Exciting reports have surfaced suggesting that the legendary actor Rajinikanth and the iconic director Mani Ratnam are on the verge of teaming up once again—over three decades after their last collaboration. The buzz has thrilled fans, who can hardly contain their excitement at the prospect of seeing these two powerhouses together after such a long hiatus.
Interestingly, this potential reunion comes shortly after another big team-up for Mani Ratnam. It took 36 years for him to reunite with Kamal Haasan for their upcoming film Thug Life, following the massive success of Nayakan in 1987. Now, if recent reports are accurate, Mani Ratnam is preparing to reconnect with Rajinikanth after 33 years apart.
According to SIIMA, Mani Ratnam and Rajinikanth are all set to reunite, and the much-anticipated official announcement could be made on Rajinikanth’s birthday, December 12. While nothing has been confirmed just yet, fans are buzzing with excitement, hoping the news turns out to be true.
For those unfamiliar, the last time Rajinikanth and Mani Ratnam worked together was on the 1991 blockbuster Thalapathi. This iconic gangster drama also featured major stars like Mammootty, Arvind Swami, and Amrish Puri, and centered around the strong bond between a fearless slum dweller and a notorious gangster, despite the best efforts of a district collector trying to bring them down.
Thalapathi is widely regarded as a modern retelling of parts of the Mahabharata, focusing on the deep friendship between Duryodhana and Karna. In the film, Rajinikanth played Surya (a character inspired by Karna), while Mammootty portrayed Devaraj (a Duryodhana-like figure). Arvind Swami’s role as Arjun mirrored Arjuna from the epic tale. One notable detail is that while Rajinikanth’s character is named Surya, the film never reveals his father’s name, maintaining his link to the sun god only through his name.
In addition to its stellar cast and gripping story, Thalapathi was also the final film in which Mani Ratnam worked with the legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja and lyricist Vaali. After this film, Mani Ratnam began his famous collaborations with AR Rahman and Vairamuthu, leading to some of the most iconic soundtracks in Indian cinema. Thalapathi was released during Diwali in 1991 and went on to become both a critical and commercial hit.
What’s Next?
As for what these legends are up to now, Mani Ratnam is currently busy directing Thug Life, which sees Kamal Haasan leading a star-studded cast that includes Silambarasan, Joju George, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi, among others. Kamal Haasan is also contributing to the script alongside Mani Ratnam.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth is gearing up for the release of Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel. The film, which is set to hit theaters on October 10, boasts an impressive ensemble, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, and Manju Warrier. On top of that, Rajinikanth is set to star in Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, alongside Shruti Haasan, Nagarjuna, and several other big names in Indian cinema.
With all this exciting news, fans are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of Rajinikanth and Mani Ratnam’s potential reunion. If it does happen, it’s sure to be one of the biggest cinematic events in Indian film history!
