Tamil star Karthi is gearing up for the release of his 27th film, 'Vaa Vaathiyaar', and he’s using the moment to spark a conversation about the identity of Tamil cinema. Speaking at the grand pre-release event in Hyderabad, the actor said the industry must “break barriers” and push creative boundaries if it wants to stand apart.

The action drama, directed by Nalan Kumarasamy and produced by KE Gnanavelraja’s Studio Green, hits theatres on December 12 in Tamil and as Annagaru Vostaru in Telugu.

The event was attended by actors Sundeep Kishan, Bunny Vas, and several leading Telugu filmmakers, signalling the team’s aggressive promotional push.

Karthi, returning to the big screen a year after 'Meiyazhagan' (2024), said he often wonders what defines Tamil cinema today. “Telugu makers are doing big films, and Malayalam makers are doing different films.

What’s the identity of Tamil films? We can’t do new things if we are scared to try. We need to break the barriers,” he said, asserting that 'Vaa Vaathiyaar' reflects his desire to choose fresh, risk-taking stories.

In the film, Karthi plays Rameshwaran J, a cop shaped by his childhood admiration for the late superstar and political icon MG Ramachandran. Director Nalan explores what happens when the aura of 70s and 80s mass heroes—figures who once commanded near-devotional fandom—reappears in today’s world.

The trailer, launched on December 6, shows Karthi’s character caught inside a political conspiracy far above his pay grade. Yet he rises to the moment in quintessential MGR style—riding horses, wielding whips, and upholding justice with larger-than-life swagger. Vaa Vaathiyaar is scheduled to release on 12 December 2025.

Karthi admitted he initially hesitated to take on the role because it carries a “knife-edge risk.” “It was a huge challenge. I was doubtful if I could pull it off. Working on 'Vaa Vaathiyaar' is like walking on a sword.

Either you win or lose terribly,” he said. The character’s alter ego, inspired by MGR, made the task even more daunting. But the actor said his fear was exactly why he signed the project: “We have to face our fears to enter the next stage.”

The film also marks Nalan Kumarasamy’s return to direction after four years, and his first feature in nearly a decade. Karthi praised him as a filmmaker with a “cult fan base” among directors.

“Any set I go to, people ask, ‘Are you working on a Nalan sir film?’ He lives by a ‘Thug Life’ motive,” the actor joked, adding that Nalan's imagination operates in a “parallel world.”

Nalan’s scripts demand time to understand, Karthi said, recalling a similar experience working with Selvaraghavan on 'Aayirathil Oruvan' (2010).

"Even when you understand his ideas, you can never imagine them.” The film stars Krithi Shetty as the female lead, alongside Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, Shilpa Manjunath, Anandaraj, GM Sundar, Karunakaran, and others. With music by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography by George C Williams, and editing by Vetre Krishnan, 'Vaa Vaathiyaar' promises to be a stylish, high-energy entertainer.

However, a recent Madras High Court restraint order—over alleged unsettled dues involving Studio Green—has cast uncertainty on the release. The makers have not yet issued a formal clarification.