Pariyerum Perumal: The Tamil Film Behind 'Dhadak 2' That Won Hearts Despite a Small Budget

As excitement builds for the release of Dhadak 2 on August 1, many might not know that this upcoming Hindi romantic drama is a remake of the acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. Released in 2018, Pariyerum Perumal captivated audiences with its powerful narrative and strong social message, earning both critical acclaim and box office success.

Directed by Mari Selvaraj and produced by Pa. Ranjith, the Tamil original starred Kathir and Anandi in lead roles. Though made on a modest budget of ₹3.5 crore, the film managed to collect around ₹5.5 crore at the box office, marking it as a commercial success, especially considering its limited release and niche audience. The film was praised for addressing caste-based discrimination with a raw, realistic lens, and its impact extended well beyond its earnings.

Pariyerum Perumal became a sleeper hit through strong word-of-mouth and is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film's emotionally resonant story and grounded performances laid a solid foundation for its Hindi adaptation.

In Dhadak 2, the story takes a new form with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Tripti Dimri playing the leads. The Hindi version is produced by Karan Johar and directed by Shazia Iqbal. Supporting actors include Saurabh Sachdeva, Diksha Joshi, Manjiri Pupala, Vipin Sharma, and Zakir Hussain. The soundtrack has been composed by renowned names like Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, and Shreyas Puranik.

With the original already having left a lasting impact, it remains to be seen whether Dhadak 2 can recreate that same emotional depth and cultural relevance in its new setting.