I (2015)

Film Type:

Feature

Language:

Tamil

Colour Info:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Camera:

ARRIFLEX 235, ARRIFLEX 435, Red Epic

Frame Rate:

24 fps

Aspect Ratio:

2.35:1, 2.39:1 (Scope)

Stereoscopy:

No

Archival Source:

QubeVault

Movie Connection(s):

Dubbed into: I (Telugu)
Dubbed into: I (Hindi)

Filming Locations:

Trivia:

I is the first Indian movie to be associated with Weta Workshop. This special effects company is based in New Zealand.

It used to take almost 4-5 hours to complete Vikram's make over for a particular character in the film.

Apart from Hindi, the film is also being dubbed in Tamil and Telugu. Vikram used to shuttle between Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad to dub in these languages everyday.

Ravichandran earlier had stated that the film would be releasing on October 23, 2014. But the release was pushed due to extensive post-production.

The complete teaser trailer, lacking decipher ability, was leaked on the internet on 2 September 2014. The person who leaked it reportedly even informed the team and challenged them to take action against him. After further inquiries, it was revealed that the culprit broke into producer V Ravichandran's office during the night and copied the teaser. However, Ravichandran refused to make changes to the leaked teaser, and planned to release it as per the original schedule.

I released in India in three languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

One song required Vikram to wear bulky costumes. To be able to carry such heavy outfits, the actor had to gain weight. At the time of shooting, he weighed 110 kilos.

For the song, 'Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal', Vikram and Amy shot in the scenic locales of Red Seabeach in Panjin and Li river in Guilin.

The cycle fight sequence, shot in Hongcun, involved stuntsmen from China and Hong Kong.

The shooting began with a two-month spell in Chennai in July 2012, followed by a 50-day schedule in nine locations in China's Hunan province. The patchwork shoot and dubbing was completed in September 2014.

The hunchback character was the most difficult to sketch and the look was created by Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor's Weta Workshop.

Vikram also went bald for the film as he reportedly felt that would make changing his looks in the film easier.

'Azhagan' and 'Aanazhagan' were the alternate titles, but since they were already used, Shankar decided that a single alphabet would be the title. Since I also meant beauty and explained the character of the protagonist, the alphabet was finalised as the title.

Asin and Priyanka Chopra were reportedly considered to play Vikram's leading lady. Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who had signed on, opted out citing date issues. Eventually, Amy Jackson signed up for the part.

Chinese martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, who has worked on films like Snake In The Eagle's Shadow, Drunken Master, The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill Vol I and II among others, had designed the action for I.

The song 'Issaq Taari', said to be one of the most expensive songs in Indian cinema, sees heroine Amy Jackson converting into a mobile phone, a robot, a bubble, bike and even a pair of dumbbells.

This is the tenth time legendary composer AR Rahman has collaborated with director Shankar.

The costumes have been designed by Mary E Vogt, credited with Men In Black series and Batman Returns among many others.

Additional prosthetic make-up for the film was done by Dominie Till and Christien Tinsley, who worked on Amitabh Bachchan's 'Auro' look in Paa.

Hollywood VFX and Props specialist Richard Taylor's team that worked on The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, the hobbit and many others, has created the special effects and props for this film at Peter Jackson's company, Weta Workshop.

Vikram's bodybuilder character considers Arnold Schwarzenegger his role model. His hairstyle is also inspired by the Hollywood action hero, who attended I's audio launch in Chennai in 2014.

Vikram essays three avatars in the sci-fi romantic thriller - a body builder, a hunchback and a werewolf.

Superstar Rajinikanth was the first to hear the idea of I from director Shankar, way back in 1996, following the release of the latter's film, Hindustani/Indian. Skeptical about the subject, Rajinikanth refused it and did two other films with Shankar, Sivaji- The Boss and Robot/Enthiran.

The teaser of 'I' was the first Indian film teaser to cross one million views on YouTube, in the first 12 hours of it's release.

Audio Release: September 15, 2014.

Director Shankar recreated a park that he visited in China, in Polachi, after being turned down permission to shoot in the actual park itself.

The shooting of this film spanned over two years.

Majority of this movie's scenes have background art created during a workshop held by Weta.

This is actor Upen Patel's debut Tamil film.

Initially, actor Surya was considered for the lead role. Later, Vikram was roped in for the film.

Several lead actresses Asin, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Samantha Ruth Prabhu were considered to play the role of an actress. Later, Amy Jackson, who had earlier done a film with Vikram was roped in to play the lead actress.

Vikram changes his appearance throughout the film. It is said that he had lost weight for portions of I and then put on muscle to appear as a super model in the film.

Filming Start Date:

15 Jul 2012

Filming End Date:

24 Sep 2014