Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who has appreciated R. Madhavan's performance in bilingual boxing drama "Irudhi Suttru", feels the actor should focus on doing more Tamil films.
It was in Ratnam's 2000 film "Alaipayuthey", that Madhavan made his Tamil cinema debut.
"Even before I launched him in 'Alaipayuthey', he had worked in Hindi films and television. He had developed a career graph even before he came to me. I'm really happy for him. I wish he concentrates more on Tamil cinema and do more films," Ratnam said in a video.
Madhavan's last Tamil film was "Vettai", which released in 2012.
Heaping praise on his former assistant Sudha Kongara, director of "Irudhi Suttru", the "Roja" director said she has done a fabulous job.
"I loved the film. It is a complete package. Sudha's individuality has reflected clearly. There is some intelligence in the storytelling and meticulous detailing in her screenplay. I was happy," he said.
The film deals with the relationship between a boxing coach and his student.
"Boxing-based films have rarely been made in Tamil. So, the idea of a plot centered on the life of a female boxer was interesting. Here, the plot was different from the usual sports films. The way it's narrated was lively, entertaining and wholesome. It was nicely packed commercially," Ratnam added.