In a surprise move, director Lokesh Kanagaraj has unveiled the first look of his upcoming film with superstar Rajinikanth, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 171’. The monochromatic poster features a bearded Rajinikanth sporting a rugged shirt and sunglasses, with his hands bound by a chain of golden watches, set against the backdrop of a watch dial.
Kanagaraj, known for his successful films like Kaithi and Vikram, announced that the official title of Thalaivar 171 will be revealed on April 22. The film, produced by Sun Pictures, marks the first collaboration between Rajinikanth and Kanagaraj.
In a recent interaction, Kanagaraj assured fans that Rajinikanth’s character in Thalaivar 171 will be portrayed in a never-before-seen shade. “This is 100% my film,” he stated, emphasizing his creative control over the project. The director also addressed fan theories surrounding the presence of watches in the first look, hinting that the narrative will take a unique approach, distinct from social media speculation.
Renowned stunt directors Anbariv, who are currently working with Rajinikanth in Vettaiyan, have also joined the Thalaivar 171 team. The film’s music will be composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking his second consecutive collaboration with Rajinikanth after the recent hit Jailer.
During the promotion of Fight Club last year, Kanagaraj mentioned that Thalaivar 171 is an action thriller, with the script set to be finalized within two to three months and filming scheduled to commence in April. He also shared that the upcoming film will feature additional action sequences, marking Rajinikanth’s return to intense action scenes.
While the rest of the cast remains under wraps, Kanagaraj has clarified that Thalaivar 171 will be a standalone project and not part of his larger cinematic universe (LCU). Rajinikanth, expressing his delight, stated that the script intrigued him, and he looks forward to working in a genre he has never explored before.
As anticipation builds for Thalaivar 171, Rajinikanth is concurrently engaged in his project with TJ Gnanavel titled Vettaiyan, slated for release later this year.