would," he said.

Bridging a Five-Year Divide

Murugadoss acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to feel nervous and apprehensive during the protracted break in his career.

"During the pandemic, I was unable to think clearly for a year. It felt like a world war at the time, and for people like me, our focus is narrow. We had no idea how long it would go on. There was a five-year lapse after two projects failed," he explained.

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Before Madharaasi, his final Tamil film was Darbar (2020), starring Rajinikanth, which raked in Rs 247.80 crore globally. Since then, the director has only released Sikandar (2025) in Hindi, which starred Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna.

The movie did not make an impression at the box office, even though it earned Rs 184.6 crore.

An Iconic Career

AR Murugadoss has directed a number of important motion pictures in various fields.

He debuted with Ajith Kumar's Dheena (2001), became well-known nationwide with the Suriya-Asin hit Ghajini (2005), and then remade it in Hindi with Aamir Khan in 2008.

His Telugu filmography also includes Spyder (2017), starring Mahesh Babu, and Stalin (2006), starring Chiranjeevi.

Murugadoss now aims to re-engage audiences with Madharaasi, which stars Vidyut Jammwal, Sivakarthikeyan, and Rukmini Vasanth.