With Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ virtually out of the Pongal race due to censorship-related legal issues and Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Parasakthi’ already hitting the screens, the medium to small budget slot seems to be up for grabs in this Pongal. Taking advantage of this opening, two important announcements have been made: Karthi’s ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ announces January 14 as the release date, while Jiiva’s ‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’ advances its release to January 15. The ads are a reflection of the growing trend of driving audiences to cinemas during festive periods.
‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ finally gets a date in Pongal
After months of uncertainty and delays, it was necessary for the film ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ to finally release on January 14. The action comedy film finally received its U/A censorship certificate recently and is now cashing in on the legal tender issues surrounding its release. Initially planned for December 5 and later rescheduled for December 12, the film was stayed by the Madras High Court due to pending dues, and even a proposed Christmas Eve release fell through. An appeal to the Supreme Court also failed to lift the ban at the time. Having overcome these hurdles, the Karthi starrer is now all set to make its much-awaited debut during Pongal, raising hopes among fans as well as business circles.
Movie details and collaboration for the first time.
Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ is his first collaboration with Karthi and his third directorial project after Soodhu Kavvum and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. Karthi plays a cop who works to uphold the principles laid down by the late superstar and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, principles ingrained in him by his father (Rajkiran). There is a hint of a broader political conspiracy, and we see the righteous officer transitioning into uncharted territory and insisting on MGR-style justice. The film has a commendable supporting ensemble, including Krithi Shetty, Sathyaraj, Anandaraj, Karunakaran, GMSunder, Shilpa Manjunath and Ramesh Thilak, with musical compositions by Santhosh Narayanan.
‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’ advances in release
Joining Pongal’s run is Jiiva’s ‘Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil’, which has been brought forward from January 30 to January 15. The producers announced it on social media, calling it an enjoyable, well-produced family film suitable for the harvest celebration. The team also acknowledged Jana Nayagan’s postponement and stated that the decision was taken with due respect. Directed by Falimy’s Nithish Sahadev, the film stars Jiiva who also acts as a creative producer, supposedly in the role of a politician. Backed by a U certificate, the family drama features an ensemble cast and a strong technical team, positioning it as a clean and worthy Pongal offering for all ages.