‘Kaala’, ‘2.0’ to ‘Vishwaroopam 2’: 10 Tamil films to look forward to in 2018

Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘2.0’ is certainly the most anticipated film of the year. However, reports suggest that the much-awaited action flick, which was supposed to release on April 7, is likely to be postponed due to pending VFX work. ‘2.0’ is touted to be the costliest Indian film made on a budget of Rs 450 crore. In November last year, the makers unveiled the music album in a grand fashion at Burj Park in Dubai. Directed by Shankar, ‘2.0’ is an adaptation of his previous film 'Enthiran'. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is playing the prime antagonist, while Amy Jackson and Sudhanshu Pandey will be seen in important roles.

After many years, superstar Rajinikanth will be having two releases a year. ‘Kaala’ directed by Pa Ranjith is another majorly anticipated film this year. The film has huge expectations among fans since it marks Ranjith’s second collaboration with Rajinikanth. After keeping fans with bated breath, the makers have announced the release date of the film. ‘Kaala’ will hit the screens on April 27. It stars Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Nana Patekar and Samuthirakani in supporting roles.

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan’s espionage thriller ‘Vishwaroopam’ is still remembered for many reasons. The first part ended with a cliffhanger, although wasn’t quite effective on screen. However, 'Vishwaroopam' received outstanding reviews from critics and fans alike. Its sequel, ‘Vishwaroopam 2’, takes the story forward from where its predecessor ended. Last year, Kamal finally unveiled the first look poster of ‘Vishwaroopam 2’. Directed by Haasan himself, ‘Vishwaroopam 2’ is currently in its post-production and is slated to release in summer.

Ajith Kumar is yet again teaming up with director Siruthai Siva for his forthcoming film, which is titled ‘Viswasam’ (Loyalty). Though the announcement left fans excited, Ajith has been severely criticised for working with Siva consequently for the fourth time. His last film, ‘Vivegam’, despite high expectations, opened to poor reviews and ultimately tanked at the box office. However, Siva’s earlier films such as ‘Veeram’ and ‘Vedalam’ have been commercially successful. The film will be produced by Sathya Jyothi Films and is likely to release on Diwali. The makers are currently finalising the cast and crew.

Another highly expected Tamil film this year is obviously ‘Suriya 36’, which marks Suriya’s first collaboration with filmmaker Selvaraghavan. Ever since the news hit the web, fans of both the director and actor have been going crazy on social media. Suriya is certainly one of the best actors in Tamil cinema. On the other hand, Selvaraghavan is widely known for his unconventional stories and characters. Going by reports, it’s safe to say that one could expect a cracker from these two. The film also stars Sai Pallavai as the leading lady and is scheduled to release on Diwali.

Basking in the blockbuster success of his recent outing ‘Mersal’, Vijay is all set to reunite with AR Murugadoss for the third time after ‘Thuppakki’ and ‘Kaththi’. Last month, the untitled film had finally gone on the floors with a formal pooja. Interestingly, Vijay’s test look shoot for the film went viral on social media. Popularly known as ‘Thalapathy 62’, the film has AR Rahman and noted editor Sreekar Prasad on board. The film is said to be a socio-political thriller and is expected to release in the second half of this year.

Jayam Ravi’s science-fiction thriller has already created waves on the internet ever since its trailer was out. Touted to be the first Indian space film, ‘Tik Tik Tik’ is directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan, who shot to fame after helming Ravi in ‘Miruthan’. According to reports, the makers have spent a lavish amount on the VFX scenes. Also starring Nivetha Pethuraj, Vincent Ashokan and Ramesh Thilak in important roles, the film is slated to release later this month.

Gautham Menon’s spy-thriller ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’, which was planned for a release last year, is likely to hit the screens in summer. The film marks Chiyaan Vikram’s first collaboration with Menon and is made on the lines of the Bourne series. ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ has an ensemble cast including Aishwarya Rajesh, Ritu Varma and Radhika Sarathkumar in pivotal roles. The teaser of ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ was well-received by the audience and has clocked more than 15 million views on YouTube.

Thiyagaraj Kummaraja’s debut film Aaranya Kaandam is a landmark film in Tamil cinema. It was a densely-written solid thriller that left an indelible mark on the audience. After eight years, Thiyagaraj is back with ‘Super Deluxe’, which is also written by filmmakers Mysskin and Nalan Kumarasamy. Interestingly, it has Vijay Sethupathi, the happening hero of Tamil cinema, playing a transgender role called Shilpa. It also stars Samantha, Fahadh Faasil, Ramya Krishnan and Mysskin in important roles.

Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s romantic drama ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’ received mixed response upon release. The film was collectively panned by critics and became a dud at the box office. However, the master filmmaker is once again back on track with his upcoming multi-starrer film titled ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’. Notably, the first look poster went viral on the internet. The main highlight of the film is its stellar cast that includes Simbu, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Jyothika, Aishwarya Rajesh, Aditi Rao Hydari and Arvind Swamy in the lead.