PremiumThalaivar 171 – Rajinikanth's negative role to fantasy elements; 5 major updates on Lokesh Kanagaraj’s film
Rajinikanth is teaming up with talented filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj for his 171st outing in cinema. The project is expected to start rolling by mid-2024.
Last Updated: 11.24 PM, Jan 08, 2024
Lokesh Kanagaraj, the celebrated director, has carved a niche in Tamil cinema with his signature style of filmmaking and back-to-back blockbusters. As reported earlier, the talented director is now set to join hands with superstar Rajinikanth for the latter’s 171st outing in cinema. The highly anticipated project, which has been tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, is expected to go on floors by mid-2024.
Earlier, in some of his interviews, director Lokesh Kanagaraj revealed that he was set to try a different genre with the Rajinikanth starrer. Now, sources close to the project have dropped a few exciting updates on the project, which is produced by the prestigious banner Sun Pictures.
Have a look at the 5 major updates on Thalaivar 171 here...
Rajinikanth’s negative role in Thalaivar 171
If the latest reports are to be believed, Rajinikanth is set to play a full-fledged negative role after a very long gap in the highly anticipated project. Earlier in an interview, director Lokesh Kanagaraj hinted that he always enjoyed the superstar’s negative avatars, which he played during the initial days of his acting career. Now, the sources close to Thalaivar 171 suggest that the Vettaiyan actor is in fact playing the lead antagonist in the Lokesh directorial.
Sivakarthikeyan to play the protagonist?
As reported earlier, both Sivakarthikeyan and director Lokesh Kanagaraj have not confirmed their collaboration for the upcoming Rajinikanth starrer yet. But the sources close to Thalaivar 171 insist that the Ayalaan actor is indeed a part of the project. If the reports are to be believed, Sivakarthikeyan is not making a special appearance in the film but is appearing as the protagonist opposite Rajinikanth’s antagonist.
An experimental fantasy film
In an earlier interview, director Lokesh Kanagaraj revealed that his upcoming Rajinikanth starrer is different from his previous films, as it is not revolving around the drug mafia. Now, the grapevine suggests that the renowned filmmaker’s next outing with Rajinikanth is an experimental fantasy film. According to the reports, Lokesh and his team are planning to create a never-seen-before cinematic experience for Tamil cinema audiences with the film.
A VFX-heavy project
The latest buzz also suggests that Thalaivar 171 is a VFX-heavy film, as it revolves around a fantasy concept. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj and his team, who are planning to begin the shooting by mid-2024, might wrap it up by the end of this year. However, the project will have an extensive post-production schedule, as it demands high-quality VFX. However, the makers are still tight-lipped about the same.
A stellar star cast and crew
Along with Rajinikanth and Sivakarthikeyan, some of the biggest stars from all major film industries in India are in talks to play key roles in Thalaivar 171. It was rumoured that actor-directors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Raghavan Lawrence were part of the star cast. The makers are expected to announce the star cast immediately after things are finalised. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music score, while the Anbarivu duo handles the action choreography. Some of the best technicians in Indian cinema and Hollywood are reportedly in talks to join the technical crew of the film.