Vijay Sethupathi, Sai Pallavi and a pair of twins: Mani Ratnam's Inji Vellam creates a buzz

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Acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s next Tamil directorial, titled Inji Vellamis officially scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 29, 2027.

Jointly produced by Ratnam’s banner Madras Talkies, Lyca Productions, and India Talkies, the film stars Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles, alongside Kannada actress Chaithra J Achar. The film also marks Ratnam’s return to Kolkata, two decades after he shot Yuva there in 2004

The makers announced the release date on social media, unveiling a new motion poster featuring the lead pair. Shared with the playful Tamil caption, “Idhula yaaru Inji, yaaru Vellam?” (“Who is the ginger and who is the jaggery here?”), the promotional video depicts Sethupathi and Pallavi alongside twin girls, hinting at a domestic, relationship-driven narrative.

While the makers have kept the official storyline and genre under wraps, the title — which translates to “ginger and jaggery” — and the warm visual tone have sparked strong speculation that Ratnam is returning to the contemporary romance space he previously explored in Alaipayuthey and O Kadhal Kanmani.

Inji Vellam marks the first on-screen pairing of Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi. While it is Pallavi’s maiden project under Ratnam’s direction, Sethupathi previously collaborated with the veteran director on the 2018 ensemble drama Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.

Both leads arrive at the project following major releases: Sethupathi recently appeared in Baththaand Jailer 2while Pallavi made her Hindi film debut in One Day and portrayed Sita in the epic Ramayana: Part 1.

The film reunites Ratnam with longtime creative partners AR Rahman, who is composing the music, and veteran editor Sreekar Prasad. The technical crew also includes cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay, art director Sharmishta Roy, and action choreographer Dhilip Subbarayan.

Shot primarily in Kolkata, Inji Vellam will arrive roughly two weeks after the Pongal festival window and marks Ratnam’s first release since the 2025 Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life.

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