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Some films may not perform well at the box office, yet later achieve cult status through television and OTT platforms. One such film is 7aum Arivu. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the movie did not fare well commercially upon its release. However, over time, it gradually developed a devoted fan following. Interestingly, while the film underperformed in Tamil, it turned out to be a massive hit in Telugu. It reportedly did business worth Rs 10 crore across both Telugu states and went on to collect over Rs 14 crore by the end of its theatrical run, becoming a huge success. It has been 14 years since the film’s release, yet it continues to be a favourite on television, proof of its remarkable repeat value. Every character in the film holds significance, particularly the villain, whose portrayal left a lasting impression. Such a unique antagonist had rarely been seen on the South Indian silver screen before. The film significantly contributed to Suriya’s fame, while ‘Dong Lee’, the villain of the movie, also gained popularity. His on-screen presence evoked a sense of fear whenever he appeared. Dong Lee’s real name is Johnny Tri Nguyen. He had entered the Telugu industry some time ago, making his Indian debut with the film Chirutha in 2007, in which he played ‘Bobby Chai’. He later appeared in Irumbu Kuthirai as a ruthless biker, and in the Telugu film Athadu where he played an assasin. However, it was the Tamil film 7aum Arivu (dubbed 7th Sense in Telugu) that truly brought him recognition among Telugu audiences. A few of his recent photos have gone viral on social media, with many netizens remarking on how unrecognisable he looks now. Comments such as “Has Dong Lee changed this much?” are flooding in. In addition to being an actor, Johnny Tri Nguyen is also a stuntman who has worked on Hollywood projects like Spider-Man 2. His most recent appearance was in Double Ismart, directed by Puri Jagannadh.
