With the responsibilities of a brother to get his sisters married, Sriram leaves for Libya on a job received through Ilango's parents.

[citation needed] In 2001, director Sasi and producer Aascar Ravichandran announced plans of making a romantic film tiled Roja Kootam and cast Tarun in the lead role.

Following a fallout with the producer, Tarun left the project, with the makers unsuccessfully attempting to bring in either dancer Shobi Paulraj or model Vikranth to play the lead role.

Sasi had briefly left the project after Ravichandran made a last-minute decision to cancel a song shoot in New Zealand.

[3] "Apple Penne" was initially shot Chikmagalur and Hampi, before Ravichandran asked for a reshoot, suggesting Egypt as a location.

The team were later unable to travel to Egypt owing to a passport delay for the lead actress Bhumika Chawla.

Chennai Online wrote "In his debut film 'Sollamale' Sasi had revealed a lot of promise as a director with novel ideas and a fresh narrative style.

[4] The Hindu wrote "Oscar Films 'Roja Koottam' has a refreshing lead pair — Srikanth and Bhumika.

[5] Cinesouth wrote "The story that proceeds with lots of twists and turns in the first-half, limps pretty badly during the second half due to Sasi's mistakes.