festival weeks usually belong to new releases—but sometimes, nostalgia arrives with more force than novelty. With the indefinite postponement of Jana Nayagan, Thalapathy Vijay’s highly anticipated farewell film, theatres were expected to witness a muted spell. Instead, tamil Nadu experienced a full-blown cinematic eruption—courtesy of Ajith Kumar. The re-release of Mankatha didn’t just fill the gap; it hijacked the festival mood and turned theatres into celebration arenas.

💣 How Mankatha Re-Release Turned Into a Box-Office Event

1. A Cult Classic That Refused to Stay in the Past

Fifteen years after its original release, Mankatha—directed by Venkat Prabhu—returned to the big screen and proved that cult status only grows louder with time. The response was immediate, electric, and overwhelming.

2. Record-Breaking Opening That Shocked the Trade

The Ajith-starrer sold over 100,000 tickets on BookMyShow on Day One, an unprecedented figure for a re-release. In the process, it dethroned Ghilli, pushing Vijay’s iconic blockbuster off the top spot in the re-release rankings.

3. Crushing the Competition—Effortlessly

Mankatha didn’t just edge past its rivals—it steamrolled them. Recent re-releases like Sachein and Padayappa were comfortably outperformed, establishing Ajith’s film as the undisputed re-release king.

4. Trade Buzz Points to Bigger Milestones

With the current trend, trade analysts predict Mankatha could easily surpass the lifetime re-release collections of Ghilli—a benchmark once considered untouchable. For exhibitors, this is not nostalgia—it’s serious business.

5. Why Mankatha Still Works—Brutally Well

Released in 2011 on a budget of ₹24 crore, Mankatha marked Ajith’s 50th film, a milestone that redefined his screen persona. Playing Vinayak Mahadevan, a suspended cop who joins a criminal gang for a high-stakes heist, ajith embraced a grey, unapologetically ruthless character—something tamil mainstream cinema hadn’t seen at this scale before.

6. Style, Swagger, and Twists That Aged Like Wine

Ajith’s idiosyncrasies, razor-sharp dialogue delivery, and venkat Prabhu’s racy narration turned the film into a roller-coaster. The twists still land. The attitude still slaps. And the anti-hero still commands whistles like it’s opening weekend all over again.

7. Theatre Euphoria Goes Viral

Social media is flooded with videos of fans dancing, whistling, and celebrating high moments—proof that Mankatha isn’t just being watched, it’s being experienced. Theatres across tamil Nadu are echoing with chants, recreating a first-day-first-show frenzy rarely seen for re-releases.

🧨 Final Punch

New films may come and go, but legends don’t wait for invitations. Mankatha’s re-release isn’t just a nostalgic victory—it’s a loud reminder that Ajith’s swagger, when paired with the right film, is timeless and box-office proof. Fifteen years later, Vinayak mahadevan still walks in, breaks records, and walks out undefeated.