Mani Ratnam Sets January 29, 2027 Release For Vijay Sethupathi And Sai Pallavi's 'Inji Vellam

Mani Ratnam is heading back to domestic romance. The veteran director locked a worldwide theatrical release date of January 29, 2027, for his upcoming feature Inji Vellam, pairing Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi together on screen for the first time.

Co-producers Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions confirmed the timeline on Wednesday through a first-look motion poster. The visual strips away high-concept posturing for quiet domestic warmth. Sethupathi—clad in a plain black T-shirt—smiles broadly while carrying a young girl in his arms. Beside him stands Pallavi in a traditional saree, holding a second young girl. Both children appear in identical outfits and matching headbands, framing what looks unmistakably like a lived-in family portrait.

Plot specifics remain under tight wraps at Madras Talkies. Yet production details reveal that a major filming schedule took place across Kolkata, trading standard studio lots for Eastern streetscapes. The project pairs Sethupathi's grounded screen weight directly opposite Pallavi's naturalistic emotional range, marking one of the most anticipated fresh acting combinations across South Indian cinema.

Ratnam has also assembled his signature technical core. Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman reteams with the filmmaker to score the project, extending a legendary creative partnership that spans decades. Avik Mukhopadhyay takes charge of the cinematography, while veteran editor Sreekar Prasad helms the cutting room. Production credits run through Subaskaran, Ratnam, and Siva Ananth, alongside partnerships with Sony Music South and Netflix India for distribution streams.