Chennai: Director Keerthiswaran, whose romantic entertainer ‘Dude’ starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju hits theatres on Friday, shared an emotional note of gratitude ahead of the film’s release.

Taking to social media, the debut filmmaker wrote that ‘Dude’ is “not a film that talks about love, but about the right to love.”

Expressing excitement and nervousness about his first release, Keerthiswaran said, “Tomorrow my first movie ‘Dude’ releases. Amazing feel, excited and nervous at the same time. I sincerely thank my hero PR for the trust in me. I truly wish ‘Dude’ will be your new acting showcase from tomorrow.”

He thanked producers Naveen and Ravi for their faith in him, writing, “Enna director aaki azhagu paathathuku nandri” (Thank you for making me a director and enjoying its beauty).

Keerthiswaran was especially grateful to his cinematographer Niketh Bommi, calling him “my brother, my shoulder” and adding, “Everyone deserves a Niketh in life, and I’ll try to be a Niketh in someone’s life.”

He also acknowledged music director Sai Abhyankkar, senior actor Sarath Kumar, Mamitha Baiju, and Rohini for their support, besides mentors like Sudha Kongara and cinematic inspirations such as Rajinikanth, Vikraman, Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Bong Joon-ho, Vadivelu, and AR Rahman.

Sharing what ‘Dude’ stands for, Keerthiswaran wrote, “‘Dude’ will be an entertaining, emotional, quirky, original film made straight from the heart and gut with conscious and aesthetic choices throughout.

And as a personal statement, ‘Dude’ is not a film that talks about love. It’s a film that talks about the right to love.” The film releases in theatres on Friday, October 17.