Rajinikanth was met with enthusiastic cheers from his fans at the audio launch event of his upcoming film, Vettaiyan, held on Friday. The actor delighted the audience by performing the catchy ‘Manasilayo’ hookstep, eliciting applause and whistles throughout the venue.During his speech, Rajinikanth praised director TJ Gnanavel’s previous work, Jai Bhim, but emphasized his preference for commercial cinema, stating he doesn’t see himself in the “message space.” He shared an interesting exchange with Gnanavel, who initially took longer to agree to Rajinikanth’s request to avoid styles similar to directors Nelson or Lokesh Kanagaraj. Rajinikanth humorously asserted that if he wanted a film in that style, he would approach those directors directly.
Reflecting on the pressure that comes with success, Rajinikanth noted, “If you deliver a flop, there is tension because you’ll be expected to bounce back with a hit.” He acknowledged the heightened expectations following the success of his last film, Jailer.
A key highlight of the event was Rajinikanth’s heartfelt acknowledgment of music director Anirudh, stating, “Anirudh is like my son,” showcasing their close bond. He emphasized his determination to collaborate with Anirudh, expressing that he was “1000 percent sure” of the decision.
Clearing up speculation around the film’s release date, Rajinikanth confirmed that Vettaiyan is set for an October 10 release. He revealed that this date was planned early in production but could not be announced due to financial pressures on the production company, Lyca.
Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Vettaiyan boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Amitabh Bachchan in his Tamil debut, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, and VJ Rakshan. Notably, Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan reunite after 33 years, their last collaboration being the 1991 film Hum.
The technical team includes cinematographer SR Kathir and editor Philomin Raj, with music composed by Anirudh, marking their fourth collaboration together.
Vettaiyan is set to release in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada on October 10, and anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling cinematic experience.