Manikanda is the title of Malikappuram director Vishnu Sasi Shankar's Ayyappa-themed Tamil film, starring Vaibhav. Actor Ravi Mohan unveiled the title and first look on X at 6:09 PM IST on October 26, calling it his friend JK Saravana's next Tantra Films production. Creative producer Venkat Prabhu followed at 6:46 PM IST with two posters of his own.
@iam_RaviMohan on XView post on X →
Manikanda appears to be the Vishnu Sasi Shankar and Vaibhav film announced as Tat Twam Assi. The banner, director, lead cast and crew handles are the same, and the poster carries the words "Tat Twam Assi" under the new title. The makers have not formally said the two are one film, so the link remains reported.
From Malikappuram to Manikanda
Venkat Prabhu's post introduces the film as coming "from the director of the Malayalam blockbuster #Malikappuram". It also asks fans to get ready to see Ayyappan. That framing points to the same mix of devotion and action that worked for Vishnu's first film, now in Tamil with a Tamil cast.
@vp_offl on XView post on X →
Malikappuram: Malayalam, released December 30, 2022
Director: Vishnu Sasi Shankar
Cast: Unni Mukundan, Deva Nandha (as Kallu), Saiju Kurup
Box office: Reportedly over Rs 50 crore worldwide (tracker estimate: about Rs 53.5 crore)
Dubs: Tamil and Telugu versions released January 26, 2023
Trailer: Official trailer from Anto Joseph Film Company
The road to Manikanda
February 26: Venkat Prabhu unveils the titles Tat Twam Assi and Arya Kerala Varman at Raja Annamalai Puram Temple in Chennai, as reported by IANS
February 27: Venkat Prabhu posts about the two "Swami Ayyappa concept films" from Tantra Films
May 26: The shoot officially starts, according to Tantra Films' post, as reported by Daily Thanthi
Mid-September: Filming wraps, per Venkat Prabhu's post, as reported by DT Next
October 26: Ravi Mohan reveals the title Manikanda and the first look
Cast and crew
Cast: Vaibhav, Meenakshi Govindarajan, Aravind Akash. Aadukalam Naren is also in the cast (reported)
Director: Vishnu Sasi Shankar
Producer: JK Saravana, Tantra Films. Insightful Reels reports JK Shatesh as co-producer
Creative producer: Venkat Prabhu
Music: Premgi Amaren
Camera and art: Yuvan Selva and Surya Rajeevan (roles reported)
Editor: Praveen KL (reported)
Writers: Adithya Tangirala, Nanthakumar Thamizhselvan, Prithivi Adithya (reported)
When is it releasing?
There is no official release date. Reports say the makers are aiming for the Mandala season, and the poster says "In cinemas, Karthigai month 2026". In September, Venkat Prabhu only said the film was releasing soon. An earlier report had pointed to a September release, which did not happen.
Arya Kerala Varman
Tantra Films' second Ayyappa film, Arya Kerala Varman, was announced alongside Tat Twam Assi in February. It is reportedly a 16th-century historical epic co-directed by JK Saravana and Adithya Tangirala, with Premgi Amaren on music. No cast or date has been announced.
In Malayalam, Harivarasanam, starring Saiju Kurup and Yogi Babu, is another Sabarimala-themed film we are tracking.
