Director Atlee celebrates 12-Year journey in cinema.

Tamil filmmaker Atlee recently celebrated a special milestone as his first film, Raja Rani, completed 12 years since its release. The director, known for his emotional storytelling and larger-than-life visuals, shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, talking about the journey of making the film and expressing gratitude to the cast, crew, and fans who continue to love it. Atlee said the memories of Raja Rani are still very close to his heart and took a moment to revisit the place where the film first began.

Sharing a series of photographs with his wife Priya Atlee at a scenic location, the director reminisced about the film’s beginnings. “As a memory, took my Rani @priyaatlee to same location where I started the film,” he wrote, highlighting a personal connection to the place where the project first took shape.

Alongside the pictures, Atlee penned a detailed note thanking everyone involved: “12 years of Raja Rani. God is so kind. Thank you #Mahe Anna, @a.r.murugadoss sir, #shanmugam sir, @foxstarstudios, @aryaoffl baby, @nayanthara darling, @nazriyafahadh papa, @actorjai darling, @santa_santhanam na, @sathyan na, #sathyaraj sir and my team @george_dop, @livingstonruben @muthurajthangavel na, and the genius @gvprakash. And everyone else who carries the film close to their heart… Thank you.”

The post received warm responses from the original Raja Rani cast. Nayanthara shared the tribute on her Instagram Stories, writing, “So proud of u Dear @atlee47,” while Nazriya Nazim reshared it with the simple caption, “Paapa.”

Released on September 27, 2013, Raja Rani is a Tamil romantic comedy featuring Arya as John, Jai as Surya Muthuraman, Nayanthara as Regina, Nazriya Nazim as Keerthana John, and Santhanam as Sarathy. Produced by AR Murugadoss in association with Fox Star Studios, the film explores the journey of a couple who are forced into marriage despite their constant clashes.

The narrative delves into misunderstandings, personal challenges, and emotional growth, culminating in a turning point after a sudden tragedy. Praised for its engaging screenplay, relatable characters, and G.V. Prakash Kumar’s soulful music, the film was a commercial success and firmly established Atlee as a rising director in Tamil cinema.

Since his debut, Atlee has directed several blockbuster films, including Theri, Mersal, and Jawan.