Rathnam is an upcoming Indian Tamil action film written and directed by Hari and jointly produced by Kaarthekeyan Santhanam, Alankar Pandian, Stone Bench Films, Zee Studios and Invenio Origin. The film stars Vishal in the titular role along with Priya Bhavani Shankar, Ramachandra Raju, Samuthirakani, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Yogi Babu. Rathnam is one of the most anticipated Tamil films of 2024 and is scheduled to hit the big screens on April 26.
Story and Plot
Rathnam revolves around the titular character played by Vishal, who is described as a man with a powerful aura. Not many details about the actual storyline have been revealed yet. However, from the teaser and posters, it is evident that Rathnam will feature high-octane action sequences. Vishal will be seen performing incredible stunts and the film promises to showcase the actor in a never-seen-before rugged avatar.
Rathnam seems to follow the familiar template of a Hari-Vishal collaboration filled with mass elements, punch dialogues, adrenaline-pumping fight scenes and foot-tapping music. Fans are eager to witness Vishal in a full-fledged actioner after a long time. The film’s tagline ‘Man of Mass’ has further heightened expectations. Though the plot remains under wraps, Rathnam is likely to feature a revenge theme at its core.
Cast and Characters
Vishal as Rathnam
Vishal plays the titular character of Rathnam, which seems to be one of the actor’s most powerful roles in recent times. His rugged look with a thick beard has already impressed fans. Vishal underwent immense physical transformation for this physically demanding role which required him to perform daredevil stunts without a body double. Fans are eager to see him back in action after films like Thupparivaalan 2, Enemy and Laththi.
Priya Bhavani Shankar
Priya Bhavani Shankar plays the leading lady opposite Vishal in Rathnam. This is her second collaboration with director Hari after last year’s hit film Yaanai and her first project with Vishal. Details regarding Priya’s character are still unknown. However, she is likely to have an interesting role to perform apart from being the female lead.
Samuthirakani
Versatile actor Samuthirakani will be seen playing a pivotal role in Rathnam. He has previously worked with Vishal and Hari in multiple films like Poojai, Pulan Visaranai 2 and Yaanai. Samuthirakani’s characters always leave a lasting impact, so viewers can expect something similar in Rathnam too.
Ramachandra Raju
Senior actor Ramachandra Raju essays an important character in the film. He has shared screen space with Vishal earlier in films like Pandiya Naadu. Raju’s experience in playing versatile roles is likely to come handy in Rathnam.
Gautham Vasudev Menon
Popular director Gautham Vasudev Menon, who has also played negative roles in some films, will be seen playing the main antagonist in Rathnam. His inclusion has generated a lot of buzz among fans who are eager to see his onscreen chemistry with Vishal.
Yogi Babu
Comedian Yogi Babu plays a pivotal supporting role in the film. His hilarious comic timing is expected to provide some light-hearted moments for the viewers amidst all the action. Yogi Babu and Vishal are teaming up after Naan Sigappu Manithan.
Murali Sharma
Senior actor Murali Sharma will be seen essaying a key character role in Rathnam. Known for playing strong character roles, Murali Sharma’s previous Tamil films include Vivegam and KGF Chapter 1.
Mohan Raman
Mohan Raman, another veteran who excels in playing impactful characters, also forms part of the supporting cast. His combination scenes with Vishal are likely to be intriguing.
Crew
Director – Hari
Hari is synonymous with commercial masala entertainers in Tamil cinema. Some of his popular mass action films include Singam quadrilogy, Saamy and Thaamirabharani. Rathnam marks Hari’s third directorial venture with Vishal after Thaamirabharani and Poojai. Fans are excited to see their collaboration again after almost a decade.
Writers – Hari
Hari has written the story, screenplay and dialogues for Rathnam along with directing it. Most of his hit films have been written by himself and Rathnam will follow the same pattern.
Producers – Kaarthekeyan Santhanam, Alankar Pandian
Two prolific Tamil producers Kaarthekeyan Santhanam and Alankar Pandian have jointly bankrolled Rathnam under their banners Stone Bench Films and Invenio Origin respectively along with Zee Studios.
Music – Devi Sri Prasad
Popular musician Devi Sri Prasad has scored the songs and background music for Rathnam. This is his first collaboration with Vishal and his sixth project with director Hari. DSP is renowned for composing chartbuster mass album and the expectations are sky high.
Cinematography – M. Sukumar
M. Sukumar has handled the cinematography of Rathnam. He is known for his brilliant camerawork in several Vishal films like Action, Avan Ivan and Pandiya Naadu.
Editing – T.S. Jay
Editor T.S. Jay is an old collaborator of director Hari. Their previous ventures include the Singam series and Saamy 2. Jay’s crisp editing style is perfect for action thrillers like Rathnam.
Stunt Choreography
The action sequences of Rathnam have been choreographed by stunt masters Peter Hein, Kanal Kannan, Dhilp Subbarayan and Vicky. Their collaboration promises breath-taking fight scenes.
Shooting Locations
The filming of Rathnam took place in various locations across Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Thoothukudi, Trichy, Karaikudi, Tuticorin, Vellore and Tirupati from July 2023 to January 2024 spanning multiple schedules. The extensive filming indicates the grand scale of the film.
Release Date
Rathnam is scheduled to hit the theatres worldwide on April 26, 2024. There were initial plans for a summer 2023 release which got pushed to avoid box office clash. The April opening will help the film capitalize on the Tamil New Year holidays.
Hype & Expectations
Rathnam has managed to create a strong pre-release buzz thanks to the star power of Vishal and director Hari’s reputation in the mass action genre. Their collaboration itself has excited fans who consider them a hit combo. Vishal’s rugged makeover and the film’s hard-hitting posters, teaser and songs have amplified the hype.
Trade experts predict a strong opening for Rathnam at the box office owing to the long gap since Vishal’s last action outing. The actor enjoys a solid fan following which will help attract the mass audiences. Rathnam is likely to take a thunderous opening across Tamil Nadu if content lives up to expectations. With no major competitions, the film has a chance to dominate the box office if appreciated by the public.
Early Reviews
As of now, Rathnam has received positive initial reviews based on the promotional content. Leading entertainment trackers have called the teaser top-notch and rated the first single as a chartbuster. Critics expect Rathnam to follow the trademark Hari style of filmmaking which has appeal among front-benchers. They feel the story might take a backseat with focus on heroism and action.
Overall, early trade predictions indicate Rathnam is likely to emerge as a winner at the box office due to the profitable combination of Vishal and Hari who have delivered hits together in the past. However, the content needs to complement their star power. With duo reuniting after a long gap, fans are assured of a complete masala entertainer.
What Makes Rathnam Unique?
Here are some factors that make Rathnam stand out from other routine mass actioners:
- Vishal’s powerful action avatar after a long time
- Hari and Vishal teaming up again after almost a decade
- Devi Sri Prasad’s music expected to be a major highlight
- Stellar supporting cast adding weightage
- Action choreography by top stunt directors
- Grand production values apparent in teasers
- Priya Bhavani Shankar playing the leading lady
- Blend of mass commercial elements and emotions
- Hari’s brand of storytelling aimed at front-benchers
- Vishal’s huge fan base across B&C centers
Box Office Expectations
Trade analysts predict Rathnam will take an impressive opening at the box office and has the potential to emerge as a success. Here are some key factors driving the film’s box office prospects:
- Vishal’s return to action zone after long gap
- director Hari’s proven mass appeal
- Positive pre-release buzz and decent advances
- Goodwill from previous Hari-Vishal hit collaborations
- Strong promotional content generating hype
- Unopposed April 26 release with no major competitions
- Holiday period of Tamil New Year fueling occupancy
- DSP’s chartbuster album attracting youth audiences
- Vishal’s sizable fan base in tier-2 and 3 centers
However, the film needs to impress content-wise. If appreciated, Rathnam could dominate the box office for weeks and end up as a profitable venture for all stakeholders.
Conclusion
On the whole, Rathnam has the ingredients to emerge as a gripping mass action thriller. Vishal appears fierce and furious in a role that has allowed him to showcase his action skills to the fullest. Hari’s directorial expertise combined with DSP’s music infuses life into this high-voltage entertainer aimed at the front-benchers. Fans looking for hardcore commercial cinema with whistle-worthy moments are likely to enjoy Rathnam. However, the film needs to offer substance beyond style to cross the finish line as a winner. The outcome largely depends on how crowds react to the final product. But the pre-release buzz indicates Rathnam might dominate the box office in the action genre at least initially. We will know for sure when it hits screens on April 26.