Leo first look explained: The significance of hyena in Thalapathy Vijay starrer

Thalapathy Vijay's ferocious avatar in the first-look poster of Leo is intriguing.

Vijay in Leo.

The first look of the upcoming movie Leo was released on Thursday to mark the birthday celebration of Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay. And it seems director-writer Lokesh Kanagaraj has included several elements in the poster for the audience to decipher.

The poster features Vijay in a ferocious avatar striking someone with a sledgehammer. It freezes a climactic moment when the deed was done and the weapon is dripping with blood. We can also spot two human teeth flying in the air after being dislodged from someone's mouth who had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of the sledgehammer. And the presence of a hyena in the attack pose adds a primal element to the poster.

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Now, unlike lions and tigers, hyenas don't enjoy the grand endorsement of the filmmakers. Hyenas are not romanticised on the big screen. It's probably, because hyenas, unlike big cats or even wolves, are not photogenic. Their distinctive appearance — large heads, rounded ears, strong necks, a robust build, powerful jaws, and a sloping back — doesn't mask their predatory tendencies under the cloak of grace and majestic like a lion or tiger. And in popular culture, they are often associated with negative traits. Have we failed to understand their complex nature and truly appreciate them owing to our own prejudices? Maybe, Lokesh is trying to challenge our idea of beauty and power with Leo.

The poster has been designed to make it look as if a wild hyena that remained a doormat in the hero is bursting out of him. The poster hints at a major transformation in the protagonist when he ditches his gentle demeanour and gets consumed by vengeance. "In the world of untamed rivers, calm waters either become divine gods or dreaded demons," reads the caption on the poster.

Will Leo be a force of good or evil? We won't know until we see the movie or at least the trailer.

The poster has been set against the picturesque backdrop of Kashmir valley, where the cast and crew of Leo shot for more than 50 days. The production is now going on in Chennai and it will be wrapped up by the end of this month. Following this the filmmakers begin the post-production work. Producer Lalith Kumar earlier revealed that the movie will be big on the VFX.

Leo is due in cinemas on October 19.

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