Coimbatore Mappillaii is a title that carries weight in Tamil cinema. Vijay starred in the original 1996 film, a C. Ranganathan-directed romantic comedy that became one of his early commercial hits. Three decades later, the name returns as a new romantic comedy written, directed, and starring Kishore Rajkumar, with Malayalam actress Anna Ben playing opposite him.
The first look was unveiled on Valentine’s Day by Lokesh Kanagaraj, a fitting choice given that the filmmaker is himself a Coimbatore native, having grown up in Kinathukadavu and studied at PSG College. This is not a remake. It is an original story about compatibility in relationships, produced by Noise and Grains under producers Karthik Srinivas and Mahaveer Ashok.
Noise and Grains are better known for filling stadiums than cinema halls. The Chennai-based company has built its reputation producing large-scale concerts and cultural events, including the Rock on Harris series for Harris Jayaraj, Yuvan 360, and K.S. Chithra’s Timeless Melodies. Coimbatore Mappillaii marks their first venture into film production.
For Kishore Rajkumar, this is a triple shift. He directed Naai Sekar in 2022, a body-swap comedy starring Sathish that drew mixed reviews but found its audience. He also turned up as a contestant on Cooku With Comali Season 4. Now he is writing, directing, and playing the lead for the first time. “There’s a feeling among audiences that films like the ones Bhagyaraj sir used to direct are no longer being made,” Kishore said. “This film aims to fill that gap.” It is a high bar to invoke. Bhagyaraj’s best work, films like Mundhanai Mudichu, defined Tamil romantic comedy through tight screenwriting and character-driven humour rather than spectacle.
The casting of Anna Ben is the most intriguing element. Her Tamil debut was Kottukkaali, directed by PS Vinothraj of Pebbles fame, where she delivered a largely silent performance that premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won her strong reviews. She followed that with a role in Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, earning a SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Telugu. Going from a film where she had a single line of dialogue to a feel-good romantic comedy is a sharp pivot, and it suggests the filmmakers want a performer, not just a screen presence.
“This lively film revolves around compatibility in relationships and places strong emphasis on the female lead,” Kishore said. “Working with the incredibly talented Anna Ben has been a joy.” The crew reunites several of his Naai Sekar collaborators: cinematographer and co-writer Praveen Balu and editor Ram Pandian both return, with choreography by Brindha Master and art direction by Sri Sasikumar.
The shoot has wrapped, and the team says the film is being readied for a theatrical release. A music launch announcement is expected soon. No release date has been confirmed.