Suriya 44
Teaser poster
Directed by	Karthik Subbaraj
Written by	Karthik Subbaraj
Produced by	Karthik Subbaraj Karthekeyan Santhanam Kalyan Subramaniam Jyothika Suriya
Starring	Suriya Pooja Hegde
Cinematography	Shreyaas Krishna
Edited by	Shafique Mohamed Ali
Music by	Santhosh Narayanan
Production companies	Stone Bench Films 2D Entertainment
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Suriya 44 is the working title of an upcoming Indian Tamil-language film written, directed, and co-produced by Karthik Subbaraj. The film stars Suriya and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles, alongside Jayaram, Joju George, Karunakaran, Nassar, Sujith Shankar, Thamizh, Ramachandran Durairaj, Prem Kumar, Sandeep Raj, Remya Suresh and MD Asif.^[1]

The film was officially announced in March 2023 under the tentative title Suriya 44, as it is the actor's 44th film as the lead actor, along with the tagline Love, Laughter and War. Principal photography commenced in June 2024 in Port Blair. In was shot in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ooty and Kanyakumari. The film will have music composed by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography handled by Shreyaas Krishna and editing by Shafique Mohamed Ali.

• Suriya
• Pooja Hegde
• Jayaram
• Joju George
• Uriyadi Vijayakumar
• Karunakaran
• Nassar
• Sujith Shankar
• Thamizh
• Ramachandran Durairaj
• Prem Kumar
• Sandeep Raj
• Remya Suresh
• MD Asif^[2]

The film is the first collaboration of Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj.

In late 2021, director Karthik Subbaraj and actor Suriya began having a discussion for a potential collaboration between the two in the future.^[3][4] Although they had finalised to collaborate back then, both's respective prior commitments delayed the beginning of the project's production process.^[5][6] Following two-and-a-half years later, on 28 March 2024, Karthik announced through his social media accounts that he would join hands with Suriya for his directorial venture after Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023).^[7][8] The project would be jointly funded by Karthik, Karthekeyan Santhanam, Kalyan, Subramaniam and Jyothika under their respective headed production houses, Stone Bench Creations and 2D Entertainment.^[9][10] The makers kept the project secret until its announcement.^[11][12] Announced under the working title Suriya 44 with the tagline Love, Laughter and War,^[13] the production process was set to begin after the actor completes his commitments to his film with Sudha Kongara, also known as Suriya 43 and Puranaanooru.^[14][15] A few days later, it was reported that since the start of Kongara's film would take a few more months,^[16] they were planning to complete the shooting of the project by then.^[17][18] The film is touted to be as a gangster action drama film.^[19][20][21]

Karthik had met Suriya prior to the shooting of Jigarthanda DoubleX and narrated a one-liner, which the latter requested to develop.^[22] It took him several months for the writing and pre-production.^[23] After Jigarthanda DoubleX release, Karthik narrated the entire script to the actor.^[24]

On the occasion of his birthday (15 May), Santhosh Narayanan was announced as the film's composer by the production house, in his eighth collaboration with the director.^[25][26] Shreyaas Krishna was revealed to handle the cinematographer on 29 May, in his third collaboration with Karthik after Jagame Thandhiram (2021) and Mahaan (2022).^[27][28] In addition to Shreyaas Krishna, the technical crew of art director Jacki, editor Shafique Mohamed Ali, stunt choreographer Kecha Khamphakdee, and costume designer Praveen Raja were announced the same day.^[29][30]

In May 2024, the team shot the promotional video for the film for nearly three days.^[31] A casting call was announced by the makers in late April 2024.^[32] Prior to starting the first shooting schedule, the team had constructed a set at Port Blair located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for filming an action sequence.^[33]

Pooja Hegde was cast to play the lead actress role, pairing opposite Suriya for the first time. Jayaram was cast in an important role.

Suriya would sport a Fu Manchu moustache and mullet look for his role in the film.^[34][35] In mid-May, Pooja Hegde was reported to have been cast for the lead actress role, pairing opposite Suriya, in her first film with the latter and Karthik.^[36] Her inclusion was confirmed on 1 June by the production house.^[37][38] It is her third Tamil film after Mugamoodi (2012) and Beast (2022). Hegde would reportedly receive ₹4 crore (US$480,000) as remuneration.^[39]

Vijay Kumar, Jayaram and Nassar were reported being part of the cast, with the former reportedly playing the main antagonist.^[40][41] Jayaram was confirmed being part of the cast during his arrival for the film's shooting,^[42] and the latter while joining the Ooty schedule.^[43] Karunakaran and Joju George were also cast to play prominent roles,^[44] with the former marking his fourth collaboration with Karthik after Pizza (2012), Jigarthanda (2014) and Iraivi (2016),^[45] and latter marking his second collaboration with director after Jagame Thandhiram.^[46][47] Although the makers approached Kannada actor Dhananjaya for a role,^[48] he couldn't sign the project due to scheduling conflicts.^[49][50] Malayalam actor Sujith Shankar joined the cast on 22 June 2024.^[51] Director Thamizh, Ramachandran Durairaj, Prem Kumar, Sandeep Raj of Vikram and RDX fame and Remya Suresh joined cast for supporting roles.^[52][53]

Suriya, Hegde and Jayaram headed to Andaman for the film's shooting schedule on 1 June 2024.^[54][55] Principal photography began on 2 June at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.^[56][57] The team started shooting action sequences at a specially erected set, which were choreographed by Kecha Khamphakdee.^[58] Shreyaas Krishna brought Alexa Super 35 camera and anamorphic lenses for the better output of the film.^[59] A song shoot also happened in early June 2024.^[60][61] Sujith Shankar joined the first schedule on 22 June 2024, while filming happening at Cellular Jail.^[62][63] A dance number featuring Suriya and Hegde, choreographed by Sherif Master was completed in late-June 2024.^[64][65] On 28 June, Joju George shared a video of himself on a boat in Andaman Island, revealing he joined the sets.^[66][67] The first schedule wrapped on 4 July 2024 at Andaman.^[68][69]

The second schedule began on 26 July at Ooty.^[70][71] In this 15–20 days schedule the team will shoot in scenic backdrop of Nilgiris.^[72][73] A dance number featuring the lead cast with numerous dancers was shot in late-July 2024 at Ooty.^[74][75] Later it was reported that after wrapping Ooty schedule, the team moved to Kanyakumari on 31 July, which turned to be false.^[76][77] On 7 August, Suriya got a head injured on sets,^[78] while filming an action sequence at Nawanagar Palace, Ooty.^[79][80] Later, Rajsekar Pandian, the head of 2D Entertainment tweeted that it was a minor injury and Suriya is perfectly fine.^[81][82] The shooting of the film was halted for few days,^[83] as the doctors asked him to take rest.^[84][85] The second schedule was supposed to wrap on 15 August, but was delayed as the filming halted for few days.^[86][87] Suriya returned to the set on 12 August.^[88]

The production would next move to Kerala and Chennai for the film shoot.^[89][90] 80% of the film would be shot in sets.^[91]

The music and background score is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, in his first collaboration with Suriya; eighth with Karthik.^[92][a]

The film's announcement poster released on 28 March 2024 became the most viewed announcement poster for an Indian film in 24 hours on Twitter.^[93] On 2 June 2024, the makers unveiled the film's "first shot" video, but the title was not revealed.^[94][95] It received positive response and increased expectations for the film's title reveal.^[96][97] Subsequently, the video was attached for theatrical screenings.^[98] Later, after ten days of its original release, the video was released on YouTube.^[99] Akhila Menon of OTTPlay noted "The one-of-a-kind video, which is a first-time attempt in Tamil cinema, featured leading man Suriya in a never-seen-before avatar."^[100]

The film's title was to be unveiled on 23 July, Suriya's birthday;^[97] however, a special promo was released on the aforementioned date, with no title revealed,^[101] but revealed that the title teaser is coming soon.^[102] It became the most viewed promo in less than 20 hours of its release.^[103]

The UK distribution rights were reportedly acquired by Ahimsa Entertainment.^[104]

• Suriya 44 at IMDb