Critically acclaimed director S. P. Jananathan passed away on March 14th after suffering a brain stroke on the 11th afternoon and treated in the intensive care. The entire Tamil film industry was sent into grief by the sudden demise of the socially conscious filmmaker whose subjects were often the downtrodden people.

Vijay Sethupathi the busiest actor in Kollywood and even Indian cinema took time off from a new film shooting and was with the family of Jananthan when he was hospitalized and in the funeral too. The Makkal Selvan as he is aptly known as has not only taken care of the entire hospital bills but also was a part of the entire last rites formalities and walked with the mortal remains till the crematorium.

The relationship between Vijay Sethupathi and Jananathan is like a movie script as the former is said to have gone to the latter's office several times during his struggling days but the director made it clear to him that he has no intention of making films with new comers. However what struck VJS at that time was that Jananathan treated not only him but all those who came to seek chances with respect and warmth and if it is food time he even offered them that.

Later when Vijay Sethupathi was a busy actor and Jananathan wanted him to replace another actor in 'Purambokku Ennum Podhuvudamai' he immediately gave him dates and also turned in a solid performance in the film. Though the film was a critical success it was not the same at the box office and hence there was a long delay of almost four years for Jananathan to start a new film.

It is then that Vijay Sethupathi himself came forward to produce 'Laabam' along with Arumugakumar and also promised Jananathan that he should continue to do his kind of socially relevant films and he will back him up always. It is with this assurance that the film was started with a bang and if not for the coronavirus pandemic would have been released in the director's lifetime itself.

Jananathan himself has stated in interviews that VJS would often enquire about his health and force him to go for checkups and thereaupatic treatments and would take care of the expenses even if he refused it. The star also donated for the cause of film workers by giving them gold when the director requested him to do so.

Vijay Sethupathi's immense love and respect for Jananathan and his efforts to keep the filmmaker continue his good work has caused the Kollywood industry to look at the star with more respect and awe.