Shanker's S films after Muthalvan is producing Kadhal with former assistant Balaji Shaktivel as director. Balaji Shaktivel had directed the Vikram-Anita starrer 'Samurai'. The film has Bharat and debutante Sandhya playing the lead roles.

It's a love story set in a village backdrop. The film is about the emotional bonding between Murugan and Aishwaria says the director. Shanker has told Shaktivel to make the film as realistic as possible and keep it different from the regular love stories.

Bharat, after '4 The Students' and `Chellamay' gets scope to display his emotions here. Bharat on his part is giving as that is possible to make the role come out well. A scene was shot where Bharat had to come in his scooty, skid and fall. It was a risky shot and a dupe had been arranged, but Bharat insisted on doing the shot himself. The director and Shankar are totally bowled over with heroine Sandhya for her dedication and involvement.

The director had a taste of realism. The scene shot in Madurai was about relatives fighting out at a marriage hall. He used the locals for some crowd scenes. He asked them to forget the camera and start using their own lingo and get into a fight. The fight ended up in a real fight with a frightened Sandhya caught among them.Crucial scenes were shot at the Teppakulam traffic signal in Madurai, and on a set resembling a mechanic shed at one of the main roads.

The first schedule has been completed in 20 days and the unit is now off to locations in Chennai, Chalakudy and Munar.

The supporting cast includes Sukumar, Saranya, Dandapani, Meenakshi, Alex, Krishnamurthy, Arun Kumar, Jaidurga, Kausalya and Amsaveni Paatti.

The film introduces a new music director, Joshua Sridhar. The story being set in Madurai, Joshua teamed up with folk music experts to record the songs that is peculiar to Madurai.

While Vijay Milton wields the camera, the rest of the technicians are debutants, like art director K Veerasami and editor G Sasikumar.