Valimai

Soon after the release of director H. Vinoth's second film Theeran Adhigaram Ondru (2017), he approached actor Ajith Kumar for a high-profile action film, which will feature the actor in negative shades to his character. However, Ajith declined the project and asked the director to work on the Tamil remake of the 2016 Hindi film Pink titled as Nerkonda Paarvai.[11] In January 2019, during the film's making, producer Boney Kapoor announced that he would collaborate for the second time, with Ajith Kumar and director Vinoth for another Tamil film, which will be tentatively titled as Thala 60.[12][13] Kapoor also stated that, the film will have racing sequences,[14] suggesting that the movie would be an action thriller genre that uses the actor's passion for speed.[15][16]

The film's production was expected to launch on 29 August 2019,[17][18] however was briefly delayed, due to Vinoth's completion of the final draft of the film's script. A formal launch ceremony for the film was held on 18 October 2019, at the office of Kapoor's production house.[19] The makers also announced the title of the film as Valimai.[20][21] Yuvan Shankar Raja was roped in as the film's music director, and Nirav Shah was confirmed as the cinematographer.[22] National award-winning art director Thota Tharani also joined the film's technical crew.[23] Sources claim that Ajith will essay the role of a police officer in the film,[24][25] and he will sport two different looks,[26] with one of them being similar to Ajith's bald look in Vedalam (2015).[27]

S. J. Surya was reported to play the antagonist in the film,[28][29] however the actor denied the claims of being a part of the film.[30] The makers approached Janhvi Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra to play the female lead, thus marking their debuts in South Indian cinema.[31] but both the actresses denied the offer due to call sheet issues.[32] Nayanthara and Keerthy Suresh were was also reported to play the female lead, which became untrue.[33][34] Nazriya Nazim was reported to play a pivotal role in the film,[35] but the actor denied such rumours.[36] While there have been questions surrounding over the film's female lead, with Ileana D'Cruz and Yami Gautam were under consideration,[37] Huma Qureshi was roped in the film's female lead, in her second Tamil film after the Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala (2018).[38]

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn was reported to play the antagonist, he could not act in the film due to his commitments with S. S. Rajamouli for his film RRR.[39] Similarly, Arvind Swami, too denied being a part of the film, since he has been shooting for Thalaivi.[40] Prasanna was also reported to play a pivotal role in Valimai,[41][42] but he turned down the offer.[43][44] Later, the makers finalized Kartikeya Gummakonda as the main antagonist.[45] Apart from Kartikeya, two other antagonists, were reported to be featured in the film,[46] with Pavel Navageethan of V1: Murder Case fame, being roped in as one of the antagonists in the film.[47]

Yogi Babu was approached for a comic role,[48] whilst Raj Ayyappa who played the antagonist in 100, was reported to play Ajith Kumar's brother in the film.[9] A leaked picture of the film in December 2020,[49] features Achyuth Kumar and Sumithra in the film's cast,[7] The latter was reported to play Ajith Kumar's mother in the film, which the makers stated her character as a crucial one in the film.[8][50] Popular television actor Pugazh was reported to play a pivotal role in the film.[51]

Principal photography of Valimai was expected to begin on 13 December 2019,[52][53] but the shooting was launched two days earlier at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.[54][55] The makers have filmed an action sequence for Ajith in Hyderabad,[56] which was completed within two weeks.[57] Soon after the completion, the team planned for a three day shooting schedule, at Rekha Gardens in Chennai, and parts of the city.[58] It was reported that, Ajith met with an accident during the filming of a bike sequence,[59][60] before completing the schedule in Chennai, which resulted in the film's delay.[61] Filming was reportedly halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where, the team planned to shoot few sequences, which include car and motor race at Switzerland, within April 2020,[62] and also planned to shoot in Spain and Morocco, after lockdown.[63][64] However, the pandemic affected the foreign shooting schedules,[65] which made the team to make major changes in the shooting plan, with the planned foreign schedules to be shot across India.[66] The post-production works of the film did not happen after Ajith's request.[67] Nearly 60% of the shoot completed before the coronavirus lockdown imposed.[67]

After multiple delays, the film's shooting plan was resumed on 23 September 2020,[68] with Kartikeya joining the shoot.[69][70] Major portions of the film were shot at Red Hills in Chennai. The makers stated that, Ajith will join the film's shoot by January 2021 and planned to complete the shoot within February,[71] as more than 50-60 days of shoot is pending, including the actor's portions which will be completed within 30 days.[72] It was reported that a popular Hollywood stunt choreographer, was roped in to direct the few action sequences, which will introduce a new style stunt in Tamil cinema.[73] In October 2020, the team planned to shoot few sequences at New Delhi, but after the government denied permission to shoot the film citing the coronavirus pandemic,[74][75] the makers chose Hyderabad as the shooting schedule.[76]

Ajith Kumar joined the sets in Hyderabad, after which he resumed shooting on 25 October,[77][78] despite reported that he will start the shoot in early 2021.[79] In an interview with an online portal, H. Vinoth stated that the makers may not cancel the foreign schedule because the crucial scene involves more international stuntmen.[80] In mid-November 2020, it was reported that Ajith may take a month-long break in order to start the next phase of the shoot in Hyderabad.[81] After the shoot being resumed, the makers filmed a stunt sequence with Ajith performing a bike stunt without body double, however the actor lost his balance while performing a stunt, and fell off the bike.[82] Despite sustaining injuries, Ajith completed the schedule without delay.[83] As of December 2020, the makers have completed 80% of the film's shoot and talkie portions, whereas the songs and stunt sequences were yet to be under completion.[84] It was further reported that the makers planned to film the major stunt sequences in foreign countries post lockdown relaxations,[85] with a major schedule in South Africa and Spain,[86] where high-octane bike stunts will be filmed in the country.[87]