Tamil film director TJ Gnanavel made his debut in 2017 with the coming of age romantic comedy Kootathil Oruthan starring Ashok Selvan and Priya Anand in the lead. But it was TJ Gnanavel's second movie Jai Bhim (2021), that made everyone take notice of the director not just in Tamil Nadu but PAN India. The legal drama produced by and co-starring Suriya, was a head-turner for all the right and a few wrong reasons. 

Currently TJ Gnanavel is awaiting the release of a multi-starrer Vettaiyan, which boasts of names like Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Manju Warrier, Rana Daggubati, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan among many others. A Lyca Productions venture Vettaiyan hits theater screens on October 10, 2024. 

L-R: Rajinikanth, composer Anirudh and director TJ Gnanavel during Vettaiyan shooting

2 years ago, even before TJ Gnanavel could start Vettaiyan, Junglee Pictures had officially announced that TJ Gnanavel will direct a Hindi movie for their banner titled Dosa King. Dosa King is based on the real life legal clash Saravana Bhavan founder P. Rajagopal, and one of his most well known victims Jeevajothi Santhakumar. 

Jeevajothi, a daughter of P. Rajagopal's employee was the subject of the Saravana Bhavan founder's blind obsession & a victim of his hierarchical pressure

P. Rajagopal is known in Tamil Nadu as the first non-Brahmin business entrepreneur to successfully popularize a vegetarian food chain. Jeevajothi's case in the early 2000s brought to the forefront the shady side of P. Rajagopal, who was exposed as an employer with an eye for the women in his employees' household. Dosa King the movie is titled after P Rajagopal's widely known nickname, and latest on this project is that it Andhadhun fame Hemanth N Rao has co-written the script along with TJ Gnanavel. 

Junglee Pictures plans on beginning the TJ Gnanavel directed Dosa King, post Vettaiyan. While the cast and crew of Dosa King needs to be finalized, TJ Gnanavel has said this of the movie,  “I’ve been following Jeevajothi’s story since my days as a journalist. While the press sensationalized many details, much of the story remains untold. Dosa King is a hard-hitting story that exposes how the system functions, with a focus on the crime and thriller aspects of the narrative.”

“I want to explore the extreme situations of life and tell a deeper story with an untold perspective on the case. This film is my chance to share a story I witnessed first hand 20 years ago”, the director concluded.