A new sport-comedy caper starring a former Japanese wrestling champion and a motley cast of Tamil actors is set to entertain audiences in India. Sumo, directed by S.P. Hosimin, revolves around an unlikely friendship between a surfing teacher and a sumo wrestler who gets washed up on a Chennai shore – a story borne out of the filmmaker’s fascination with sumos and his desire to pen an ode to the growing ties between India and Japan.
“Sumo wrestlers are cherubic gentle giants and loved by everyone,” says Hosimin, who was drawn into the world of ancient Japanese sport after he saw an ad featuring sumo wrestlers.
Also Read: Watch Official promo of the Rome ranking series 2020 – Featuring Bajrang Punia
The movie, starring south Indian actor Shiva and ex-wrestling champion Yoshinori Tashiro, was shot in locations in both countries, including Chennai, Tokyo, Toyama and Mount Fuji. Casting calls were conducted in Tokyo, where the crew zeroed in on Tashiro as they found him “cute and bubbly”, with comedic flair, Hosimin says.
“Tashiro has a knack for picking things up quickly,” he says. “From the screen test to shooting, the camaraderie between the wrestler and Shiva was remarkable … they both bonded really well.”
Fans will be keen to watch how much this bonding will translate into on-screen chemistry. The film is slated to be released on 15th January.
