The buzz around major festival releases in Tamil cinema often begins months before the films hit the screens. The upcoming Pongal 2025 season is proving to be no exception. The recent decision by the makers of the multi-starrer 'Parasakthi' to advance their theatrical release from January 14 to January 10 has ignited widespread speculation among fans and trade circles alike.
Theatre Owners' Request Drives Date Change
Breaking his silence on the swirling rumors, 'Parasakthi' producer Aakash Basakaran has provided a clear explanation. In a conversation with Cineulagam, he clarified that the shift was not motivated by competition but by practical exhibition logistics. Basakaran revealed that theatre owners and distributors from across regions suggested creating a slight gap between the two big-ticket releases.
With the lucrative Pongal holiday stretch offering nearly ten days of strong footfall, exhibitors felt that having a one or two-day difference between 'Parasakthi' and the January 9 release of Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' would allow for better management of show timings. This strategy, according to the producer, ensures both films receive adequate screen space and optimal shows throughout the festive period, preventing one from overwhelmingly dominating the screens.
Producer Dismisses 'Clash' Narrative as Unnecessary
Aakash Basakaran directly addressed the online narrative framing the scenario as a fierce box office clash. He described such talk as unnecessary and pointed out that multiple releases during festivals were far more common in the past. Recalling earlier Pongal seasons, he noted that audiences once had the choice of up to ten new releases. That number gradually streamlined to five, then three, and now often two major films.
From his perspective, having two films arrive around the same festive window is normal and can even be healthy for the industry, offering moviegoers more options. He stressed that he sees no contention in multiple releases sharing a festive window; it's about choice, not conflict.
A Star-Studded Pongal Treat for Audiences
This Pongal, cinephiles are in for a double delight with two highly anticipated films. 'Parasakthi', directed by Sudha Kongara, features an ensemble cast including Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela. On the other side, 'Jana Nayagan' is directed by H Vinoth and headlines Thalapathy Vijay, supported by a massive cast featuring Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, Narain, Priyamani, Sunil, Baba Bhaskar, and Gautham Vasudev Menon.
With immense expectations riding on both projects, the 2025 Pongal season is shaping up to be a celebratory period for Tamil cinema fans, promising a diverse cinematic feast rather than a mere toss-up between contenders.
