With Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ virtually out of the Pongal race due to ongoing censor-related legal troubles and Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Parasakthi’ already hitting the screens, the mid-to-small-budget slot seems to be up for grabs this Pongal. Making use of this opening, two major announcements have come through, with Karthi’s ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ announcing January 14 as its release date, while Jiiva’s ‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’ moves its release forward to January 15. The announcements are reflections of the growing trend of driving audiences to the theatres during holiday periods.
‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ finally gets a Pongal date
After months of uncertainty and delay, it took for the film ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ to finally be clinched for a release on January 14. The action caper comedy film finally receiving its U/A censor certificate recently and is now cashing in on the legal-tender issues regarding making a release. Initially planned for December 5 and later rescheduled for December 12, the film was halted by the Madras High Court due to pending dues, with even a proposed Christmas Eve release falling through. An appeal to the Supreme Court also failed to lift the ban at the time. Having navigated these hurdles, the Karthi-starrer is now set to make its long-awaited debut during Pongal, raising hopes among fans and trade circles alike.
Film details and first-time collaboration
Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ is his first collaboration with Karthi, and his third directorial project following Soodhu Kavvum and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. Karthi portrays a policeman working to uphold the principles set forth by the late superstar and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran, principles ingrained in him by his father (Rajkiran). There’s a hint of a wider political conspiracy, and we see the righteous officer transitioning into uncharted territory, and insisting on justice the MGR way. The film features a commendable supporting ensemble, including Krithi Shetty, Sathyaraj, Anandaraj, Karunakaran, G.M.Sunder, Shilpa Manjunath, and Ramesh Thilak, with musical compositions by Santhosh Narayanan.
‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’ advances release
Joining the Pongal race is Jiiva’s ‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’, which has been moved up from January 30 to January 15. The producers announced this on social media, calling it a pleasant, tightly produced family movie suitable for the harvest celebration. The team also acknowledged Jana Nayagan’s postponement, stating that the decision was taken with due respect. Directed by Nithish Sahadev of Falimy fame, the film stars Jiiva also serving as creative producer, reportedly in a politician’s role. Backed by a U certificate, the family drama features an ensemble cast and a strong technical team, positioning it as a clean, all-age worthy Pongal offering.
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