Chennai, July 22 (IANS): Director N.J. Sri Krishna says forthcoming Tamil crime-comedy "Naalu Policeum Nalla Irundha Ooru", which is its lead actor Arulnithi's first attempt at comedy, is a rib-tickling entertainer from the word go.

"Audiences are going to enjoy watching Arulnithi in a full-length comedy film. Although we have the crime element in the story, our film is predominantly a rib-tickling entertainer. I think Arul has done a phenomenal job," Sri Krishna told IANS.

It was on the suggestion of producer V.S. Rajkumar that the director approached Arulnithi.

"When I approached Arulnithi, I wasn't sure if he'd be interested in doing a comedy film because he hasn't worked in this genre before. The moment he heard the script, he agreed to do it," he said.

The film, which is loosely based on 1938 film "Ask a Policeman", revolves around a village where crime hasn't taken place in many years.

"I was working with filmmaker Shankar on one of his productions 'Anandhapurathu Veedu'. While working on this project, we travelled to a village called Kaliapuram near Pollachi. This place had won the National Award for cleanliness from then President A.P.J Abdul Kalam," he said.

"It got me thinking. What if there's a place where people are so clean, without lies and deceit. I imagined a place where there's room for crime," he added.

The film, which also stars Singampuli, Bagavathi Perumal and Remya Nambeesan, is about a group of policemen and their quest to save their jobs.

The comedy in the film will be very situational, asserts Sri Krishna.

"Unlike what you usually find in Tamil cinema, we've made all the humour situation-based in the film. You will find the characters to be serious but what they do on screen will evoke laughter among audiences," he said.