Pongal 2027 is turning into a battle of two legends. Shankar’s Indian 3 and Mani Ratnam’s Inji Vellam are both targeting the festival release, and for both directors, this is much more than just another film. After big failures with their last releases, Shankar and Mani Ratnam both need a strong comeback, and they are aiming for it in the same window.
Indian 3 Finally Back on Track
Indian 3 was never supposed to take this long. When Shankar split the Kamal Haasan sequel into two parts, more than 70 percent of Indian 3 had already been shot along with Indian 2. The original plan was to finish the remaining portions after Indian 2’s release and bring Indian 3 to theatres within six months.
But Indian 2 changed everything. The film was an outright failure in July 2024 and was heavily trolled on social media. That put Indian 3 on hold for a long time, with no clarity on when the remaining work would happen.
Now, the team has officially announced that work on the remaining portions has started. The makers are aiming to complete everything by December and have locked Pongal 2027 as the release date.
Why Indian 3 Still Has Hope
Despite the Indian 2 disaster, there is some genuine anticipation for Indian 3. The main flashback portions and the songs are said to be in Indian 3, and these are the parts that work well. The film also brings back Kamal Haasan as Senapathy for the final chapter of the story.
Kamal Haasan himself had said during the Indian 2 promotions that Indian 3 was his favourite of the two. For a film coming after a big failure, that statement now gives fans something to hold on to.
Shankar needs this badly. After Indian 2, his Telugu debut Game Changer with Ram Charan also failed at the box office. Indian 3 is now his chance to prove that he can still deliver the big screen magic he is known for.
Mani Ratnam Returns to His Strong Zone
On the other side, Mani Ratnam is also coming back from a big setback. His last film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR, was a big failure. Now, he is going back to his strongest zone: a love story.
Inji Vellam pairs Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi for the first time, with A R Rahman composing the music. A major portion of the film was shot in Kolkata, and the first look showed the pair together in the rain, setting up an intense romantic mood. The film has wrapped its shoot and is planning a Pongal 2027 release.
Mani Ratnam’s romantic films like Mouna Ragam, Roja, Alaipayuthey and O Kadhal Kanmani are among his most loved works. If Inji Vellam brings back that magic, it could be the perfect answer to Thug Life.
Same Producer, Same Slot
There is one more interesting angle. Both Indian 3 and Inji Vellam are backed by Lyca Productions, with Inji Vellam co-produced by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies. Two big films from the same banner in the same festival slot is not common, so it will be interesting to see whether both hold their Pongal dates.
Two Legends, One Festival
Shankar and Mani Ratnam have given Tamil cinema some of its greatest films. Both have built their names over three decades, and both are now at a point where the next film really matters. Pongal 2027 could be the festival where one or both of them return to form.