There are few Kollywood audiences who will not know of the anonymously-run torrent site Tamil Rockers that illegally facilitated downloads of films, particularly in Tamil. The upcoming web series on the site, Tamil Rockerz produced by AVM and to be released on the OTT platform Sony Liv this week, tries to look at the effects piracy sites have on the film industry.
Speaking to TNM, director Arivazhagan said, “Trying to stop piracy through legal means is a monumental and long-winded task. The thought I had when Manoj Kumar’s screenplay came to me was that I can do my part for the industry by appealing to the emotions of the viewers. So, I wanted to show them the impacts of piracy on the lives of people involved in the industry.”
The eight-episode web series is set for release on August 19 and stars Arun Vijay and Vani Bhojan in lead roles. Tamil Rockerz will be a cop-thriller in which Arun Vijay plays Rudra, who is tasked with uncovering the people behind the piracy site. The show is a fictionalised take on the real-life piracy site. In 2020, the actual domain was blocked, but multiple Telegram groups continue to operate under the same name. Little is known about either the owners of the site or its modus operandi, though there are many theories including that it has a network worldwide.
“Every person in the industry will know someone who has been affected by piracy, whether it is an actor or a producer. We’re all seeking a solution somehow to prevent piracy,” Director Arivazhagan told TNM.
The show will also feature Azhagam Perumal, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan and MS Bhaskar in pivotal roles.