It’s official: Mani Ratnam’s next to star Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi

Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam has announced his next with actors Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi. Mani Ratnam’s home banner, Madras Talkies, will co-produce the project with Lyca Productions.

During a recent interview with The Hindu, Sethupathi had confirmed the project. On March 20, 2026 (Friday), the makers made the project official by announcing the audio partner for the movie. Currently, the movie is tentatively referred to as Madras Talkies Production No. 23.

“Delighted to welcome Sony Music South as the audio partner of Madras Talkies Production No. 23,” said a post on the Instagram handle of Madras Talkies.

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A R Rahman will compose music for the movie. A Subaskaran from Lyca Productions will present the project.

Mani Ratnam’s last project was Thug Life (2025), starring Kamal Haasan in the lead. The movie failed to live up to the expectations and didn’t fare well at the box office. Sethupathi has a slew of projects lined up.

“All the films I am currently working on are exciting. Slum Dog (directed by Puri Jagannadh) is a script I loved. I am also excited by Balaji Tharaneedharan’s next film. Then there’s Pocket Novel (directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja), Mani sir’s film, andFarzi 2 (helmed by Raj & DK),” Sethupathi had said in a recent interview with The Hindu. “My stories and my directors are why work blossoms beautifully.”

Sai Pallavi is awaiting the release of Ek Din. The Hindi movie is produced by Aamir Khan and it stars the Bollywood star’s son, Junaid Khan, in the lead. It will hit the screens on May 1., 2026