Kushi (2000 Film) - Production

Production

After watching the premiere show of Vaali, Rathnam offered S. J. Surya an opportunity to direct his next venture with Vijay and Jyothika being signed on soon after. Amisha Patel was also briefly considered for a role in the film, but was later not selected.Also Simran Bagga were considered for female lead. but due to date she unabled to be part and jyothika got the opprtunity. Vijay began shooting for the film during the same time he was shooting for Fazil's Kannukkul Nilavu and revealed how hard it had been to shift between the two characters he was portraying.

Early reports indicated that the film would portray an illicit relationship where a young widowed mother (Mumtaj) would lust for the lover (Vijay) of her own daughter (Jyothika). The producer rubbished the rumors claiming that the film would be a romantic comedy.

The producers initially readied themselves to release the film on April 14, 2000 but pushed dates back to accommodate the release of bigger budget ventures such as Mani Ratnam's Alaipayuthey and Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain.

The song "Mottu Ondru Malarthida" was shot in New Zealand. The beginning shot of the song was filmed at Kawarau Bridge Bungy Jump (in Queenstown, New Zealand). Vijay daringly did this jump on his own without any stuntmaster. It is said that actress Jothika also did the bungee jump, but the scene was deleted from the movie. There is also a short scene in the song where both Vijay and Jothika were on the famous, Shotover Jet ride, also in Queenstown. The gondola boat ride could have been filmed at Avon River, in Christchurch.