Thangalaan

Thangalaan is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language historical fantasy action film directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Studio Green, Neelam Productions and Jio Studios. The film stars Vikram, alongside Malavika Mohanan, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Daniel Caltagirone, Hari Krishnan Anbudurai, Vettai Muthukumar, Arjun Anbudan and Sampath Ram.

The film was officially announced in December 2021 under the tentative title Chiyaan 61, as it is Vikram's 61st film as a lead actor, and the official title was announced in October 2022. Principal photography commenced the same month. It was shot sporadically in several legs, and wrapped by early-July 2023. Filming locations included Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Madurai and Karnataka. The music was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, while cinematography and editing were handled by A. Kishor Kumar and Selva RK.

Thangalaan is scheduled to released worldwide on 15 August 2024, coinciding with India's Independence Day, in standard and 3D formats.

Premise
During the British Raj, Thangalaan, a fierce tribal leader, and his tribe assist Lord Clement, a British General, to trace gold in their village. While searching for the gold, the villagers earn the wrath of Aarathi, an apparent sorceress, and Thangalaan sets out to stop Aarathi with all his might.

Development
While working on Madras (2014), Pa. Ranjith had narrated a script to Vikram and planned to team up for the film, but was delayed. Until, it was reportedly picked up again in September 2021 and would be produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja under Studio Green. It was reported that Anirudh Ravichander would compose songs for the film, but was later on announced G. V. Prakash Kumar is composing the songs. On 2 December, the project was officially announced by Studio Green, tentatively titled Chiyaan 61. Rashmika Mandanna had signed to play the female lead role, but was replaced by Malavika Mohanan, due to scheduling conflicts. The latter learned Silambam for her role in the film. Ranjith, during a media interaction in May 2022, revealed that the Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka was the backdrop for the film and that it was a historical drama about working-class miners who discover gold in the 19th century. On 23 October, coinciding with Ayudha Puja, the title Thangalaan was announced with a teaser.

Filming
Principal photography commenced in October 2022 with a short schedule in Chennai, for some initial portion, later on moved to Kadapa, and was later moved to Madurai, where an action sequence with Malavika and Vikram was shot. The team moved to Hogenakkal Falls in December. The same month, a shoot was done in Maldives. The second schedule shooting happened in a film city in Chennai in January 2023, with Malavika joining in February. With the second schedule ending in February, the team started shooting the third schedule in Kolar Gold Fields in the same month for close to six weeks. English actor Daniel Caltagirone started shooting for his portions the same month. The final schedule started in April, and was shot in Madurai and Chennai, with the shoot halted temporarily in May, due to a rib injury that Vikram suffered on the sets, before resuming in June and then filming wrapping on 4 July.

Music
The music and background score is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, in his maiden collaboration with Ranjith; third with Vikram after Deiva Thirumagal (2011) and Thaandavam (2012). The audio rights for the film were acquired by Times Music for inr 50000000. The track "Thangalaan Exclusive Making Theme" that was featured in the behind-the-scenes video, which released on Vikram's birthday (17 April 2023), released on 19 April. The first single titled "Minikki Minikki" was released on 17 July 2024.

Theatrical
Thangalaan is scheduled to release in theatres on 15 August 2024, coinciding with India's Independence Day. The film will release in conventional 2D and 3D formats. It was initially scheduled to theatrically release on 26 January 2024 coinciding with Republic Day. In mid-December 2023, it was reported that the release was postponed from that date, as the makers wanted to first screen it in film festivals and release worldwide later. On 15 January 2024, the occasion of Pongal, the producers released a poster announcing a tentative release during April 2024. However, the film's release was postponed again.

Home media
The digital streaming rights for the film were purchased by Netflix for ₹100 crore.