Why RJ Balaji insisted on a May release for Suriya's Karuppu

RJ Balaji’s latest directorial Karuppu, starring Suriya, continues to perform strongly at the box office, crossing the Rs 150 crore mark and inching towards the Rs 200 crore milestone. But before reaching theatres, the action drama underwent multiple delays, with the director insisting on a specific release window despite pressure to release it earlier.

In a recent interview, RJ Balaji revealed that he had turned down several suggested release dates, including January 23 and multiple dates in February, because he was convinced Karuppu needed a May release to maximise its reach. “I was waiting only for this date,” he said.

RJ Balaji further stated, “It was slated for a Deepavali release, which got pushed due to delays. Then the production side offered me many dates including January 23, and a few other dates in February. I didn't want any of it.” Talking about how he was clear about wanting a date in May, he said, “When we missed the Pongal window, my next goal was a May release. I was very clear about it.”

Explaining his reasoning, RJ Balaji said January and February would have coincided with student examinations, while political activity around the state elections would have overshadowed conversations around the film. According to him, even a Tamil New Year release did not seem favourable because public attention remained fixed on election campaigns.

The filmmaker added that May 1 was also considered but was eventually ruled out, as discussions would shift towards the state’s next Chief Minister following election results on May 4. RJ Balaji said he finally settled on May 14 because audiences would have returned to their routine by then, election discussions would have cooled down, and students would be on summer holidays.

“Ten days after swearing in, everyone will be back to their routine lives. Discussions regarding IPL would have also reached a monotony. The time was ripe as students would also be on their summer holidays,” he said. Though Karuppu was eventually released on May 15 — a day later than planned — the strategy appears to have worked, with the film emerging as one of Suriya’s strongest recent box office performers.

Karuppu stars Trisha opposite Suriya, marking their reunion two decades after Aaru (2005). The supporting cast includes Indrans, Anagha Maya Ravi, Sshivada and Swasika, among others, while RJ Balaji plays the antagonist.