Tamil hitmaker and acclaimed director Prem Kumar, known for blockbusters like 96 and Meiyazhagan, was recently in Kerala as part of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2025 (MBIFL). 

In an exclusive interview with Mathrubhumi.com, the director opened up about his journey in cinema and his deep admiration for the Malayalam film industry.

"I grew up watching Mohanlal sir and Mammootty sir. It's a dream that I wanted to work with them. I also really like a lot of actors in the current generation, like Fahadh Faazil and Dulquer Salmaan. I hope very soon I will be able to work with them," he said. 

When asked which actors he would choose if his iconic film 96, originally featuring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha, were remade in Malayalam, Prem Kumar had an interesting pick. 

"If 96 was done in Malayalam, say in the 90s, then I would have done it with Mohanlal and Shobana. It will be a great combination," he said. 

Meanwhile, 96, released in 2018, is widely regarded as a classic in Tamil cinema. The romantic drama, which revolves around a nostalgic reunion of a school gang, struck a chord with audiences. The film, featuring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha as former school-time lovers reuniting after years, continues to be celebrated even outside the state.

Recently, Prem Kumar confirmed his plans to make a sequel to 96. Although he initially hesitated about revisiting the story, the overwhelmingly positive response from fans motivated him to develop a sequel script. However, little is known about the project as of the writing of this article. 

Meanwhile, Prem Kumar's Meiyazhagan, released in 2024, starred Karthi and Arvind Swamy in the lead roles, alongside Rajkiran, Sri Divya, Devadarshini, Jayaprakash, Sriranjani, Ilavarasu, Karunakaran, and Saran Shakthi. The film received critical acclaim and emerged as a box-office success.