The similarities of title and same release date between Thamizh and Vijay starrer Thamizhan created confusion with the producer of both films unable to accommodate any changes.
The film, a remake of the director's Telugu film Azad, saw Priyanka Chopra, winner of the beauty pageant Miss World 2000, being roped in by Venkateswaren to make her debut and play the lead female role.
During a time when the DMK was gaining political ground in Tamil Nadu, a time when there was competition between parties, and films were pitched against each other, the opposition unleashed a malicious propaganda that since Chidambaram belonged to the Indian National Congress, Kappalottiya Thamizhan was a film for the Congress.