Cobra (upcoming film)

Producer S. S. Lalit Kumar of Seven Screen Studios, announced their upcoming project featuring Vikram on May 2019, tentatively tiled as Vikram 58.[lower-alpha 1][15] The film is directed by R. Ajay Gnanamuthu, who previously helmed Demonte Colony (2015) and Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018).[16] Originally planned to release as a pan-Indian film (in Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu), The makers originally planned to kickstart the film's shoot during August 2019, and release the film on April 2020, during the occasion of summer,[17] although principal photography commenced on October 2019. On July 2019, A. R. Rahman was roped in to score music for the flick.[18][19] A report from The New Indian Express, dated 2 August 2019, stated that Vikram will be seen in 25 different looks.[20]

While it was rumoured to be titled as Amar,[21][22] the makers finalised the film's official title as Cobra was announced on 25 December 2019.[23][24] The team titled the film 'Cobra' because it resembles the pivotal character of a cobra snake.[25] Director Ajay Gnanamuthu, in an interview with The Times of India stated that "The protagonist’s character and cobra has a link. If I reveal anything more now, it will give away too many details. Also, since the film is made in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi, I wanted a title that works in all languages. Hence, we zeroed in on Cobra."[26][27]

Initially, Priya Bhavani Shankar announced her part in the project on July 2019.[28]Later for unknown reasons [29] Priya was replaced by Mirnalini Ravi. (of Super Deluxe fame) Mirnalini was roped in to the cast on January 2020.[30] and the makers finalised Srinidhi Shetty (of KGF fame) in late October 2019, marking her debut in Tamil film industry.[31][32] Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan,[33] also makes his film debut,[34] being added in the pivotal cast of the film.[35][36] After impressed by his performance in Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Gnanamuthu decided to rope in Shane Nigam for this flick.[37] However, after the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA), had written to the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFC), seeking a ban on the actor until he compensated the producers for his two projects in Malayalam that have been shelved, the makers replaced Sarjano Khalid for the fllm.[38][39] Theatre personality Mohammad Ali Baig,[40] was also roped in for the flick on February 2020.[41] In April 2020, Malayalam actors Roshan Mathew and Miya were included in the film's cast.[42] K. S. Ravikumar, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Kanika and Babu Antony were also in the part of the film.[43][44] Popular Malayalam actor Mamukoya, made his Tamil debut with this flick.[45]

Originally, the film's principal shoot was set to commence on 21 September 2019 in Chennai.[46] However the principal photography kickstarted from 4 October 2019.[47] While Irfan Pathan joined the sets of the shoot on 15 October, Srinidhi Shetty joined the film's sets only on the month-end.[48] The former had wrapped the first schedule of the film on 6 November 2019 at Chennai.[49][50] On 11 November 2019, Vikram and his team headed to Alleppey for a song shoot, which was wrapped up within two days.[51] By the end of November 2019, the second schedule of filming was completed in Kerala.[52] The third schedule of the film took place in Chennai on December 2019.

The makers planned to shoot few sequences across Russia and Europe on January 2020.[53] However on 17 January, the makers headed to plan the shoot in Kolkata, for the third schedule.[54] Irfan Pathan completed his portions for the flick on 21 January, throughout the fourth schedule.[55] On 6 February, the makers planned to shoot the climax sequence in Russia.[56] The makers shot a crucial seqence at Ramee Mall located in Chennai on 7 February 2020.[57][58] Vikram and Gnanamuthu started filming on Russia on March 2020, despite the fear of the novel coronavirus spread.[59][60] However, due to rapid spread of the COVID-19, the crew halted filming and returned India.[61]

The film's shoot further affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as 25% of the shoot is pending as of March 2020.[62] The director Ajay Gnanamuthu had announced that he will take paycut for the film, in order to help producers in the current time of crisis.[63] As the team faced probems in shooting in Russia, due to non-availabilty of international travel facilities, the team created huge sets resembling Russia in a film city in Chennai.[64] On October 2020, the team had starting the dubbing portions of the film.[65]

The shooting of the film resumed in 3 December 2020 in Chennai, with Vikram joining the sets.[66] After completing the schedule, the team headed to Kolkata on 22 December.[67]