but he also feels guilty for having staged a false incident to kill Aranganathar. He confesses to Mayakrishnan that even he has been forced to play the game of politics. Mayakrishnan supports him by consoling that he played the politics only for a good cause and that Aranganathar deserves this. Thenmozhi's father realizes the greatness of Pugazhendhi and consents to the marriage. Due to administration by Pugazh, the city has become a highly developed state with world class infrastructures and free of violence. Cast Arjun as TV journalist/Chief Minister Pugazhenthi Manisha Koirala as Thenmozhi (Voice over by Durga) Raghuvaran as Chief Minister Aranganathar Laila as Kalakkal Shuba, Pugazhenthi's former boss and colleague news reporter (Voice over by Savitha Reddy) Manivannan as Chief Secretary Maya Krishnan Vadivelu as Palavesham Artist Natanam as R. Narayanan, Pugazhenthi's father Kalairani as Pugazhenthi's mother Vijayakumar as Thenmozhi's father Cochin Haneefa as Chinnasamy, Aranganathar's right-hand henchman Fathima Babu as Maragadham, Aranganathar's wife S. V. Ramadoss as Minister Thirupathisamy, coalition party leader Besant Ravi as slum rogue Alei Scissor Manohar as a bus driver in the student riot Surya as Manohar, Chief of Security for Pugazhenthi Sampath Ram as Sub-Inspector Robo Chandru Kanal Kannan as auto driver (cameo appearance) Omakuchi Narasimhan as Palavesham's uncle (cameo appearance) Ahmed Khan as a dancer in Shakalaka Baby song Sushmita Sen in item number "Shakalaka Baby" Production Development Following the success of Jeans (1998), S. Shankar chose to make a political action film, which would later become Mudhalvan. Casting The lead role was initially written with Rajinikanth in mind, but he was unwilling to star in the film. Vijay was also considered by Shankar for the role, though the actor turned the offer down. Shankar revealed that he even approached Kamal Haasan for the film, but he was doing Hey Ram at that time. Arjun, who had previously collaborated with Shankar in Gentleman (1993), was willing to offer bulk schedule dates for the film and was subsequently signed on. Shankar noted that he was interested in casting Meena in the leading role, but he opted against doing so as the actress was working with Arjun in another film in the same period, Rhythm (2000). Subsequently, Manisha Koirala, who worked with Shankar in Indian, was selected to play Arjun's heroine. Raghuvaran was signed to play the chief antagonist in the film, while Vadivelu and Manivannan were also chosen to play other characters.