Kollywood, which produces over 200 films annually, has welcomed 2016 with six releases. The industry is going to witness a lot of big-banner films, which are highly awaited by the audience in the year. Here's a list of what to watch out for.
Rajini Murugan
Sivakarthikeyan's delayed movie "Rajini Murugan" will be the first among the most-awaited films to hit the screens in 2016. The actor has been growing as a star with each film, and this is one reason why people are curious about the flick. It is an action-comedy directed by Ponram. Rajkiran, Samuthirakani, Keerthy Suresh and others are in the cast.
Release: 14 January
Aranmanai 2
The success of "Aranmanai" has paved way for its sequel. There is no connection to the first instalment and only Hansika Motwani has been retained from the lead cast from "Aranmanai". It is a horror-thriller and this genre has created a good market in Kollywood over the years. The Sundar C-directed film has big names in the cast like Siddharth, Trisha Krishnan and Poonam Bajwa.
Release: 29 January
Idhu Namma Aalu
Simbu and Nayantara, the ex-couple, have teamed up again after a long time in "Idhu Namma Aalu", written and directed by Pandiraj. Their teaming up alone has generated a lot of curioisty around the flick. It is a romantic-comedy, also has Andrea Jeremiah, Soori and others.
Release: 14 February
Thozha
Karthi, Telugu star Nagrjuna and Tamanna Bhatia are starring "Thozha", which is titled "Oopiri" in Telugu. It is a family drama directed by Vamsi Paidipally.
Release: February
Miruthan
Jayam Ravi was the most succesful actor in 2015 in Tamil. He impressed the audience with films of different genres, and managed to deliver commercially successful films. This factor is now boosting the fortunes of "Miruthan", as people curiously await its release. It is a zombie film directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan. Lakshmi Menon is the female lead.
Release: March
24
Suriya, Samantha and Nithya Menen-starrer "24" has been written and directed by Vikram Kumar. It is a science-fiction thriller on time travel. This is a kind of experimental subject and something new for the Tamil audience.
Release: April
Theri
Vijay and Atlee Kumar's cop-thriller "Theri" has Samantha and Amy Jackson in the lead roles. The movie is bankrolled by Kalaipuli S Dhanu. Ilayathalapathy's turn as a police officer has impressed the audience before, and people are hoping he will strike that chord again.
Release:April
Kabali
Rajinikanth has taken a break from his regular masala films and opted for a content-oriented film in the form of "Kabali". The surprising part of the story is he is working with a young filmmaker: one-film-old Pa Ranjith. The gangster flick has Radhika Apte in the female lead.
Release: April
Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada
Simbu is going to have two releases in one year after a long time. His "Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada" is directed by Gautham Menon. As the title suggests, it is a romantic film and the success of their earlier movie "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa" has generated a good hype around the flick. Manjima Mohan plays the female lead.
Release: May (Expected)
Singam 3
Suriya will return to his most succesful franchise, "Singam", with its third instalment. The Hari directorial is about an honest cop named Durai Singam. The first and second instalments were hits and people have high hopes from the series. Anushka Shetty plays the female lead again and Shruthi Haasan is the latest inclusion.
Release: Diwali
Kodi
Dhanush, Trisha Krishnan and Shamili are starring in the political thriller written and directed by RS Durai Senthilkumar of "Ethir Neechal" fame. Ilayathalapathy Vijay's father SA Chandrasekar plays an important role in the movie.
Release: Unclear
Thala 57
Ajith and Siruthai Siva's next movie, which is currently referred to as "Thala 57", will be their third movie together as a team. They were part of hit films like "Veeram" and "Vedalam". The pre-production is still on and the shooting will begin in March-April as Ajith is in rest following the multiple surgeries.
Release: Diwali
Vishwaroopam 2
Kamal Haasan's much-delayed "Vishwaroopam 2" is expected to release in 2016. It is a sequel to "Vishwaroopam", the 2013 controvesial spy thriller. The shooting was completed long ago, but the film has been delayed for mysterious reasons.
Release: Unclear
Marma Manithan
Vikram, Nayantara and Nithya Menen are part of the thriller "Mani Manithan", directed by Anand Shankar. Shibu Thameens of "Puli" fame is producing the flick. The other attraction of the film is Anirudh Ravichander composing music for a Chiyaan film for the first time.
Release: Unclear
