Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu

In February 2018, Gautham Vasudev Menon announced a sequel to Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) titled Ondraga, which would focus on Karthik and his best friends from college travelling to the United States to attend a wedding ten years after the events of the first film.[8] It had Silambarasan reprising his role from the original film, and had pulled out prominent names from South Indian film fraternity, but the film did not begin production.[9][10] Later, Silambarasan and Menon worked on the short film Karthik Dial Seytha Yenn,[11] based on the characters from the first film which was shot during the COVID-19 lockdown in India.[12]

Soon after its release, speculations arose that Silambarasan and Menon would collaborate for the sequel of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, or a fresh script written by Menon.[13][14] In January 2021, Silambarasan announced his new project which will be directed by Menon with Ishari K. Ganesh bankrolling the project,[15][16] thus marking the third collaboration between Menon and Silambarasan.[17] A. R. Rahman was announced as the music composer of the film in early February 2021,[18] with lyricist Thamarai also joining the technical team.[19] On Menon's birthday (25 February 2021), the makers announced the film's title as Nadhigalile Neeradum Suriyan,[20] which is named after the lines from the song "Ondra Renda Asaigal" from the 2003 film Kaakha Kaakha.[21][22] The project was speculated to begin on March 2021, but was put on hold following the rise in COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu.

During the production of Nadhigalile Neeradum Suriyan, Silambarasan insisted Menon to work on a raw and rustic-toned script, leading to a change in the storyline as well as the film genre.[23][24] Menon brought in the basic plotline of the novel Agni Kunjondru Kanden (inspired from a poem written by Subramania Bharati) by screenwriter B. Jeyamohan,[25] instead of a fresh script he planned.[26] On 6 August 2021, Menon announced the new title of the film as Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, also named from one of the lines from the same poem written by Bharati.[27] The first look also released on the same day, featuring Silambarasan in a rustic avatar, and had reportedly lost 15 kilos for his role in the film.[28] Menon described his role as "a character he had never done before".[28]

In the same month, Kayadu Lohar was announced as the lead actress.[29] Director-cinematographer Siddhartha Nuni, who worked in the Kannada film Lucia (2013) was hired for the project, along with Anthony, who regularly collaborated with Menon in his previous ventures, handled the editing works.[28] Silambarasan shared a picture on social media revealing his current transformation for the film, to quell rumours that the first look being photoshopped.[30] A report from The Times of India, stated that the actor had hired a special instructor to reduce his weight for the past six months and had also trained for the stunt sequences too.[30] The film's cast further included, Malayalam actors Siddique and Neeraj Madhav, playing pivotal roles in the film.[5][6] The film revolves around the plight of migrant workers, which is Menon's first attempt on portraying the tale of marginalised section in the society.[31]

Principal photography began on 7 August 2021 at Tiruchendur.[32] Jeyamohan revealed that the film would not be a full-fledged rural action drama like Asuran, but a portion of it would be set in a rural backdrop, and also will feature urban portions. He added that the film would be rustic tonally, with the style of Menon's earlier directorial ventures.[33][34] Raadhika Sarathkumar, played the role of Silambarasan's mother in the film, and also joined the first schedule.[4] On 23 August 2021, shooting of the film eventually put on hold, due to the tussle between Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), as several producers filed complaints against Silambarasan in the past over his failure to commit to the projects he signed and also demanded for compensation.[35] Following Ganesh's assurance to compensate the producers, shooting of the film resumed on 26 August,[36][37] with the second schedule beginning in Chennai.[38]

On 20 September 2021, the makers announced that the second schedule of the film has been completed.[39] The team took a brief break, following Silambarasan's involvement's in the post-production of Maanaadu and on 18 October, Silambarasan went to Mumbai to begin the third schedule of the film.[40][41] It was reported that the team had planned to resume the shooting in Chennai and had constructed a set resembling Mumbai, in a private film studio.[42] Hollywood-based stunt choreographer Lee Whittaker was hired for the action sequences, joined the schedule in Mumbai on mid-October.[43] The team had several complications on the film's production in Mumbai, citing the difficulties in travel due to pandemic and weather conditions,[44] and decided to begin the final schedule in Chennai for more than 25 days.[44] However, contradicting to the earlier statements, the final schedule began on 7 December 2021 in Mumbai.[45]