The film's commercial success meant that it provided a breakthrough for both Surya's and the lead actor's careers.After watching the première show of Vaali, producer A. The reviewer from labelled the film as "a classic in its own right", describing Surya as "a new young director to the cine field who can make Tamil Cinema be proud once again".The New Indian Express mentioned the film as "outstanding" while mentioning Surya does a "good job and succeeds". A thriller film, a reviewer from the Deccan Herald described it as "definitely worth seeing" saying it "has something for all tastes - a pleasant love angle, some suspense, complex psychological nuances, good acting, pleasing songs" while praising Ajith's performance.
Keerthi Reddy was announced to be the lead actress before she was replaced by Simran, while Surya also chose to introduce Jyothika in the film. Chakravarthy to produce the film and the team began work on Vaali (1999) in late 1997. Ajith, impressed with the narration, subsequently helped approach S. While working in the team of Ullaasam (1997), the film's lead actor Ajith Kumar recognised Surya from their collaboration in Aasai, and accepted to listen to a script narration. He subsequently worked as an assistant director in the teams of Aasai (1995) under Vasanth and Sundara Purushan (1996) under Sabapathy, while also being seen in uncredited appearances as an actor, notably as a cock fighter in Bharathiraja's Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993). To be financially self-dependent, he began working in hotels and as a steward, before receiving an offer to apprentice under K. Despite getting an opportunity to pursue further studies at an engineering college in Madurai, he declined the offer and stayed in Chennai, with the hope of finding a breakthrough as an actor in Tamil films. Born in Vasudevanallur, Tirunelveli district (present day Tenkasi district), he moved to Chennai to complete a Physics degree at Loyola College.