Superstar Rajinikanth’s next film, tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, has been officially announced by Sun Pictures on September 11, 2023. The film will be written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful films like Maanagaram, Kaithi, Vikram and Leo. The film will have music by Anirudh Ravichander and action by Anbariv1
Thalaivar 171 is expected to be a complete shift from Rajinikanth’s current film Jailer, which is a action thriller directed by Nelson.
Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is known for creating the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), a fictional shared universe of interconnected films featuring vigilantes and their battle for a drug-free society, has hinted that Thalaivar 171 will not be a part of the LCU. In an interview with The Hindu, he said, “Thalaivar 171 is a very experimental and challenging film. It will not be connected to any of my previous films or the LCU. It will be a standalone film with a unique genre and style.” 3
He also revealed that the film will have a lot of surprise cast members, who will be announced later. He said, “The film will have a huge ensemble cast, with some big names from Tamil and other industries. I don’t want to reveal them now, as it will spoil the excitement. But I can assure you that the fans will be thrilled to see Thalaivar share screen space with some amazing actors.” 3
One of the actors who has confirmed his involvement in Thalaivar 171 is Manoj Paramahamsa, who is also the cinematographer of the film. He tweeted that he has listened to the one-liner narrated by Lokesh Kanagaraj and was blown away by it. He also said that the film will have a significant number of VFX scenes and will include two to three episodes filmed in proper IMAX format at international locations4
Thalaivar 171 is expected to go on floors in February 2024, after Rajinikanth completes his political commitments. The film is likely to release in late 2024 or early 2025. The fans are eagerly waiting for more updates on this exciting project, which promises to be a treat for all cinema lovers.