Singapore Saloon

Ganesh">Ishari K. Ganesh under Vels Films International. The film stars RJ Balaji and Meenakshi Chaudhary in the lead role, alongside Sathyaraj, Lal, Kishen Das, Ann Sheetal, Thalaivasal Vijay, John Vijay and Robo Shankar.

Singapore Saloon
Directed by	Gokul
Written by	Gokul
Produced by	Ishari K. Ganesh
Starring	RJ Balaji Meenakshi Chaudhary
Cinematography	M. Sukumar
Edited by	Selva R. K.
Music by	Songs: Vivek–Mervin Score: Javed Riaz
Production company	Vels Films International
Distributed by	Red Giant Movies
Release date	25 January 2024 (2024-01-25)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

The film was officially announced in November 2022 under the official title Singapore Saloon. Principal photography commenced early that year. It was predominantly shot in Chennai and wrapped by mid-December 2022, while additional photography was done in May 2023. The film has music composed by Vivek–Mervin, background score composed by Javed Riaz, cinematography handled by M. Sukumar and editing by Selva RK.

Singapore Saloon was released on 25 January 2024 to mixed reviews from critics and audience but performed well at the box office.

In a village, friends Kathir and Basheer dream big. Inspired by a local salon owner named Chacha, Kathir sets his heart on becoming a hairstylist. The story unfolds as Kathir faces challenges, pursues his passion, and strives to open his own saloon, the 'Singapore Saloon.'

Development

In August 2022, it was reported that director Gokul, who was working on the sequel for Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (2013), titled Corona Kumar and starring Silambarasan, would begin working on a new project starring RJ Balaji, as Corona Kumar reportedly got shelved. On 10 November, the project, with the official title Singapore Saloon, was officially announced by Ishari K. Ganesh's production house Vels Films International LTD. Balaji stated that he received the offer to star in the film while filming for Run Baby Run (2023). He further revealed that, for his role, he trained with hairdressers for a month-and-a-half. In late March 2023, Lokesh Kanagaraj, who has been a close friend with Balaji, and Jiiva, who worked with Balaji in Kavalai Vendam (2016), were announced to play cameo appearances in the film.

Filming

Principal photography commenced in early‐2022. It was predominantly shot in Chennai and wrapped by 18 December that year. Additional photography was shot in May 2023, where Kanagaraj's sequences were filmed.

The music is composed by the composer duo Vivek–Mervin, and background score by Javed Riaz. While marking both the duos' and Riaz's maiden collaboration with Balaji, it also marks the duo's maiden collaboration with Gokul while collaborating with composer Riaz for the second time after Anbirkiniyal.

Singapore Saloon was released worldwide on 25 January 2024 in theatres.

Reception

A critic from The Times of India rated the film 2+1⁄2 out of 5 and wrote that "Gokul's attempt at magical realism, involving a surprise cameo from a star, who appears at the protagonist's doorstep, and a flock of parrots, works to an extent. The director also gives a new spin to scenarios that we have seen before". A critic from Cinema Express gave the film the same rating and wrote that "The problem isn’t that these ideas aren’t good. The film does mean well and stands for sensible causes, but after the hilarity of the first half, it just feels difficult and wholly unnecessary to settle for a passable second half that hurtles through familiar roads to get to expected destinations". A critic from The Hindu wrote that "What’s more astonishing is how RJ Balaji, in the name of taking a back seat, gets very little to do. Apart from being the character we follow and the narrator, Kathir gets thrown around because of circumstances and when he finally wins, they don’t resonate with us". A critic from the Hindustan Times wrote that "The storyline of making hairstyling a noble profession and hairstylists as people, who deserve respect is good. But director Gokul has tried to bring together too many elements in Singapore Saloon and this is, sadly, its downfall". A critic from OTTplay rated the film 2+1⁄2 out of 5 and wrote that "Singapore Saloon would have made up for a great comedy, given how the director gave one of best comedies of modern Tamil cinema through Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara. But the genre shift negates the genuine laughs the first hour of the film soaked you with".

Home media

The streaming platform, Amazon Prime Video, acquired the digital rights for the film while the satellite rights were sold to Kalaignar TV.