Ponniyin Selvan directed by Mani Ratnam and Vaadivaasal directed by Vetrimaaran are the next two films that Kollywood and the audience is waiting to see - post Vikram. As the houseful boards are still up for weekends, Vikram success saga continues. The unified acceptance is that the Vikram success lies entirely on director Lokesh Kanagaraj . The film is in all means a Lokesh film and a fact that Kamal Haasan accepted even before the release. With Vikram, young directors of Kollywood have got a tremendous boost since a 36 year old Lokesh has proved that he can out beat the records of Baahubali- RRR- KGF set in Tamil Nadu box office and with not even half the budget of these films. Vikram success also wiped away the charge that Kollywood has failed to throw up directors like before and other language film industries ( Telegu- Kannada ) flaunted SS Rajamouli and Prasanth Neel.
Two most awaited films that would purely be a director's film and they are Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 and Vaadivaasal of Veetrimaaran ( winner of National award for Aadukalam) . Mani Ratnam film is a multi star cast ( Vikram- Jeyam Ravi- Aishwarya Rai- Karthi - Trisha- Vikram Prabhu) film but it assumes great value as it a celluloid adaptation of the iconic novel of the same title written by Kalki. This historical saga is shot in two parts. It is a Lyca production and due for a September release.
Mani Ratnam last movie to release was `Chekka Chivantha vaanam in 2018. It did well at the box office but it somehow left Mani's admirers unsatisfied as it was found to be lacking the director's `touch'. His outing before this was Kaatru Veliyidai ( 2017) with Karthi - Aditi Hydari which was not much liked by his fans. The film box office was good in US markets but dull in the core market- Tamil Nadu.
The novel of Kalki was to have a screen version and right from MGR onwards many tried but failed. Like Vikram which marked comeback of Kamal Haasan , PS1 is expected to put Mani Ratnam at the centre stage of Indian cinema once again.
Vetrimaaran is the recent hot shot director of Kollywood who with bold subjects and action oriented is able to balance critical acclaim and box office. All the six films that he directed were hits and also bagged awards. His last outing was ` Viduthalai ' ' with Vijay Sethupati in 2021, in 2019, Asuran directed by him with Dhanush was the actor's biggest blockbuster hit in his career. It also won the National award for best Tamil film.
In Vaadivaasal, he directs Suriya, who after Jai Bhim and Soorarai Pootru, is riding high. Suriya's cameo in Vikram had the audience in raptures. This film too is adaptation of a novel on Jaallikaatu ( bull fight), a sport that creates a controversy every year. Film is expected to start shoot by July end or in August. As per hype, the film OTT rights was sold for a big amount in the range of Rs 50 crores.
Box office wise, forthcoming films - Sivakarthikeyan's Prince, Karthi's Sardar and Jeyam Ravi's Iraivan for Diwali and under production films of Thalapathy Vijay 's Varisu and Ajith's AK 61 will keep Kollywood cash registers ringing.
